Once Upon Tomorrow
By Karen Comer Lothian Children's Books 2026 Reviewed by Dimity Powell Verse novels possess a certain magic that levels up emotion and crystalises conception. Award-winning Aussie author, Karen Comer's Once Upon Tomorrow is just such a lyrical foray into the past, the questionable future and
Mortal Engines: Bridge of Storms
By Philip Reeve Scholastic 2026 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 looking for
Day of Now
By Miranda Reason Bloomsbury 2026 Reviewed by Sue Wright There’s a long and vivid history of apocalyptic stories where gods, viruses, infections, invasions or conflicts wipe out civilisation as we know it. Stories range from ancient tales of floods to more modern era
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 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
Fireflies in Flight The Towers #2
By Mette Jakobsen Reviewed by Helen Gearing The second instalment of the urban dystopian series ‘The Towers’, Fireflies in Flight is a YA adventure for readers aged fourteen years and older who are looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes story of teenagers resisting
Endgame
By Malorie Blackman Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Noughts and Crosses is Malorie Blackman’s epic six novel series which has been 20 years in the making. Endgame is the final instalment, the others being Noughts and Crosses, Knife Edge, Checkmate, Double Cross, Crossfire. Endgame and draws on
The End of the World is Bigger Than Love
By Davina Bell A BOOK HOOK from the Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network She said we didn’t know what the world out there had become. We had been alone there so long on that tiny island, in that tiny church. But in the night,
The Electric Kingdom
By David Arnold Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes So much of the literature we enjoy today has been inspired by the monumental events of the 20th century: two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War and the list goes on. It makes
The End of the World is Bigger than Love
by Davina Bell Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Have you ever wondered what would happen if the world stopped turning? Would the sun hang motionless in the sky? Would the tides stop ebbing and flowing? Would survival be impossible? In The End of
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
This Mortal Coil
by Emily Suvada Puffin Books 2017 paperback $17.99 464 pp ISBN 9780141379272 In this debut novel scientist Emily Suvada has created a dystopian science fiction piece aimed at the Young Adult reader. She artfully manages a complex, intriguing plot, revealing unpredictable twists
