Murder on a School Night
By Kate Weston Reviewed by Liane McDermott Described by the publisher as Sex Education meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this YA novel for readers 14+ is a fun, feminist murder mystery by author (and ex-stand-up comedian) Kate Weston. Murder on
The Marvellers (The Conjureverse, #1)
By Dhonielle Clayton Reviewed by Bryani-Rose The novel, The Marvellers, written by Dhonielle Clayton is a captivating and magical tale that transports readers into a world of wonder. The story follows 11-year-old Ella, who is a young Conjurer and the first ever to attend
Only This Beautiful Moment
By Abdi Nazemian Reviewed by Liane McDermott This beautiful and richly layered story unfolds the lives and experiences of three generations of teenage boys from the Jafarzadeh family. Powerful vignettes told from the first-person perspectives of Moud in 2019, his father Saeed
Santa’s Secret
By Mike Dumbleton & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mike Dumbleton is a prolific writer who has created about thirty picture books, plus junior fiction and non-fiction, some YA, as well as anthologies and adaptations. In 2005 he received the Federal
The Christmas Wish (The Wish Sisters series)
By Allison Rushby Illustrated by Karen Blair Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the fifth in this series aimed at newly independent readers written by Brisbane author Allison Rushby. In each story Flick, the older sister, about 8, is constantly trying to fix
The Nutcracker
By ET A Hoffmann Retold by Susanne Koppe, translated from the German by Anthea Bell Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Many people are familiar with the ballet The Nutcracker but few have read the original story by E.T.A. Hoffman. For nearly
Nothing Ever Happens
By Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Heidi McKinnon is the author and illustrator of many wonderfully offbeat picture books, including I Just Ate my Friend, It’s A Long Way to the Shop and the adorable Floof. Heidi has an enviable knack for taking highly relatable
Michelle Simmons: Quantum computing scientist/Aussie STEM Stars
By Nova Weetman Illustrated by Mirjana Segan Reviewed by Helen Gearing In exceptional timing, this book was published in the same month that Michelle Simmons AO won the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science. Michelle Simmons: Quantum computing science is written by the award-winning
Butterfly Girl
By Ashling Kwok Illustrated by Arielle Li Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author Ashling Kwok likes to create children’s stories that speak to the heart. This picture book is about heart matters – the love of butterflies, loneliness, having to make new friends
No Brainer: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (18)
By Jeff Kinney Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Thomas In addition to having a permanent place on the New York Times bestseller list, I’m sure these books have helped many developing readers become permanent book lovers. The highlights of this series apart
Princess Ever After
By Connie Glynn Reviewed by Lucille Rose Princess Ever After is the fifth and final instalment of the Rosewood Chronicles. It begins with Lottie, who is the princess portman - hired to act as a member of the royal family to protect
Giovanni: A true story of survival – a voyage re imagined
By Crystal Corocher Illustrated by Margeaux Davis Reviewed by Margarite Igras The author, Crystal Corocher has written this heartfelt and historical story about how her ancestors from Veneto, Italy migrated to Australia in 1881. It is told through the innocent eyes of a
Begin Again: A map of our past and guide for our future
The Story of How We Got Here and Where We Might Go By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Oliver Jeffers is an award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator who’s responsible for some iconic contemporary children’s books, including The Day the Crayons
The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet
A Kingdoms and Empires Book By Jaclyn Moriarty Illustrated by Kelly Canby Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jaclyn Moriarty is the award winning author of novels for children, young adults and sometimes slightly older adults, including the Kingdoms and Empires series starting with The Extremely
Let’s Never Speak of This Again
By Megan Williams Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Megan Williams won the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing, 2022, with this emotive, finely written novel, mainly about teenage love and friendship but with family relationships, sport and dementia strongly in the
Bad Magic: A Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel
By Derek Landy, P.J. Holden, and Matt Soffe Reviewed by Sarah Custance Irish author Derek Landy wrote the bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant YA novels that have been translated into thirty-nine languages. Together with artist P.J.Holden and colourist Matt Soffe, Landy has created Bad
A Life Song
By Jane Godwin and Anna Walker Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Jane Godwin and Anna Walker are accomplished and celebrated Australian children’s book creators adept at bringing warmth, charm and a playful child-focused perspective to every publication. A Life Song is a
Ultrawild
An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth By Steve Mushin Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The word ‘audacious’ is used frequently in the promotions for Steve Mushin’s Ultrawild, and I can’t think of a better description. This book is big, bold,
When Grandma Burnt Her Bra
By Samantha Tidy & Aśka Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author Samantha Tidy tries to shine a light on the history of feminism and women’s rights, with this humorous yet passionate book for our younger readers. Together with Aśka’s informative and active
Walk With Us: Welcome to Our Country
By Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Walk With Us is the fourth in the Welcome to Our Country series by anti-racism advocate and former footballer Adam Goodes, with Ellie Laing and David Hardy. Laing was
Nedingar: Ancestors
By Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Nedingar: Ancestors is the debut picture book for Noongar creators Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm. A young child, depicted here as a bird, wants to meet their Ancestors. Their mother gently
The Lost Library
By Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rebecca Stead has written the award winning When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy and The List of Things That Will Not Change and more. Wendy Mass has written more than thirty
Solomon Macaroni and the Vampire Vacation
By Ashleigh Barton Illustrations by Sarah Davis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is the second adventure of the well mannered vegetarian young vampire, Solomon Macaroni, the first in the series being Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe,also reviewed in StoryLinks. Solomon is still staying with
Fluff, Bullies Beware! (Fluff, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Matt Stanton is the bestselling author of the Funny Kid series along with dozens of others, ranging from picture books to middle-grade novels with graphic novels in between. Fluff, Bullies Beware! is the first in what will
Starfell: Willow Moss and the Magic Thief
By Dominique Valente Illustrated by Sarah Warburton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Willow Moss and the Magic Thief is the 4th and newest installment of these fun, magical, adventurous middle-grade books in the Starfell series, with the talented Sarah Warburton returning to add delightful
Copycat
By Kelli Anne Hawkins Reviewed by Sophia Evans Copycat is the third children’s book by Australian author Kelli Anne Hawkins. Her previous books include The School for Talking Pets (2021) and Birdbrain (2022). Copycat begins with Chapter One titled - THE END which
