Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping
By Craig Silvey Illustrated by Sara Acton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Craig Silvey is rapidly becoming a household name in Australia. Two of his books Honeybee #25 and Jasper Jones #24 were voted amongst the recent Top 100 Books in Radio National's 2025
Millie Mak Makes Her Mark
By Alice Pung Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Millie Mak is back in the final instalment of this series for younger independent readers who enjoy contemporary realistic fiction that reflects both their lives and their relationships. Now she has settled into her
Friday Barnes 13: In Plain Sight
By R. A. Spratt Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins R.A. Spratt is a UK born Australian author of many books including Hamlet is not OK, the Nanny Piggins series, several volumes of stories, and The Peski Kids series. She also has a podcast
Aster’s Next, Good Thing
Written by Kate Gordon Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Aster’s Next, Good Thing is the last in Kate Gordon’s award winning series of books that introduced us to Aster and her friends Xavier, Indigo and Esme. The first, Aster’s Good, Right Things, won
The Girl and the Ghost
By Jacqueline Harvey Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson with thanks to Sue Warren for her inspiring insights A French village, new friends, a locket from the past, a local mystery to be solved and . . . a ghost. ‘Josephine’s heart is hammering. Her
Moonboy
By Anna Ciddor Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Moonboy is the latest time-travelling adventure from multiple award-winner Anna Ciddor, author of The Boy Who Stepped Through Time and A Message Through Time. With over 50 books to her credit, Ciddor is well-known for
R. I. P. Nanny Tobbins
By Lucie Stevens Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lucie Stevens is children's author, freelance writer, editor and publishing consultant. R. I. P. Nanny Tobbins, about a young girl coping with an unruly ghost, is her debut middle grade novel. Nine year old Albertine's cosy
Mim and the Mother Muddle (The Travelling Bookshop, #6)
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Imagine being a young girl travelling the world in an old wooden caravan pulled by a horse that decides where they will go and which seems to have magical powers that mean
Music Camp
By Penny Tangey Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Penny Tangey is a qualified librarian who has written a variety of books for young people, including the picture book Granbad, an Aussie STEM Stars title about endocrinologist Creswell Eastman and the middle grade novel
Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar!
Written by Tania Ingram Illustrated by A. Yi Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd South Australian author Tania Ingram has published various picture books, junior fiction stories and the middle grade novel The Other Shadow since making her debut in 2013. Before becoming a full-time
Neeka and the Missing Key (Wilder Zoo, #1)
By Tina Strachan & Max Hamilton Reviewed by Sophia Evans I’ve always loved a good book that includes a map at the front and this book fits that category to a tee. Neeka and the Missing Key is the first book in
The Midwatch
By Judith Rossell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Judith Rossell has made a name for herself as one of those rare creatures who can both write like a dream and illustrate her writing with quirky charming memorable images. She has illustrated many picture
Out of Bounds (The Too-Tall Tales of Alma T. Best, #1)
By Katherine Collette Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Katherine's first middle grade novel and its a cracker! It is the very funny story of Alma, twelve years old and six feet tall, who lives in a small town called Shellsville, (sometimes
Turtle Moon
By Hannah Gold Illustrated by Levi Pinfold Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Life has been unflash in the Trevelon household for some time as Silver's parents try unsuccessfully to have another child and discover that it is not going to happen. So much so
Millie Mak the Mender (Millie Mak, #2)
By Alice Pung Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng. Reviewed by Helen Gearing Alice Pung OAM is one of Australia’s most decorated contemporary writers, delivering the State of the (Writing) Nation Address in 2021 and receiving an Order of Australia for her contributions
Grace the Amazing
By Aleesah Darlinson Reviewed by Jamie Willis Aleesah Darlinson is an award-winning author of more than 65 books for children, including the Super Sloth series, the Space Kids series and the League of Llamas series. Aleesah has won or been shortlisted for
Brittany & Co Take on Paris
Written by John Larkin Illustrated by Rebecca Timmis Reviewed by Jamie Willis John Larkin writes for both children and adults. His previous books include How to Avoid Being Eaten by Sharks and Zombies Vs. the Illuminati. Rebecca Timmis is an award-winning author and
Riley’s Failproof Guide to BREAKING a School Record
Written by Dani Vee Illustrations by Jules Faber Reviewed by Sophia Evans Riley's Failproof Guide to Breaking a School Record is a pun-tastic middle-grade novel that follows Riley Noodle, who has been trying to break a school record for seven years. She is
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
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
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
Fledgewitch: A Dragons of Hallow Book
By Lian Tanner Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lian is a prolific writer of outstanding children’s fantasy. Her books are enjoyable on many levels as she puts her always varied cast of characters in interesting conflicts, has a sense of
The Witches’ Council: Lily Halfmoon 2
By Xavier Bonet Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the second in the Lily Halfmoon graphic novel series which is about the magical adventures of a young girl, Lily, and her friends. Lily is a secret witch who meets other magical people in
Mim and the Vicious Vendetta (The Travelling Bookshop, #5)
By Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Helen Gearing Katrina Nannestad, perhaps best known for her multi award-winning historical fiction (Waiting for the Storks; Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief; and We are Wolves), has teamed up with beloved illustrator Cheryl Orsini
Etta and the Octopus
By Zana Fraillon & Andrew Joyner Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Zana is the much awarded writer of picture books including The Gargoyle and The Curiosities and books for older readers such The Lost Soul Atlas and The Way of Dog, both reviewed in
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
Millie Mak the Maker
by Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng Reviewed by Charlotte Barkla Millie Mak is a creative and industrious nine-year-old who turns everyday objects into something new. Through her ingenuity, she navigates difficult friendships, family relationships and school. Millie Mak the Maker is
Ming and Hilde Lead a Revolution #3 The Girls Who Changed the World
By Jackie French Reviewed by Helen Gearing Good historical fiction helps readers answer questions they didn’t know they had, and in her latest middle-grade novel, Ming and Hilde Lead a Revolution, Australian storytelling great Jackie French AM turns her attention to how
Paper Boat, Paper Bird
By David Almond Illustrated by Kirsti Beautyman Reviewed by Helen Gearing Part love letter to overseas travel and part highly-illustrated short story, Paper Boat, Paper Bird follows nine-year old Mina as she spends a holiday in Kyoto, Japan, with her mother. In terms
