Tearing Myself Together
By Anna Whateley A & U Children 2026 Teaching resources Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey How do you tear yourself together? First, maybe, you need to allow yourself to be torn apart. Only then can you make sure it’s just the pieces that really fit
Drawing Nudes While Making Oher Plans
By Zoe Gaetjens Review by Lucille Rose Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans is an interesting, aptly named book, though its title is only the beginning of the attention-grabbing aspects of this novel. It takes place largely, as its name suggests, in a
Hafsa’s Way
By Aisha Saeed Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Hafsa’s Way is the third of a loose trilogy of contemporary realist middle grade novels by Pakistani-American author, Aisha Saeed. The firs two, Amal Unbound and Omar Rising, have been exceptionally well-received, with multiple starred
The Midlands
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Kate Gordon is the award winning author of not only Aster’s Good Right Things which won the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Award in 2021, but also many other delightful middle grade novels. Her
The Shadow Bride
By Shelby Mahurin Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Celie was just a girl. Then she was a Bride of Death. Now she has died and come back. Michal, king of the vampires, couldn’t watch Celie die. Instead he made her what she most
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
By Anna Fiteni Reviewed by Lucille Rose The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni is a contemporary fantasy book following eldest daughter Sabrina Parry who, after her father’s sentence to ten years in Australia, becomes the sole protector of her
The Same Backwards as Forwards
By Jennifer Lynn Barnes Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a Professor of Psychology and an American writer known for her extensive YA publications. The most popular of which are The Hawthorne Games and The Grandest Games, which follow Avery
What Have They Done to Liza McLean?
By Amy Doak Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Quiet, studious Meg has just started at uber-elite boarding school Douglas College, with her younger sister – fun-loving, party-girl Liza. But when Liza suddenly seems to embody all the serious, school-focused, hard-working ideals Meg has
Washpool
By Lisa Fuller Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Washpool is the second novel by Lisa Fuller, a Wulli Wulli woman and award-winning writer. Unlike the darker mysteries of her previous YA novel, Ghost Bird, Washpool is a surreal fantasy fit for any middle-grade
Moonlight and Dust
By Jasmin McGaughey Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Moonlight and Dust is the debut Young Adult novel from Torres Strait Islander author Jasmin McGaughey. Paired with the magic and drama of being a teenager in far north Queensland, this book is a beautiful
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science
Written by Kate McKinnon and illustrated by Alfredo Cáceres Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “I must write a book about Mad Science for the young, because it is the young who will save us, and indeed must save themselves. - Dr G. Edwina
Ferris
By Kate DiCamillo Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kate DiCamillo writes whimsical and thought-provoking stories that have delighted and enchanted readers for the last twenty years. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal (Flora & Ulysses in 2014 and The Tale of
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
Seven Wherewithal Way: Over the Mountains and Through the Desert
By Samantha-Ellen Bound Reviewed by Helen Gearing Samantha-Ellen Bound’s highly original debut novel, What the Raven Saw (shortlisted for the Adelaide Festival Literature Award), planted her firmly on the Australian kidlit scene in 2013 and her latest middle-grade series, Seven Wherewithal Way,
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
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
The Christmas Wish (The Wish Sisters series)
By Allison Rushby Illustrated by Karen Blair Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the fifth in this series aimed at newly independent readers written by Brisbane author Allison Rushby. In each story Flick, the older sister, about 8, is constantly trying to fix
The Wish Sisters: The Running Wish; The Pet Wish
By Allison Rushby Illustrated by Karen Blair Reviewed by Helen Gearing A baby sister who can make wishes come true. A mischievous imp who likes to twist wishes and make them go wrong. A nosy neighbour. A very public sports carnival and fundraiser.
Tumble Glass
By Kate Constable Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Constable has written almost a dozen books for middle-grade and YA audiences, including the CBCA award-winning book Crow Country. Tumble Glass is her newest novel about a girl who can slip through time. Thirteen-year-old Rowan
Bored: Evie Dreams Big
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton has written and co-authored over 35 books for children, including the very popular Funny Kid series and the graphic novel series The Odds. Evie Dreams Big is the 3rd instalment in Stanton’s middle-grade
War Girls
By Tochi Onyebuchi Reviewed by Caeleigh Hancock War Girls is the third book published by Tochi Onyebuchi. It is a futurist sci-fi set in Africa, largely Nigeria, in the 2100s. It creates a glimpse into a future world where climate change and
The Wintrish Girl: Talismans of Fate #1
By Melanie La'Brooy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Melanie is a successful Australian writer of adult novels, this is her debut novel for children. A Wintrish Girl just snaps, crackles and pops with action, humour and invention. Set in the Empire of Arylia its
Piano Fingers
By Caroline Magerl Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Caroline Magerl burst upon the children's literature world in 2001 when she won the the CBCA Crichton Award which aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children’s book illustration with
Ghosts
By Raina Telgemeier Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Aaron Ding Ghosts is Raina Telgemeier’s 4th award-winning graphic novel, following her acclaimed and award-winning Smile series which quickly gained her a huge number of fans. She is also an illustrator for the graphic adaptation
Seven Wherewithal Way
By Samantha-Ellen Bound Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Samantha-Ellen Bound is a writer, editor and bookseller who has previously published a dance-themed junior fiction series called Silver Shoes and an all-ages tale called What the Raven Saw. Seven. Wherewithal Way is book one
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,
52 Mondays
By Anna Ciddor Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anna Ciddor's previous novel, The Family With Two Front Doors was a CBCA Notable book in 2017. 52 Mondays is a fictionalised account of Anna's own Jewish childhood. . This is a nostalgic look at 1960s Australia,
The Golden Tower
By Belinda Murrell Reviewed by Sarah Custance Belinda Murrell is a popular Australian author known for her many middle-grade time-slip novels such as The Ivory Rose, The Ruby Talisman, The Locket of Dreams, The Forgotten Pearl, and many more, as well as
A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth
By Francesca Gibbons Illustrated by Chris Riddell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Welcome to a brilliant new voice in middle grade fantasy fiction. Francesca Gibbons' debut A Clock of Stars is the first in a trilogy titled The Shadow Moth. It is brimming with
The Republic of Birds
by Jessica Miller reviewed by Sarah Custance Jessica Miller is the author of the award-winning debut novel ‘Elizabeth and Zenobia’. Miller is Australian born but currently living in Berlin where the rich folk tales seem to have taken a grasp on her
