The Fowl Twins – Deny All Charges
By Eoin Colfer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Eoin Colfer is a name recognised by any good book worm as the author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels along with over a dozen other children/middle-grade books. Deny All Charges is the second book
The little mermaid and other fairy tales
By Hans Christian Andersen Illustrated by Minalima Reviewed by Mia Macrossan First published in 1837 Andersen's fairy tales quickly became popular and have been reprinted many times. This is a gorgeous new edition of the perennial favourite is a sturdy hardback with full
The Boy, the Wolf and the Stars
By Shivaun Plozza Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This foray into fantasy is the first middle grade novel by Shivaun who has previously written the YA novels Frankie, a CBCA Notable Book and Tin Heart. At the centre of most fantasy novels is a
The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon is an Australian librarian turned author whose previous works include: Three Things about Daisy Blue, Girl Running, Boy Falling, and Juno Jones: Word Ninja. The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn is one of her
One Christmas Wish
by Katherine Rundell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This clever, funny and poignant story is one that will be read again and again at Christmas or any time since its universal themes give it a timeless appeal. It's Christmas Eve, Theo's parents have to
Zoe , Max and the Bicycle Bus
By Steven Herrick Reviewed by Sarah Custance Steven Herrick an award winning Australian author of over 25 books for children and young adults. He has achieved widespread critical acclaim for his verse-novel YA books. Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus is his
The Wizard in My Shed: The Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild
By Simon Farnaby Illustrated by Claire Powell Reviewed by Leonard C. This is Simon Farnaby’s first children’s book. He has written and starred in various family TV shows and films including Horrible Histories, Paddington and Paddington 2. Rose lives with her mother and brother
Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai Reviewed by Leonard Cavallaro Remy Lai’s debut junior fiction Pie in the Sky is an engaging tale of overcoming language barriers and accepting difference. Remy Lai has a major in painting and drawing which is evident in the artistic representations
A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth
By Francesca Gibbons Illustrated by Chris Riddell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Welcome to a brilliant new voice in middle grade fantasy fiction. Francesca Gibbons' debut A Clock of Stars is the first in a trilogy titled The Shadow Moth. It is brimming with
Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale : Starfell #2
By Dominique Valente Illustrated by Sarah Warburton Reviewed by Sarah Custance British author Dominique Valente had her first novel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day published last year in 2019 and now the sequel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale has
Monstrous Devices
By Damien Love Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Damien's debut novel but it has been so successful that a sequel, The Shadow Arts, is on the way. Written with ease and sparkling invention Monstrous Devices centres on the adventures of 12 year
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
By L.D. Lapinski Reviewed by Sarah Custance L.D. Lapinski is a British author and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency is her first published novel. It is so popular that it is currently being translated into twelve different languages and the sequel The Strangeworlds
Beyond Belief
By Dee White Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Bryani-Rose, age 11 Beyond Belief is an engaging and informative novel set at the time of the Second World War, in 1942. Eleven-year-old Ruben is hiding from the Nazis in the Grand Mosque in Paris where
The Tindims of Rubbish Island
By Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sally Gardner is the award-winning author of many children’s novels. Her work has been translated into over 22 languages and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Her latest novel ‘The Tindims of
What Zola Did on Tuesday
By Melina Marchetta Illustrated by Deb Hudson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Cousins Zola and Alessandro live next door to each other – there’s even a gate cut into the fence by their Nonno Nino before he died so they could be together as
Premeditated Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle #1)
By Elizabeth C Bunce Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This book is like the younger readers version of Alan Bradley’s Flavia De Luce mysteries and Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart quartet. It features an unconventional, intelligent protagonist, with that arch tone commonly found in
Funny Kid Belly Flop (Funny Kid #8)
Written and illustrated by Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton is an Australian author with over 28 books to his name and the writer of the popular picture book ‘This is a Ball’ which he co-wrote with his wife Beck
The List of Things That Will Not Change
by Rebecca Stead reviewed by Sarah Custance This is the amazing new book by award-winning author Rebecca Stead. Her other books include ‘First Light’, ‘Liar & Spy’, ‘Goodbye Stranger’, ‘When You Reach Me’ which won the American Newbery Medal in 2010, and
Catvinkle and the Missing Tulips
by Elliot Perlman illustrated by Laura Stitzel reviewed by Barbara Braxton Catvinkle lives in Amsterdam, with her barber-owner Mr. Sabatini, and she likes to think that the world revolves around her, as cats generally do. From her basket near the fireplace in what
The Silver Arrow
by Lev Grossman reviewed by Mia Macrossan A refreshing debut children’s book by Lev Grossman, an American who usually writes adult fantasy. It’s Kate’s birthday and she isn’t expecting much so when her wealthy uncle gives her a huge life size steam train
Death Sets Sail
by Robin Stevensreviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the last in the Murder Most Unladylike Series. Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells are two young girls who go to a boarding school in England in the 1930s. They are the Wells & Wong
We Are Wolves
by Katrina Nannestadt reviewed by Mia Macrossan This historical novel with a serious underlying theme is based on real events. Apparently thousands of lost, orphaned or abandoned children, called Wolfskinder, wandered alone in East Prussia at the end of World War II. They survived
What Zola Did on Monday
by Melina Marchetta illustrated by Deb Hudson reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the first in a new series, by acclaimed Australian author, Melina Marchetta, most famous for her books for older children including Looking for Allibrandi, but here writing for emerging readers
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst
by Jaclyn Moriarty reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the third book in the Kingdoms and Empires series. Moriarty is brilliant in that each of the titles in this series, The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone and The Slightly Alarming Tale
Skunk and Badger #1
by Amy Timberlake illustrated by Jon Klassen reviewed by Mia Macrossan This first in a series of stories about an unlikely and extraordinary animal friendship is filled with humour, whimsy and some heartache. Amy Timberlake, a much-awarded US writer, is ably supported by the
Marshmallow Pie the Cat Superstar
by Clara Vulliamy reviewed by Mia Macrossan Any cat lover will adore this story about Marshmallow Pie, a big fluffy independent cat who is now living in a small flat with his new human, a young girl called Amelia Lime. Pie is a
The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator
by Matilda Woods reviewed by Bryani-Rose, age 11 Eleven-year old Oona Britt is from Nordlor, the village of one thousand ships. She lives with her father, mother and six sisters. Oona is very unlike her sisters, instead of wanting to marry a
The World’s Worst Parents
by David Walliams illustrated in glorious colour by Tony Ross reviewed by Sarah Custance David Walliams is a well known British comedian, actor, and writer. He is the author of over 20 children’s books including the acclaimed ‘The Boy in the Dress’, ‘Gangsta
Nevertell
by Katharine Orton reviewed by Sarah Custance There have been a number of authors over the past few years that have made remarkably strong debuts and I will absolutely be adding Katharine Orton to that list. ‘Nevertell’ is her first novel but
In the Key of Code
by Aimee Lucido reviewed by Mia Macrossan This debut novel combines computers, music and poetry into an original package for young middle grade readers. Told in verse that often roams across the page, takes over, dominates or quivers in a corner, this story
