New Reading List: Bushfires, Droughts & Floods
This has been a tough time for many people in Australia and children will be asking questions and looking for explanations. Here are some fiction titles that will help parents and teachers talk to children about what has happened. The list
Edie’s Experiments: How to Make Friends
by Charlotte Barkla reviewed by Sarah Custance Charlotte Barkla is the exact person you want to have written a book about a young girl having fun with science while getting into a bit of mischief and trouble. Having worked as both a civil
Orphans of the Tide
by Struan Murray reviewed by Sarah Custance Struan Murray is a Scottish author making a strong debut with his middle-grade novel Orphans of the Tide. The novel draws the reader in so quickly with a fast-paced plot, believable characters and a fantastical
The Dog Runner
by Bren MacDibble reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bren MacDibble burst onto the children's literary world with her award- winning How To Bee, a heartwarming dystopian novel set in a world where bees are extinct. The Dog Runner, an exciting fast -paced thriller,
The Space We’re In
by Katya Balen illustrated by Laura Carlin reviewed by Sarah Custance ‘The Space We’re In’ is UK author Katya Balen’s debut novel and if this book is anything to go by then she is an author to look out for in the future. Katya
When We Were Warriors
by Emma Carroll reviewed by Sarah Custance If you want a well written middle-grade historical fiction then Emma Carroll has proven herself to be the perfect choice. ‘When We Were Warriors’ is Carroll’s ninth novel and is living up to its predecessor’s
Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire
by Nat Amoore reviewed by Sarah Custance Nat Amoore is a writer and host of kidlit podcast ‘One More Page’ who is based in Sydney. ‘Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire’ is Amoore’s first published middle-grade novel. Tess Heckleston is our 10 year old
Atticus Van Tasticus
by Andrew Daddo illustrated by Stephen Michael King reviewed by Sarah Custance Adults will know Andrew Daddo from his many TV and radio shows, podcasts, stage productions, movies and even some of his other books. Daddo writes across many genres including picture books,
The Secret Dragon
by Ed Clarke reviewed by Yvonne Mes Even a tiny secret can be big trouble. During her search for fossils along the cliffs of the New South Wales coast, Mari discovers a fossilised egg. To her astonishment it hatches into a dragon which
Annabel, Again
by Meg McKinlay reviewed by Sarah Custance Meg McKinlay is the award winning author of ‘A Single Stone’ and the more recently acclaimed ‘Catch a Falling Star’. The book ‘Annabel, Again’ was first published in 2007 to much critical acclaim and is
Running with the Horses
written and illustrated by Alison Lester reviewed by Mia Macrossan Running with the Horses written and illustrated by Australian national treasure Alison Lester is a new edition of an old picture book favourite. Now in a smaller hardback format it is more
The Time of Green Magic
by Hilary McKay reviewed by Mia Macrossan Hilary McKay is a popular writer in the UK who has won the Costa Children's Book Award for The Skylarks' War, the Guardian Fiction Prize for The Exiles, and the Smarties and the Whitbread Award
52 Mondays
by Anna Ciddor reviewed by Zewlan Moor Longing for Milly-Molly-Mandy for older readers? This is the book for you! Inspired by the author’s childhood 52 Mondays is a collection of short gentle vignettes with a narrative arc, tracing young Anna Lewison’s quest for
The Little Grey Girl (The Wild Magic Trilogy, Book Two)
by Celine Kiernan reviewed by Sarah Custance Celine Kiernan is an Irish author famous for her work The Moorehawke Trilogy. The Wild Magic Trilogy is her first time writing for a middle-grade audience. A quote on the cover describes Kiernan as Ireland’s
Evie and the Animals
by Matt Haig illustrated by Emily Gravett reviewed by Mia Macrossan This heartwarming story introduces a young girl who has the special talent of being able to understand and talk to animals a la Hugh Lofting's Dr Dolittle. (I don't think it is
Vognox the Viking and the Island of Skeletons
by Nick Falk illustrated by Tony Flowers reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the laugh out loud highly illustrated, almost graphic novel of a very reluctant Viking adventurer. Vognox is frightened of everything. He doesn’t want to go outside because there are horrible
The Time Travel Diaries
by Caroline Lawrence reviewed by Sarah Custance Caroline Lawrence is the author of the award winning ‘Roman Mysteries’ series, first published in 2001 and since translated into 14 different languages. Lawrence loves delving deep into history for her novels and tries to
The Monster Who Wasn’t
by T C Shelley reviewed by Sarah Custance T.C. Shelley has been an English Teacher and ‘The Monster Who Wasn’t’ is her first novel. Throughout the book there are various hints that at least one sequel if not a whole series is
The Year We Fell From Space
by Amy Sarig King reviewed by Mia Macrossan Amy Sarig King has published many critically acclaimed young adult novels under the name A.S. King, including Please Ignore Vera Dietz, which was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and Ask the Passengers, which
The Dragon in the Library
by Louie Stowell illustrated by Davide Ortu reviewed by Sarah Custance Louie Stowell is an English author of many books, both fact and fiction, for children as well as being the Editorial Director at Ladybird. The Dragon in the Library is her first
Scoop McLaren Detective Editor
by Helen Castles Reviewed by Sarah Custance Helen Castles is a real life newspaper reporter with ‘Scoop McLaren Detective Editor’ being her first published book, the beginning of a series. Helen has wonderfully blended her actual reporter experience as (I’m sure you
The Starlight Watchmaker
by Lauren James reviewed by Yvonne Mes From the author of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe and The Quiet at the End of the World The Starlight Watchmaker tell the story of friendship between an android and a wealthy student at an
The Good Thieves
by Katherine Rundell reviewed by Mia Macrossan A new book by Katherine Rundell is always an event. Her previous novels, including The Explorer and The Wolf Wilder have all been very popular and now here is The Good Thieves, a fast- paced
The Longest Night of Charlie Noon
written by Christopher Edge reviewed by Leslee Anne Hewson This adventure story is fascinating because of its historical references and science input. Edge wrote a complicated but accessible story which included factual information about codes and code-breaking – The Freemason’s Code, Morse
Eco Rangers Series
#1 Pelican in Peril #2 Microbat Mayhem written by Candice Lemon-Scott Illustrated by Aska reviewed by Maria Parenti-Baldey Two snappy adventure stories with Eco Rangers, Ebony and Jay. In Pelican in Peril, the kids rescue an oil-covered pelican, Poseidon, who becomes an unexpected hero.
Dream Riders : Frankie
by Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder Reviewed by Sarah Custance Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder are two award-winning writers who live in country Australia. In their new collaborative series ‘Dream Riders’ they have let their passion for country life and horses shine
A Flight of Dragons
What is the collective term for a lot of dragons? Apparently terms used include : a flight of dragons; a weyr of dragons; a school of dragons; or a wing of dragons. The term 'weyr' comes from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders
Sick Bay
by Nova Weetman reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Sick Bay is Nova Weetman’s eighth novel and she has again written a heart-warming story of a developing friendship between two girls who each have their own particular problems. Meg and Riley are two girls
The Troll Heart #2 The Witching Hours
by Jack Henseleit illustrated by Ryan Andrews reviewed by Sandy Driessens WARNING: DO NOT look for fairies. You will not find them. And if you do. YOU WILL REGRET IT. In this, the second book of The Witching Hours series, this warning still
Rogue The Vault #2
Written by A J Betts Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rogue, published in June this year is the sequel to Hive (2018). I read Rogue first and then was eager to read Hive. Both can be read on their own, but Betts does
