It’s been a brilliant year for Australian children’s books. Here is a sample of 12 middle fiction reads (ages 8-12) from exciting, fresh voices to suit young readers with all kinds of interests.

Lintang and the Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss

The spirited and determined Lintang dreams of leaving her home to travel the high seas. When she defends her home from a deadly mythie attack on the same day the infamous Captain Shafira visits her island, she finally gets a chance – her bravery earns her a place on the pirate queen’s ship. This is a high-stakes adventure tale in a richly-imagined world that draws parallels with contemporary society.

Who is this for? Readers with a thirst for adventure.

Bad Teacher. Worse Witch: The Cursed First Term of Zelda Stitch by Nicki Greenberg

Incompetent (incognito) witch Zelda Stitch writes a diary of her first year of teaching primary school. Keeping her magic secret isn’t the only trouble bubbling in the classroom: there’s also wild-child Zinnia, lonely Eleanor, secretive Phoebe and a hairy, eight-legged visitor called Jeremy. (Not to mention the nits…) With NO help at all from her disagreeable cat Barnaby, Zelda learns how to be a better teacher, a better friend and a better witch.

Who is this for? Children who love the fun and silly part of Halloween.

The Witching Hours: The Vampire Knife by Jack Henseleit

The Spiderwick Chronicles meets Stranger Things in this spine-tinglingly spooky new series. A storm is raging around the forests of Transylvania, where siblings Anna and Max are visiting with the Professor. Left alone to explore a creepy old inn, the children discover that something evil is lurking in the trees – and it just might have a taste for human blood. When Max goes missing, it’s up to Anna and her new friend Isabella to rescue him. Only one thing is certain: even if the two girls can find a way to rescue Max, he will never be the same again…

Who is this for? Children who love the scary part of Halloween.

Tarin of the Mammoths: The Exile by Jo Sandhu

This is the first book in an action-packed prehistoric epic. Tarin longs to be a hunter like the other boys around him, but his twisted leg means he is instead feared and bullied. After a disastrous mishap, he’s forced to leave his family and travel across wild, unknown land to save the Mammoth Clan. Along the way he encounters two twins, Kaija and Luuka, who have been expelled by their own clan and the three of them join forces to make the treacherous journey. Tarin realises that if they are all to survive he must figure out how to embrace the magic that is hiding within him.

Who is this for? A child who’s addicted to action.

How to Bee by Bren MacDibble

Peony lives with her sister and grandfather on a fruit farm outside the city. In a world where real bees are extinct, the quickest, bravest kids are the bees – they climb the fruit trees and pollinate the flowers by hand. Peony hopes to join them but then her mother arrives to take her away from everything she has ever known, and all Peony’s grit and quick thinking might not be enough to keep her safe.

Who is this for? A free-thinking and independent child.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

This is the first book in a breathtaking, enchanting new series that looks set to be one of the biggest children’s books of the year. It’s the story of a cursed child, a magical world, a remarkable secret society, a fantastical hotel, and, of course, an enormous talking cat. You can read why we love this book here.

Who is this for? Harry Potter fans!

Opposite Land by Charlotte Rose Hamlyn

After the worst day ever, Steve discovers a strange book written upside down and back to front. That night, when its words become mysteriously clear and Steve begins to read them, she’s transported to the topsy-turvy world in the book – Opposite Land. In this extraordinarily peculiar place, roads float in mid-air, people live in giant snail shells and people poop from their head! But Opposite Land is in trouble and it’s up to Steve to save the world from devastation.

Who is this for? Reluctant readers and those who like books that make them laugh.

Swimming on the Lawn by Yasmin Hamid

Told through the eyes of Farida, as well as her inquisitive sister and brothers, this is a beautiful story about growing up in Sudan. Sudanese culture and customs are brought to life, from the ubiquitous tea service and hearty breakfasts to the commemoration of Muslim holidays and the rites of birth and death. But a happy childhood spent in the capital and the rural villages of 1960s Sudan ends startlingly with a sudden military coup that changes the make-up of Farida’s family forever.

Who is this for? Socially-conscious children with a strong interest in the world around them.

Whimsy & Woe by Rebecca McRitchie, Sonia Kretschmar

After being abandoned by their thespian parents while hide-and-seek, Whimsy and Woe Mordaunt are left in the care of their austere Aunt Apoline. Forced to work in her boarding house – looking after the guests, sharpening the thorns of every plant in the poisonous plant garden – the siblings start to lose hope that they will ever be reunited as a family. Then one day, they accidentally stumble upon a half-charred letter which propels them to go look for their missing parents themselves.

Who is this for? Quirky children with a skewed sense of humour.

Teter Mek and the Mystery of Pearl Shell Island by Jasmin Herro, Kevin Lee

Clunk! When a canoe crashes into the hull of the pearling boat Nimah after a huge storm, the crew is amazed to find a young girl aboard. Unfortunately, she lost her memory and can’t speak. Is she an Islander? Where is her family? How did she end up there? Follow Ben and Mimi and the rest of Nimah’s crew as they try to uncover the mystery of Pearl Shell Island the lost girl with no voice – and learn about the culture of the Torres Strait Islands along the way.

Who is this for? Curious readers with a taste for mystery.

Rose Raventhorpe Investigates: Black Cats and Butlers by Janine Beacham

This is the first book in a fun new historical detective series. When Rose Raventhorpe’s beloved butler is found murdered in the hallway of her own house, she’s determined to uncover the culprit. Especially since he’s the third butler to die in a week! Rose’s investigation leads her on a journey into a hidden world of grave robbers, duelling butlers, flamboyant magicians and the city’s ancient feline guardians.

Who is this for? Intrepid amateur sleuths.

The Boy, The Bird & The Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods

Alberto lives alone in the town of Allora – a place where fish fly out of the sea and the houses shine like jewels. A coffin maker, he spends his days quietly creating the final resting places of the town’s people. When a mysterious boy and his magical bird arrive in search of a safe haven, it is the beginning of a remarkable, but dangerous, friendship. This is a gorgeous, dreamy tale about the power of storytelling.

Who is this for? Sensitive children who enjoy a touch of magic.