Sam and Avery Lou are as close as brothers can be, including the times when they yell at each other and are so frustrated they can barely do more than yell. Their mum walked out, leaving them with a violent father who refused to take care of them. Dumping them on their Aunt Karen’s doorstep and leaving for good, the boys are left in the care of a woman who also makes it clear she doesn’t want them.

15-year-old Sam is two years younger than Avery but he is the one who must look out for his big brother. Avery has autism, and Sam is the only one who knows, or takes the time, to calm his tics and his serious melt downs.

Their dream is to have a house of their own where they will be safe and free of people who wish them harm. Sam and Avery can’t go back to their aunt so Sam breaks into houses to sleep and find clothes or things to steal.

One night, he breaks into a house and the family return. The De Lainey’s are a mad, rough and tumble family that mistakenly accept him as one of the kid’s friends. From there on, Sam is beguiled by the siblings and especially Moxie, their strong and vocal 15-year-old sister. He becomes addicted to their family life and a deep friendship grows between Moxie and Sam.

But Sam’s past catches up to him and everything spirals out of control. How will he explain and gain forgiveness from Moxie? How can he persuade Avery to abandon the bad crowd he has joined?

C G Drews’ CBCA Shortlisted novel is a brilliant picture of family life verses and homelessness. We see the world from Sam’s point of view and gain insights into just how hard it is to live on the streets. And when no one will listen and all you want to do is protect the ones you love.

 For Ages: 12 + years

Number of Pages: 347 paperback.

Published: April 2019

Themes: Family, autism, homelessness.

Rating: 4/5

Finn lives with his grandparents in the village of Wichant where he helps them scratch out a living selling vegetables at the local market. Whenever he gets the chance, he takes his drawing pad and creates wonderful pictures of creatures and landscapes he sees in the clouds or mountains around him.

When the mysterious housekeeper of the clifftop mansion offers his grandfather a bag of gold for Finn, he is sent to work for her. Inside the mansion, she leads him to a room full of magical paintings. There are dragons, lion warriors, giants and dangerous creatures. He is ordered to study them closely and then copy the first image. One night, Finn is drawn into the image and finds himself transported into the world of The Glimme.

Here, the world is beset with a war that threatens its very existence. The queen of the dragons has been stolen and her faithful subjects want revenge. Finn and a group of brave warriors must find her before it is too late and all the land is destroyed in a fiery Armageddon.

Emily Rodda’s latest fantasy novel blends two of her classic styles — a slip between two worlds and a quest that must succeed or all is lost. Her characters bravely move through the rich landscapes she creates with a growing tension that will grip the reader.

The illustrations by Marc McBride are amazing. They are incredibly detailed and bring the words of the story to life with colour and movement.

The hardback version of The Glimme is a beautiful book to own. From cover to cover, the reader will be drawn into the fantasy world of dragons and warriors and a tale of bravery against the odds.

For Ages: 7+ years

Number of Pages: 384 Hardback version

Published: October 2019

Themes: Family relationships and good vs. evil

Rating: 3.5/5

I wish: I could visit the palace that “blooms upon the sea”. 

The Things That Will Not Stand is set during a university open day. Seb and Tolly are two sixteen-year-old semi-nerdy boys exploring their future career options. Tolly’s dad is a film buff, so Tolly and Seb have seen plenty of old films, obscure films and films not normally viewed by anyone under seventy.

That is why we find Seb standing in the foyer of the campus cinema waiting for the girl of his dreams to join him at a viewing of the classic film, Casablanca. Not that Seb actually asked her. He referenced it in a conversation that mainly revolved around borrowing a pen. Seb is saved by Frida from an embarrassing encounter with his Taylor Swift look-alike and her boyfriend.

Frida and Seb spend the day together exploring the campus and each other’s lives. Frida is quirky and acerbic and Seb is not quite sure that everything she says is true. She asks questions about his life and dreams and continually teases him about his tentative choice of town planning as a career. In return, she tells him stories about herself that he finds hard to attach to the girl he sees in front of him. During the day, their interactions along with Tolly, create a picture of the possibilities of the future and how our past can impact upon it.

Tolly and Seb have a thing. Whenever they encounter something that needs to be addressed, rather than tolerated or swept under the carpet, they ‘will not let this stand’ – a line from one of their favourite films, The Big Lebowski. When they discover Frida’s archenemy and witness his cruelty, they work to protect her and right some very unfair and emotional wrongs.

