Our Malvern bookshop is known for its personal customer service and thoughtful selection of books, music and DVDs. Here are some recommendations from staff.

‘Emma Cline’s The Girls is my no-doubt-about-it recommendation at the moment. Loosely based on the Charles Manson murders, it follows 14-year-old Evie as she slowly extricates herself from the cloying 'smallness’ of her school friends, only to become involved in some seriously Big Badness with ‘the girls’ and the charismatic Russell. Unflinching in its portrayal of teenagers, every page of this book was filled with astonishing prose and nuanced insight into human nature. This is one of those rare books that will stay with me for a very long time. Seriously fantastic.‘ – Gabrielle Williams, bookseller

'His codename is Pilgrim. Once an elite U.S. intelligence agent, Pilgrim has been forced out of retirement for a case where his past comes back to haunt him. I Am Pilgrim is a fast-paced spy thriller and murder mystery packed to the brim with plot twists and turns. It’s a firm favourite with Malvern customers even if they’re not normally fans of crime, just as long as they don’t mind things getting a bit grisly! I Am Pilgrim is perfect gripping holiday escapism.’ – Daniella Robertson, bookseller

‘I am currently reading 1787 by Nick Brodie. This is a great addition to the new breed of Australian history books that remind us we were sold a pup at school. Brodie gives a view of the country and the region prior to settlement in 1788 as vastly more interconnected and fluid than I ever knew – Muslim trading empires in Indonesia, Maccassan traders in the north, the Portuguese and Spanish hovering on the edges of our known boundaries, and the Dutch and French explorers neck and neck with Britain to claim mainland Australia for themselves. Like Bill Gammage’s The Biggest Estate on Earth and Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu, 1787 turns the traditional view of Australian history on it’s head and takes the reader with it.’ – Susan Stevenson, bookseller

‘I just can’t pick my favourites so here’s a small offering – they’re books that have stayed with me long after I finished reading. Each of them has moved me profoundly.

Pax (Sara Pennypacker) is an outstanding novel with an almost fable-like quality; it’s a beautifully imagined friendship between a boy and a fox, realistic and incredibly moving. And to top it off, it’s a gorgeous little hardback with striking illustrations by Jon Klassen. It’s destined to be a classic! I highly recommend it for animal lovers aged 10+.

Annabelle from Wolf Hollow (Lauren Wolk) is one of the most likable 12-year-old protagonists I’ve ever met, and her story is compelling, intensely moving and beautifully written. I wept with Annabelle as the story came to its heartbreaking conclusion. Thought-provoking and poignant – highly recommended for ages 9+.

And, last but definitely not least, don’t miss Little Bits of Sky (S E Durrant). Ira and Zac are just trying to make sense of their world, find a place to call home and ultimately belong. Highly recommended for ages 8+.’ – Athina Clarke, children’s book buyer