Unhallowed Halls
By Lili Wilkinson Reviewed by Ramona Naulty, Age 16 After swiftly reading (and thoroughly enjoying) Lili Wilkinson’s Unhallowed Halls, I can safely say that this book is a brilliant introduction to the world of fantasy. The novel follows the story of Page
Rival Darlings
By Alexandra Moody Reviewed by Lucille Rose Rival Darling, the first in the Darling Devils series, is a YA contemporary romance following the drama filled lives of two Minnesota high school students. Violet has one rule: never date a jock. And before
Nightweaver
By R M Gray Reviewed by Ayesha Uddin Nightweaver is a debut YA fantasy novel in the popular Romantasy genre. The ambience is grimdark, the pace is relentless and the narrative shot through with a sense of menace that rarely abates. The story
Anna’s War
By D J Taylor Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Anna’s War is a compelling YA historical fiction novel by debut author, DJ Taylor. Set in German-occupied Holland in the later stages of World War II, the story was inspired by the childhood memories
Song of a Blackbird
By Maria van Lieshout Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Maria is a Dutch-American illustrator and graphic novelist.who has written many picture books for children. Her graphic novel Song of a Blackbird is inspired by historic events, including those that affected her own family, during
We Won’t All Survive
By Kate Alice Marshall Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Two years ago, Mercy Gray was hailed as a hero for saving lives during a shooting. So, when billionaire turned TV host Damien Dare recruits Mercy to compete on his new survivalist reality show,
SoXiety
Society by Tamlyn Teow Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Tamlyn Teow is an artist and creative designer whose children’s book credits include illustrations and cover art for Sandy Bigna’s Little Bones and Helen Edwards’ On Gallant Wings. SoXiety gives Teow an opportunity
The Ballad of Darcy and Russell
By Morgan Matson Review by Lucille Rose A botched music festival. A broken-down bus. A dead phone. Darcy never knew the best night of her life would start quite like this. Darcy Milligan is your classic hopeless romantic: a book nerd with
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
Meet the author of Anomaly: Emma Lord
Emma loves all things sci-fi, fantasy and horror, but has a particular soft spot for reading and writing YA. Her debut YA novel Anomaly was published by Affirm Press in 2024 after an early draft was selected for the Varuna and Affirm Press
Sunny at the End of the World
By Steph Bowe Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Steph Bowe wrote three great YA novels Girl Saves Boy, 2010, All This Could End, longlisted for the 2014 Gold Inky Award, and Night Swimming, a Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book in
Cruel is the Light
By Sophie Clark Reviewed by Lucie Rose Cruel is the Light is an enthralling debut fantasy novel by Australian writer Sophie Clark following the perspectives of foot soldier Jules Lacroix and deadly exorcist Selene Alleva. The Vatican was born in blood and
The Lovely and the Lost
By Jennifer Lynn Barnes Reviewed by Lucille Rose This action thriller follows SAR dog trainer Kira bennet and her adoptive family as they begin the hunt for a girl lost in the American wilderness. Kira’s life is split it two, it has
The Sweetness Between Us
By Sarah Winifred Searle Reviewed by Lucille Rose The Sweetness Between us is a graphic novel following the lives of teen vampire Amandine Lavigne and diabetic Perley Culpepper. What’s worse than having to go back to school after the summer holidays? The answer
Standout Children’s Books of 2024
This year we have reviewed so many wonderful books, too numerous to list here. Browsing through StoryLinks we chose 20+ our reviewers consider outstanding. Many thanks to members of WriteLinks and the Last Tuesday Book Club for their recommendations.
Comes the Night
By Isobelle Carmody Reviewed by Jamie Willis Isobelle Carmody is the internationally acclaimed and bestselling Australian fantasy author of The Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering. She has written forty books and won countless awards, including the Children’s Literature Peace Prize, the CBCA Book of the Year
Gentlest of Wild Things
By Sarah Underwood Reviewed by Lucille Rose Gentlest of Wild Things is a fantasy novel set amidst the perils of love, danger and most importantly, Desire. In Ancient Greece, the island of Zakynthos has been overcome with the power of Desire,
The Hunger Games (Illustrated Edition)
By Suzanne Collins Illustrated by Nico Delort Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The Hunger Games, a dystopian novel inspired by reality television, Greek mythology and Roman gladiatorial games, became a worldwide publishing phenomenon when it first appeared in 2008. It is the first in a
The Glass Girl
By Kathleen Glasgow Reviewed by Lucille Rose The Glass Girl is a stark, eye-opening book that leads the reader into the dark world of addiction. This novel follows the twisted life of Bella Leahey, fifteen-year-old alcoholic and designated adult in the Leahey
Aisle Nine
By Ian X. Cho Reviewed by Lucille Rose Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho is a thrilling dystopian sci-fi, following the demonic life of supermarket worker Jasper. Retail is hell. Literally. Between vomit mop-ups and portals to the monster-dimension, Jasper’s workplace doesn’t exactly
The Heart of the World (Isles of the Gods 2)
By Amie Kaufman Reviewed by Jamie Willis Amie Kaufman is the internationally bestselling author of twenty books, including the Illuminae Files and the Aurora Cycle series which she co-authored with Jay Kristoff and the These Broken Stars series which she co-wrote
Lover Birds
By Leanne Egan Reviewed by Lucille Rose Lover Birds is an inclusive teen romance set in the city of Liverpool, England. Eliose ‘Lou’ Byrne is just trying to scrape through sixth form when she finds herself with an unexpected acquaintance. Posh, sharp
My Family and Other Suspects
By Kate Emery Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kate made her debut with the sparkling The Not So Chosen One, a YA fantasy. She has switched genres with My Family and Other Suspects, a seriously funny mystery story full of red herrings, suspicious
My Brother, Finch
Written by Kate Gordon Reviewed by Jamie Willis Kate Gordon is an award-winning author of children’s and young adult fiction. Her novel Aster’s Good, Right Things won the CBCA Book of the Year for younger readers in 2021, and in 2023, Xavier in
Anomaly
By Emma Lord Reviewed by Lucille Rose Winner of the 2024 Victorial Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adults. Winner of 2024 Best Young Adult Novel Aurealis Awards This action-filled dystopian thriller follows the story of young Piper Manning, one of the only survivors of
Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer
By Amy Doak Reviewed by Jamie Willis Amy Doak’s debut young adult novel and CBCA Notable, Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer, hooks the reader from the first line:‘Before I say anything, I’d just like to make one thing perfectly clear: I didn’t
Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret
By Amy Doak Reviewed by Lucille Rose Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret is the sequel to Amy Doak’s Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer. This is the story of sixteen-year-old amateur detective, Eleanor Jones, as she continues to uncover the mysteries
The Unexpected Mess of It All
Written by Gabrielle Tozer Reviewed by Jamie Willis Gabrielle Tozer is the award-winning author of seven books, including Remind Me How This Ends, Can’t Say It Went to Plan and The Intern, and her latest novel, The Unexpected Mess of It All, is a heart-warming coming-of-age YA
Rainbow Volume 1
By Sunny Gloom & Angel Gloomy Reviewed by Lucille Rose Rainbow Volume 1: Sunny and Gloomy is a charming graphic novel that tells the tale of imaginative teenager Boo Meadows. The story follows her as she dances, runs and stumbles her way
Liar’s Test
By Ambelin Kwaymullina Reviewed by Helen Gearing Ambelin Kwaymullina is an award-winning Aboriginal author and illustrator from the Palyku people of Western Australia. Her books for children (ranging from picture books to YA dystopian novels) have won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award,