Gerard Bauer captures the easy banter of teenagers and creates a thoughtful picture of the tentative beginnings of friendship and trust. Seb is an endearing soul and with Tolly, the pair are an example of a believable and solid friendship. Frida’s life, so different in many ways to theirs, is accepted with an empathy that is sometimes lacking in this modern rocky world.

For Ages: 14 + years

Number of Pages: 217 paperback.

Published: September 2018

Themes: Courage, bullying, trust and resilience.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tiger Heart is a tale of adversity and hope. Young Fly is a chimney sweep in late 19th century London. While cleaning the chimney at the local menagerie, she lands in the pen of a man-eating tiger. She philosophically thinks this will be her end, but is very surprised to find that not only can she understand him when he talks to her, but he believes her to be a princess. Together they escape and Fly promises to return him and his fellow animals to their own land. First, she has to go back to her own captor. The chimney sweep boss Black Bill, beats and starves her and she’s had enough. But being a foundling, she cherishes the one thing that was left in her basket when she was abandoned, a black box.

Fly is helped in her endeavours by her street friends and together they manage to dodge the evil grasp of ‘the fat man.’ He is obsessed with the ruby that sits in the black box that only Fly can open. Its powers have led to many wars and deaths in the tiger’s homeland. A homeland that Fly is told is actually her own. Her father and uncle fought over the ruby and her uncle won, becoming a ruler despised by all.

Fly has many trials and tribulations to overcome but she must believe in herself first. Is she really the daughter of a deposed king? Will she ever get away from the fat man? And what should she do with the ruby?

Penny Chrimes has captured the language of the London urchins of this era perfectly. Fly’s words are colourful and descriptive in a way that immediately transports you to her world. (Check out the vocabulary dictionary at the end of the book) The tiger is wise and loyal and guides Fly through all her difficulties. It is a story if overcoming cruelty and unfairness but also of knowing when to let go of something you hold precious.

For Ages: 8-12 years

Number of Pages: 249 in paperback.

Published: January 2020

Themes: Displaced people, bravery, ingenuity and compassion.

Rating: 4/5

I wish: I had a tiger to talk to.

Henry lives in The Timeless Province with parents who are cruel and unloving. One of the things that brings him joy in his grey world, are his next-door neighbours. Apollo Dante and his family are a loving, happy bunch and just listening to their hustle and bustle every morning brings a ray of sunshine into Henry’s lonely life.

The Province is governed by an evil and vindictive ruler, Vlad Luxor. If someone is taking attention away from him, or contradict him in any way, he is swift with his revenge. People are continually being turned into squirrels or other small animals on Vlad’s whim.

One morning, Henry gets up and goes to listen for the happy noises coming from Apollo’s house and is horrified to hear his next-door neighbour wailing. Vlad has turned his little brother Rocco into a naked lizard. Henry overcomes his shyness and offers to help. He takes Apollo and Rocco to his grandfather’s lighthouse – the only place he feels safe and loved. They are joined by Jo and Pirate Girl, two of their classmates who inexplicably felt the need to come along.

Once there at Captain Every’s, and with the help of The Beautiful Librarian, they are told something that will change their lives forever. He has called them together because Henry, Apollo, Jo and Pirate Girl are ‘Spell Breakers’. Since Vlad Luxor had taken over the Province and proven to be such a mean spirited, vindictive and crazy ruler, everyone has lamented the disappearance of the fabled ‘Spell Breakers’. A special person with the power to right wrongs and reverse spells of any kind.

Their job now, is to help turn Rocco back into a boy. It will be dangerous, and Vlad may turn them into critters at any time, but they must fulfil their destiny.

Deb Caletti’s novel is an adventure of the classic kind. An oppressed kingdom, ruled by a cruel leader and many challenges to be fought. Henry is beautifully portrayed with a mixture of loneliness and bravery that in itself is a challenge for him to overcome. The story is interspaced with marvellous pictures relating to the weird and wonderful experiences the children encounter. A great read for anyone who loves a good old-fashioned tale.

