Girl, Crushed
By Maggie Horne Reviewed by Jamie Willis Maggie Horne is a UK-based author of middle grade and young adult books. Her first novel, Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One, was a 2023 LGBTQ+ Middle Grade Lambda Literary Award finalist and a
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
11 Ruby Road: 1900
By Charlotte Barkla Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray 11 Ruby Road, 1900, is the first in a new Brisbane-based historical fiction series for readers 7+. Technically beginning with a prologue in 1860, the stories will be set every 25 years, in and around
Leo and Ralph
By Peter Carnavas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Peter’s first book, Jessica’s Box, was released in 2008, while he was working as a primary school teacher. Many picture books followed, including Last Tree in the City, The Children Who Loved Books and Blue Whale Blues. After focusing on
Fluff, Bullies Beware! (Fluff, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Matt Stanton is the bestselling author of the Funny Kid series along with dozens of others, ranging from picture books to middle-grade novels with graphic novels in between. Fluff, Bullies Beware! is the first in what will
Willa and Woof 3: Grandparents for Hire
By Jacqueline Harvey Reviewed by Liane McDermott Australia’s much loved and honoured children’s author, Jacqueline Harvey, of the popular Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose, and Kensy and Max series, produces another endearing junior fiction series—Willa and Woof. Mimi is Missing and Birthday Business are
Answers in the Pages
By David Levithan Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Levithan is an award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of young adult books, including 19 Love Songs, Every Day, Boy Meets Boy, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (with Rachel Cohn) and Will Grayson, Will Grayson (with John Green). David Levithan is a serious
A-Okay
By Jarad Greene Reviewed by Sarah Custance Jarad Greene is an American cartoonist who has helped colour many younger reader graphic novels. A-Okay is his second graphic novel (of which he is both author and illustrator) after Scullion: A Dishwasher’s Guide to
Fil and Harry
By Jenny Blackford Illustrated by Kristin Devine Reviewed by Sarah Custance Jenny Blackford is an Australian author whose previous book The Girl in the Mirror won the 2020 Davitt Award for Best Children’s Crime Novel. Fil and Harry is Jenny’s second middle grade
Positively Izzy
By Terri Libenson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Positively Izzy is the second book in the Emmie & Friends series written by American award-winning cartoonist Terri Libenson. In this book we follow the lives of two very different 13 year old girls, Izzy, who
Just Jaime
By Terri Libenson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Terri Libenson is the award-winning cartoonist of The Pajama Diaries and the Emmie & Friends series of which Just Jaime is the third novel. This book can be read on its own but I would
The List of Things That Will Not Change
by Rebecca Stead reviewed by Sarah Custance This is the amazing new book by award-winning author Rebecca Stead. Her other books include ‘First Light’, ‘Liar & Spy’, ‘Goodbye Stranger’, ‘When You Reach Me’ which won the American Newbery Medal in 2010, and
In the Key of Code
by Aimee Lucido reviewed by Mia Macrossan This debut novel combines computers, music and poetry into an original package for young middle grade readers. Told in verse that often roams across the page, takes over, dominates or quivers in a corner, this story
Sick Bay
by Nova Weetman reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Sick Bay is Nova Weetman’s eighth novel and she has again written a heart-warming story of a developing friendship between two girls who each have their own particular problems. Meg and Riley are two girls
