Jerry’s Window
By Y K Willemse Reviewed by Heidi Gray Jerry’s Window is Yvette’s most recent dive into middle grade fiction after her young adult epic fantasy fiction series The Fledgling Account. Jerry’s Window is a hilarious page turner depicting all the imaginative and
The Best Witch in Paris
By Lauren Crozier Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lauren Crozier won the 2023 Text Prize for her debut novel, a funny original adventure full of magic, found family, new friends, and self discovery with the catchy title of The Best Witch in Paris,
The Lost History: Talismans of Fate, Book Two
By Melanie La'Brooy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the sequel to The Wintrish Girl which delighted many readers with its originality, humour, engaging characters, and fast paced action. Here again are the same characters: Penn, still struggling to find her true
Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria: Bravepaw 1
By L M Wilkinson Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is an enjoyable fast paced adventure with an appealing central character created by L M Wilkinson who has written many other titles as Lili Wilkinson, including Deep is the Fen,
The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage
By Charlie Archbold Reviewed by Helen Gearing The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage is the highly-awaited next in series from award-winning author Charlie Archbold. Its predecessor, The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-Bottomed Boat, brought Far-North Queensland to life through an edge-of-your-seat
Ming and Ada Spark the Digital Age (The Girls Who Changed the World #4)
By Jackie French Reviewed by Jamie Willis Jackie French AM is one of Australia’s most popular authors, having written more than 140 books spanning all reading ages and genres. She was the Australian Children's Laureate for 2014/15 and the 2015 Senior Australian
Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars
By Catherine Norton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another fascinating glimpse into the lives of girls and women in Victorian England from a writer adept at bringing history to sparkling life for young readers. Norton's other books are Crossing and The
Superheroes for a Day
By Craig Cormick Illustrated by Lauren Mullinder Reviewed by Judy Wollin. Award winning Craig Cormick has written all his life and across a number of genres. He won the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award in 2006 for A Funny Thing Happened at 27,000 Feet
Read At Your Own Risk
By Remi Lai Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Read At Your Own Risk is the latest middle grade graphic novel from Ghost Book creator Remi Lai. It’s creepy and kooky, and likely to displease some children’s literature gatekeepers as it plays around
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five
By Carla Fitzgerald Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Carla wrote the picture book Keeping Up with the Dachshunds and How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five, reviewed in StoryLinks, another funny and heartwarming story also aimed at middle grade readers. In How to
Unreal
Can you tell fact from fake? by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Leila Rudge Reviewed by Mia Macrossan I learned a new word today, cryptid, an animal that some people believe is real but whose existence isn't backed up by strong evidence. There is
Jack’s Island
By Norman Jorgensen Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Jack’s Island is an award-winning book by Norman Jorgensen, which was first released in 2008, and has been re-released with a very appealing new cover. The story begins with Jack and his family travelling by
Something Special (40th Anniversary Edition)
By Emily Rodda Reviewed by Mia Macrossan If you are looking for a writer whose stories appeal to children of all ages, try a book by Emily Rodda, you won’t be disappointed. Something Special is a reissue of her debut book, first published
Breaking Pointe
By Chenée Marrapodi Reviewed by Helen Gearing In 2023, Chenée Marrapodi, host of the Writers off the Page podcast, released her debut middle-grade novel One Wrong Turn which explored the complexities of family expectations, migration, and ambition within an elite ballet academy.
Xander and the Pen
By David Lawrence Illustrated by Cherie Dignam Reviewed by Meg Rowe David Lawrence’s background in comedy writing for TV productions such as Comedy Inc. and Hamish & Andy has held him in good stead in the Middle Grade writing space, bringing humour and
The Raven’s Eye Runaways
By Claire Mabey Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Claire Mabey is very active in the New Zealand literary world - she is the founder of Verb Wellington, LitCrawl Wellington and Lōemis. She is also books editor at The Spinoff, book critic at RNZ
Mackenzie Arnold 1: Finders Keepers & Mackenzie Arnold 2: Caught in the Middle
By Mackenzie Arnold, Jess Black & Hannah McCaffery Reviewed by Jamie Willis In 2023, Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was in the spotlight as the Matildas won a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Semi-Finals and in 2024, she will compete with
The Kindness Project
By Deborah Abela Reviewed by Helen Gearing Deborah Abela has written over 30 books for children, including the bestselling Max Remy series and the CBCA Notable The Book of Wondrous Possibilities. Abela is also a Writer Ambassador for Room to Read, an
The Dragon’s Treasure and The Vanishing
By Mark Greenwood Reviewed by Sandy Driessens On a summer morning in 1931, four children on a remote beach in Western Australia, discovered ancient coins buried, like treasure in the sand. It ignited a treasure hunt that uncovered silver coins, hidden chests
Meet Rebecca Lim, author of Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky – Book Links 2024 Children’s Historical Fiction award shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are three brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim, A & U Children, 2023. The Fortune Maker by Catherine Norton, Harper Collins, 2023. Inkflower by Suzy Zail, Walker Books,
Leaf Letters
By Lorena Carrington Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray If there is a formula for creating a wonderfully engaging junior fiction novel it must surely involve intrepid friends, hidden treasure and secret codes. Lorena Carrington is best known as an artist, with many
The Apprentice Witnesser
By Bren MacDibble Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bren MacDibble burst onto the children's literature world with How to Bee, a post apocalyptic story that won many awards including 2018 CBCA Book of the Year, Younger Readers. That was followed by The Dog
Detective Beans & The Case of the Missing Hat
By Li Chen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Li Chen was born in Beijing, China, and moved to New Zealand when she was five. Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is her first graphic novel. Detective Beans, in trench coat and
Shower Land 2: Feel the Freeze
By Nat Amoore Illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury The unstoppable Nat Amoore returns with the second book in her junior fiction Shower Land series, titled Feel the Freeze. After taking a shower sends Felix on a medieval adventure in the first
Esme in the Limelight
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Helen Gearing Kate Gordon’s poignant middle-grade novel Aster’s Good, Right Things won the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 2021 and its companion title, Xavier in the Meantime, was shortlisted in the same category
Ultra Violet 1: Down to Business
Written by Cristy Burne Illustrated by Rebel Challenger Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd This is the first book in a new junior graphic novel series published by humour specialists Larrikin House. Author Cristy Burne has degrees in biotechnology and science communication and has written
Seven Wherewithal Way: Over the Mountains and Through the Desert
By Samantha-Ellen Bound Reviewed by Helen Gearing Samantha-Ellen Bound’s highly original debut novel, What the Raven Saw (shortlisted for the Adelaide Festival Literature Award), planted her firmly on the Australian kidlit scene in 2013 and her latest middle-grade series, Seven Wherewithal Way,
Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies
By Alison D. Stegert Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Mischief is afoot, and Queen Victoria is not amused begins the enticing cover blurb of Alison D. Stegert’s action-packed historical adventure for middle grade readers. In the spirit of the Enola Holmes series, this
Frog Squad Dessert Disaster (Frog Squad, #1)
By Kate and Jol Temple, Illustrated by Shiloh Gordon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This light hearted adventure featuring an evil toad who wants to rule the world being foiled by a team of brave amphibians has serious underflying themes about the natural world, sustainability, and
Tweet
By Morris Gleitzman Reviewed by Helen Gearing Morris Gleitzman, Australian Children’s Laureate for 2018-2019, has sold four million copies of his novels in Australia alone, as well as being published in more than 20 other countries. Gleitzman has a well-deserved reputation for
