Page 5 of our reviews
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, …
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…
Plantastic! by Catherine Clowes & Rachel Gyan
Plantastic! is a beautifully illustrated introduction to 26 of Australia’s unique native plants and its friendly, chatty style delivers fascinating information in a way that is accessible (and fun). …
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
It feels like there is always room for more books about young people playing sport and Furia, a novel about a teen soccer player, is one of the highest quality.
Argentinean teenager Camilla is know…
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…
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…
Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim
Thirteen-year-old Wen lives in a house governed by rage and fear. As the first-generation daughter of Chinese migrant parents, she is expected to keep her head down and focus solely on her studies. W…
The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
Karen M. McManus’s mysteries are perennial bestsellers and her fans certainly won’t be disappointed by her latest book, The Cousins. Milly, Audrey and Jonah are teenagers and cousins that have been i…