Deep is the Fen
By Lili Wilkinson Reviewed by Tehani Croft Wilkinson returns with a new cast and adventure to the world of her CBCA finalist A Hunger of Thorns in this richly drawn exploration of magic and masculinity, but where AHOT dug into themes of
One By One They Disappear
By Mike Lucas Reviewed by Tehani Croft Karla’s life is upended by Hitler’s war on her people, forcing her family into hiding. When bombing destroys her world, an unexpected lifeline appears and she escapes to the mountains. But the idyllic village hides dark secrets,
Where Sleeping Girls Lie
By Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé Reviewed by Tehani Croft Wealth, privilege, and tragic backstory underpin the characters and events in Where Sleeping Girls Lie, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s second novel. There is a strong sense of purpose at the heart of the novel, but the extreme
Kiss the Girl
By Zoraida Córdova Reviewed by Lucille Rose Kiss The Girl is a young adult romance starring Eric Reyes: the lead guitarist of ‘Star Crossed’ and out-cast son of a Colombian millionaire, and Melody ‘Ariel’ Del Mar: lead singer of pop sensation ‘The
Girls
Written and illustrated by Annet Schaap Translated from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Girls by the Dutch writer and artist Annet Schaap is an original, challenging, maybe even hair raising collection of fairy tales that are not at all
The First Move
By Jenny Ireland Reviewed by Lucille Rose The First Move by Jenny Ireland is a YA romance starring Juliet, a cynical teen with inflammatory arthritis, and Ronan, a brooding bad boy with a secret, who meet disguised as online chess players.
Smoke & Mirrors
By Barry Jonsberg Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Barry Jonsberg is the much awarded author of the 2019 novel, My Life As An Alphabet, which was made into a film. He also wrote A Little Spark, reviewed in StoryLinks. Here he is in familiar
Here and Only Here
By Christelle Dabos Reviewed by Lucille Rose Christelle Dabos is the author of The Mirror Visitor, which won the Gallimard Jeunesse-RTL-Télérama First Novel Competition. Here and Only Here, is an immediately engaging novel depicting the ups, downs and strange in-betweens of high school. Four
Never a Hero: Only a Monster 2
By Vanessa Len Reviewed by Helena Never a Hero, written by Vanessa Len is the second in a three-book series, following Only a Monster. This fantasy-romance, set in England, tells the story of a high school girl named Joan Chang-Hunt, who is a
Murder on a School Night
By Kate Weston Reviewed by Liane McDermott Described by the publisher as Sex Education meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this YA novel for readers 14+ is a fun, feminist murder mystery by author (and ex-stand-up comedian) Kate Weston. Murder on
Only This Beautiful Moment
By Abdi Nazemian Reviewed by Liane McDermott This beautiful and richly layered story unfolds the lives and experiences of three generations of teenage boys from the Jafarzadeh family. Powerful vignettes told from the first-person perspectives of Moud in 2019, his father Saeed
Princess Ever After
By Connie Glynn Reviewed by Lucille Rose Princess Ever After is the fifth and final instalment of the Rosewood Chronicles. It begins with Lottie, who is the princess portman - hired to act as a member of the royal family to protect
Let’s Never Speak of This Again
By Megan Williams Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Megan Williams won the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing, 2022, with this emotive, finely written novel, mainly about teenage love and friendship but with family relationships, sport and dementia strongly in the
Bad Magic: A Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel
By Derek Landy, P.J. Holden, and Matt Soffe Reviewed by Sarah Custance Irish author Derek Landy wrote the bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant YA novels that have been translated into thirty-nine languages. Together with artist P.J.Holden and colourist Matt Soffe, Landy has created Bad
Neverlanders
By Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva Reviewed by Sarah Custance Tom Taylor and Jon Sommariva are both well-known powerhouses in the Australian comic/graphic novel scenes. Together they wrote and illustrated Neverlanders, a powerful, vibrant YA graphic novel that has made history by
Every Exquisite Thing
