Page 4 of our reviews
Coming of Age in the War on Terror by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Since 9/11, Muslim communities have become one of the most frequently targeted minorities in Australia. From tabloid media and political rhetoric to the national curriculum, the Australian imaginary …
Born Into This by Adam Thompson
This remarkable debut crackles with wit, swagger and rage –- as entertaining and affecting as it is thought-provoking -– and assuredly introduces Aboriginal (pakana) writer Adam Thompson as a fresh n…
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Six apartments are rented to six families in the exclusive Sunset Towers, a building that has a perfect view to the mansion of reclusive millionaire Samuel Westing. When Westing suddenly dies, they a…
My Spaghetti ABC by Deborah Niland
Spaghetti as an art medium wouldn’t be every parent’s choice – but oh, what fun in the hands of a young child, with their baby sibling and even Nana joining in! In Deborah Niland’s new picture book, …
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
Caroline O’Donoghue is an Irish author and journalist who also hosts the acclaimed podcast Sentimental Garbage. Her new novel, All Our Hidden Gifts, pivots from her darkly humourous and searingly sma…
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
In Garden Heights, 17-year-old Maverick Carter is many things: a dutiful son, a loving boyfriend and a conflicted member of the King Lords gang. The one thing he’s not prepared to be is a father, but…
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Amari Peters misses her older brother Quinton, who has been missing for six months. When Amari receives a mysterious delivery, supposedly from Quinton himself, it seems like she might be getting clos…
The World Between Blinks by Amie Kaufman & Ryan Graudin
The World Between Blinks is the place where things, buildings, cities and people end up when they are truly lost. So it’s a bit of a surprise when Marisol and Jake, who are certainly not lost, end up…
The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr
Stories of children escaping to the countryside during the Blitz in the Second World War are perennially popular, from Goodnight Mr Tom to The War That Saved My Life. This debut novel takes a slightl…
With a Little Kelp from Our Friends by Mathew Bate & Liz Rowland
Subtitled The Secret Life of Seaweed, this is an utterly fascinating look at an underappreciated plant in its numerous guises. Written by Melbourne author Mathew Bate, it is packed with fascinating b…