All the Beautiful Things
By Katrina Nannestad with illustrations by Martina Heiducek Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Katrina Nannestad is one of Australia's foremost writers of children's historical fiction. She has won the Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction twice with We Are Wolves, 2021 and Waiting
The Night War
By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bradley wrote the Newbery Honor Books The War That Saved My Life and its sequel The War I Finally Won, two heart-warming stories about a girl's experiences in England during WW2. The Night War,
The Great Gallipoli Escape
By Jackie French Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Nipper lies about his age to join the army and do his bit for King and Country. He and his mates are in Gallipoli having a cricket match with the Turks during a brief ceasefire
Charlie’s Swim
By Edith Wright Illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Edith proudly acknowledges her Bardi heritage and this story is about her uncle, Charlie D' Antoine, a Bardi man who grew up near Ardiyooloon. Charmaine, an artist and activist, is a descendant
Running with Ivan
By Suzanne Leal Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Suzanne Leal is the writer of The Teacher’s Secret, Border Street and The Deceptions, for which she has won multiple awards. Running with Ivan is Leal’s first novel for younger readers. Set in
Waiting for the Storks
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a companion volume to the award winning We Are Wolves and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief which are also set during World War II and present challenging events from that time
New Reading List: World War II Fiction for Years 7 – 9
WORLD WAR II Europe fiction for Year 7 - 9 Here is a list of fiction selected and prepared by Dajo Finlayson, all set in Europe during World War II, suitable mainly for students in years 7 to 9, but as
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is very much a companion volume to the award winning We Are Wolves, same topic, same illustrator, same book format but this time instead of seeing World War II from a
The Secret Battle
By Pam Rushby Illustrated by Fiona McDonald Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Pamela Rushby’s previous historical fiction novels have included The Ratcatcher’s Daughter (2014) and The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle (2020). In each, her love of history shines through and this also true
A Great Escape
By Felice Arena Reviewed by Sue Wright When the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, Germany was reunified. A Great Escape tells the story of Peter, a young boy living in East Germany (1961) at the time of partition. When the border between
Haywire
By Claire Saxby Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Claire Saxby is an Australian author of fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children, including the splendid Nature Storybooks series, The Anzac Billy and recently, the picture book Iceberg. Haywire is the story of two boys on
Code Name Bananas
By David Walliams Illustrated by Tony Ross Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro David Walliam’s latest children’s book, Code Name Bananas is a heart-warming tale of overcoming grief, parental death, living in war and animal kindness. David Walliam’s history as an actor, writer
We Are Wolves
by Katrina Nannestadt reviewed by Mia Macrossan This historical novel with a serious underlying theme is based on real events. Apparently thousands of lost, orphaned or abandoned children, called Wolfskinder, wandered alone in East Prussia at the end of World War II. They survived
When We Were Warriors
by Emma Carroll reviewed by Sarah Custance If you want a well written middle-grade historical fiction then Emma Carroll has proven herself to be the perfect choice. ‘When We Were Warriors’ is Carroll’s ninth novel and is living up to its predecessor’s