By Laura Steven Reviewed by Lucille Rose Reading Every Exquisite Thing by Laura Steven is like taking a shot of espresso—deliciously dark and so strong that it takes over your senses. This book centres on Penny Paxton, the daughter of A-list celebrity Peggy
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath
By Garth Nix Reviewed by Ayesha Uddin Garth Nix, author of the Old Kingdom, Seventh Tower, and Keys to the Kingdom series, needs no introduction. In The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, second book in the Lefthanded Booksellers of London series, he delivers an immersive crime / fantasy story
Not Here to Make You Comfortable
Reviewed by Lucille Rose Not Here to Make You Comfortable, written by the women of Penguin Random House Australia, is a collection of fifty women’s stories from across the globe. Ranging from the award-winning engineer, activist and author Yassmin Abdel-Magied to
Creeping Beauty
By Andrea Portes Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Andrea Portes is the author of two adult novels and a number of young adult novels, including Anatomy of a Misfit. In this the re-telling of Sleeping Beauty, Princess Elizabeth ‘Bitsy” Roix is destined to live
Liar’s Beach
By Katie Cotugno Reviewed by Liane McDermott New York Times bestselling author Katie Cotugno, who is best known for her ‘complicated, feminist YA love stories’, shifts her talents to a YA murder mystery—Liar’s Beach. Promoted as a fresh take on Agatha Christie’s
The Spider and her Demons
By sydney khoo Reviewed by Mia Macrossan sydney khoo is a nonbinary and aromantic asexual writer, born to Malaysian Chinese parents. They are the recipient of Penguin Random House Australia's Write It fellowship which aspires to find, nurture and develop unpublished writers
Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose: Enola Holmes 9
By Nancy Springer Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Nancy Springer is the author of the popular Enola Holmes novels as well as more than 50 other books for children and adults. Several of the Enola Holmes stories have been made into popular films
This Summers Secrets
This Summers Secrets Review by Junior Reviewer Lucille, Year 8 A London evacuee. A poor girl with crushed dreams. A scared teenager who can see auras. This Summer’s Secrets by Emily Barr follows a mystery through the eyes of four characters
We Didn’t Think It Through
Gary Lonesborough Reviewed by Helen Gearing Gary Lonesbourough (whose 2021 debut Young Adult novel The Boy from the Mish amassed four state literary award shortlistings as well as being shortlisted for the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers) has
Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky
By Rebecca Lim Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rebecca is the award winning author of Tiger Daughter ( CBCA 2022 Book of the Year, Older Readers winner) which is about Wen Zhou the daughter and only child of Chinese immigrants whose move to
From the World of Percy Jackson: The Sun and the Star (The Nico Di Angelo Adventures)
By Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro Reviewed by Helen Gearing With over 25 books comprising three main series and several spin-offs, The Sun and the Star is the latest standalone instalment in the Percy Jackson universe by collaborators Rick Riordan and Mark
Queensland Literary Awards 2023 Shortlist
Congratulations to all! Children’s Book Award 2023 shortlist The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon (University of Queensland Press) Judges' comments: A mistreated puppy’s attempt to reconnect with his ‘ManPup’ becomes an odyssey of tragedy, hope, and love. Told in visceral poetry and illustration,
The Night In Question
By Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Lucille R. Crowley, age 13 This addictive murder mystery follows Alice Ogilvie and Iris Adams as they unravel a dark web of lies that has entangled their town of Castle Cove. The
When Clouds Touch Us
By Thanhha Lai Review by Zewlan Moor Thanhhà Lai’s first novel, Inside Out and Back Again, won the National Book Award and a Newbery Honor. It was a verse novel that explored ten-year-old Hà’s move from Saigon to Alabama in the context
Scar Town
By Tristan Bancks Reviewed by Sophia Evans Tristan is the acclaimed author of Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, Cop & Robber, Nit Boy and Ginger Meggs. His books for upper middle grade and young adults are fast-paced mystery thrillers with carefully considered serious
