True South
By Gisela Ervin-Ward Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray True South is the debut novel for experienced education writer Gisela Ervin-Ward. It includes all the desirable key ingredients of a gripping middle-grade mystery, such as buried treasure, family secrets, and compromised friendships. Set
Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town
By Li chen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Hooray! The wonderful Bedective Deans
Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow: Nevermoor 4
By Jessica Townsend Reviewed by Helen Gearing Sunshine Coast author Jessica Townsend explores themes of family belonging, secrecy, and shame in the gripping fourth installment of her middle-grade fantasy series Nevermoor. ‘Silverborn’ sidesteps from high fantasy to murder mystery as 13-year old Morrigan
The World of Maxime
By Lucile de Pesloüan, illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn, translated by Helen Mixter Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Lucile de Pesloüan is from Montreal in Canada and previously wrote the graphic novel What Makes Girls Sick and Tired. Jacques Goldstyn is a Canadian illustrator
Mim and the Mother Muddle (The Travelling Bookshop, #6)
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Imagine being a young girl travelling the world in an old wooden caravan pulled by a horse that decides where they will go and which seems to have magical powers that mean
The Year We Escaped
By Suzanne Leal Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another gripping World War II story from the author of Running with Ivan, a CBCA Notable book. We first meet Klara Gold, a Jewish child, living in a Germany changing under Hitler's leadership. Klara
Down the Plothole
By Annaleise Byrd Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is another fun adventure in Grimm's fairytale world featuring those two reluctant reading partners and neighbours Basil and Terry whom we first met in Losing the Plot, Annaleise's debut middle grade novel. She has
The Girl Who Cried Bird (The Too-Tall Tales of Alma T. Best, #2)
By Katherine Collette Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This second instalment in the Too-Tales of Alma T Best is just as entertaining as the first volume Out of Bounds. It's not necessary to have read this as The Girl Who Cried Bird works
Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire: Bravepaw 2
By L M Wilkinson Illustrated by Lavanya Nidu Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is the continuation of the story of the brave mouse Titch and her loyal friends Huckleberry and Dollop begun in Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria: Bravepaw 1. Titch has the
Celeste Express 1: The War of the Wurms
By Alexander Slater Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Alexander Slater is a British author, artist, animator and TikToker. His debut middle grade novel, Celeste Express: The War of the Wurms, is a highly illustrated cosmic fantasy. Nine-year-old Celeste is a spoiled, bratty princess who
Music Camp
By Penny Tangey Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Penny Tangey is a qualified librarian who has written a variety of books for young people, including the picture book Granbad, an Aussie STEM Stars title about endocrinologist Creswell Eastman and the middle grade novel
When the World was Soft: Yindjibarndi Creation Stories
Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation illustrated by Alex Mankiewicz ; artwork by Judith Coppin [and ten others] Reviewed by Helen Gearing ‘When Minkala (God) created the Marrga (Creation spirits), most followed his laws and those of the Ngurra (country/land), but some crossed over to
Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm
By Samantha-Ellen Bound Reviewed by Helen Gearing In the final installment of her exciting portal fantasy series, Samantha-Ellen Bound keeps the stakes high (and mythological creatures flowing) while exploring themes of courage, friendship, and growing up. Celeste and her little sister Esme have
Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar!
Written by Tania Ingram Illustrated by A. Yi Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd South Australian author Tania Ingram has published various picture books, junior fiction stories and the middle grade novel The Other Shadow since making her debut in 2013. Before becoming a full-time
Thunder City
By Philip reeve Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Philip's first book was the epic YA steampunk Mortal Engines, 2001, which created a world of 'municipal Darwinism', where rampaging motorised towns and cities are on the move, attacking and eating each other, prowling around
Juniper’s Christmas
By Eoin Colfer Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat Reviewed by Sophia Evans Here's a story for those who like to read about Christmas at any time of the year. Juniper’s Christmas follows protagonist Juniper Lane as she discovers the science behind the magic of
Neeka and the Missing Key (Wilder Zoo, #1)
By Tina Strachan & Max Hamilton Reviewed by Sophia Evans I’ve always loved a good book that includes a map at the front and this book fits that category to a tee. Neeka and the Missing Key is the first book in
11 Ruby Road 1925
By Charlotte Barkla Reviewed by Margaret McKay Lowndes Charlotte Barkla has structured her historical fiction series around a single address, 11 Ruby Road, and 1925 is the second instalment, the first having been set in 1900. In this story, the first family
Ariana Treasure: The Missing Book; The Secret Ingredient
By Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern Illustrated by Karen Erasmus Reviewed by Meg Rowe When the bells above Ariana’s mum’s thrift shop, the Treasure Chest, start to jingle, you can be sure something interesting is about to happen! Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern’s The Missing Book, is
Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles
By Corey Tutt Illustrated by Ben Williams Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Deadly Science founder Corey Tutt, author of The First Scientists. has here teamed up with Ben Williams to produce a gorgeous and informative book celebrating First Nations knowledge about animals found on
Especially Good Greek Myths
By R.A. Spratt Reviewed by Helen Gearing One of R.A. Spratt’s most beloved characters, Nanny Piggins (a fabulously beautiful, supremely athletic nanny who firmly trusts in the power of chocolate to heal any ailment troubling the children in her care), returns in
The Thylacine and the Time Machine
By Renée Treml Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Renée has degrees in biology and environmental science, and her passionate love of natural history shines through in this fascinating, information rich, graphic examination of the history and possible future of the Tasmanian tiger or
Spirit of the Crocodile
By Aaron Fa’Aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White Reviewed by Helen Gearing Co-writers Aaron Fa’Aoso (producer, actor and screenwriter) and Michelle Scott Tucker (biographer and author) have teamed with children’s publishing consultant Lyn White (editor of the middle-grade series Through
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science
Written by Kate McKinnon and illustrated by Alfredo Cáceres Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “I must write a book about Mad Science for the young, because it is the young who will save us, and indeed must save themselves. - Dr G. Edwina
Little Bones
By Sandy Bigna Reviewed by Mia Macrossan ‘Night slides in with its warm-scented breath, swallowing up the shrinking sun and gently flicking its star-lights on. This lyrical debut verse novel immediately reaches out to touch your heart with its original imagery and evocative language. It
Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest
By Liz Flanagan Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Liz Flanagan is the UK writer of the middle grade fantasy series Legends of the Sky, and the YA thriller Eden Summer. Into the Wild is the first in her new Wildsmith
Frog, Log & Dave Almost Save the Day
By Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Trent Jamieson is the author of the gorgeous children's book The Giant and the Sea as well as mnay adult books. He and Brent Wilson first teamed up with Mr Impoppable, a
To and Fro
By Anton Clifford-Motopi Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Brisbane-based author Anton Clifford-Motopi is a former teacher and lecturer who currently works as a health researcher at a university. Anton’s stories explore themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendship, and draw from ‘
Every Rock Has a Story: an A to Z of Australian geology
By Kitty van Cuylenburg Illustrated by Cher Hart Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This informative book explores 26 iconic landforms, minerals, fossils or resources all with interesting tales to tell. Each letter has a keyword underneath it to show what type of geological feature
Wave Atlas: Everything you need to know about waves
By Sarah Zambello Illustrated by Susy Zanella Produced in collaboration with the University of Genoa, Sea Study Centre Translated by Emma Mandley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is something different in information books - not only is Wave Atlas a carefully researched scientific explanation of