For Ages: 9-12 years

Number of Pages: 256 in hardcover

Published: January 2020

Themes: Family, courage and friendship

Rating: 3.5/5

I wish: that I had a friend like Henry

A Song Only I Can Hear is a wonderful book. It is one of the few I’ve read recently, that I feel I can’t say too much about story-wise, it has a high spoiler alert rating. So here a just a few words to get you interested.

13-year-old Rob Fitzgerald is in love. The fact of it simple, it’s what to do next that is the difficult part. Destry Camberwick melts Rob’s heart, makes his surroundings disappear and has taken up his every waking moment. How to impress her when Rob is the shyest person in school, has nothing to offer and suffers from panic attacks at the drop of a hat? Rob enlists the help of his best friend Andrew, who has much experience in this field. Rob also confides in his Grandad, a straight talker and no-nonsense kind of man.

Apart from trying to write a poem to his love, a difficult task when ‘vestry’ is the only word he can come up with that rhymes with Destry, Rob is persuaded to join the school soccer team as a way to show his sporting prowess and get noticed by his love. The night before the game against a rival school that beats them annually by a staggering amount of goals, Rob receives an anonymous text. It proposes a set of challenges, each of which is supposed to help Rob see his potential and believe in himself.

As Rob works his way through the challenges, his relationship with his Grandad grows. He has finally persuaded him to talk about his life. Rob knows he fought in a war and that he was married and produced Rob’s father, but that is it. Over the following weeks, as the school year comes to a close, Rob’s journey to impress Destry moves into one of discovery and acceptance.

Barry Jonsberg’s writing style captures the thoughts of 13-year-old who is perhaps wise beyond their years. The format is clever and as the reader nears the end of the narrative, a series of surprises make it even more poignant. This story is amusing and moving and complicated – a bit like life really.

For Ages: 10 +years

Number of Pages: 276 in paperback.

Published: July 2018

Themes: Family, grief, bravery, transgender.

Rating: 4.5/5

I wish: I’d known someone like Rob when I was at school.

Swallow’s Dance by award winning author Wendy Orr, is a powerful novel set during a period of history known as the Bronze Age. The ancient island of Thera in the Mediterranean Sea, was annihilated and covered in lava during a catastrophic volcanic eruption.

Three thousand years later, archaeologists digging through metres of hardened volcanic ash and lava, discovered a civilisation that was both sophisticated and an important trading presence in the area. Frescos, uncovered in some of the houses, depicted ceremonies with young girls collecting crocus flowers. One girl in particular caught the eye of the author and the idea for the novel sprang to life.

The main character, Leira, her mother and faithful nurse maid Nunu, struggle to escape the destruction of the earthquake. They leave their home on the Isle of Swallows and are taken to a safer island by her father, further from the raging mountain and Goddess’ anger. Leira is tasked with continuing the family’s trading business while Dada sails to look for goods. Soon after her father sails away, a tsunami destroys much of the township and now the lords in the palace have refused to protect them. The surviving townsfolk are superstitious and worse still, there is little food or shelter left. The raging wave and ash have contaminated rivers and destroyed crops and houses. Leira, Mama and Nunu are all alone.

Mama was severely injured in the initial earthquake and as a consequence, is like a small child who must be cared for constantly. Nunu, who is more like a grandmother to Leira, is tired and old and they are running out of options. Things get worse when they must find shelter away from the town and some kind of work in order to receive food rations. Leira, who had been bought up in a very privileged house, must now work as the lowliest slave. Her whole world and the expectations of how her life would be, have gone. Uncertainty and fear, as well as exhaustion and hunger are her constant companions. After working for months in the most despised job in society, she is befriended by a master potter and given an apprenticeship. Now her small family is given proper shelter and a sense of belonging. Their future is uncertain, but the world has changed and she must come to terms with this and change with it.

Wendy Orr’s novel is beautifully written in both prose and verse. The mixture giving the reader an insight into the rituals of an ancient people. Leira and her family’s struggle reflect many of today’s troubles. People displaced by war or natural disasters would be experiencing the same kind of emotional devastation and anxiety as this ancient fictional character. Orr’s story is one of fear, but also of inner strength and the kindness of strangers.

For Ages: 10-14 years

Number of Pages: 274 in paperback.

Published: June 2018

Themes: Family, displaced people and courage.

Rating: 4/5

I wish: I could travel back in time and see how people used to live.           

Invisible in a Bright Light is the tale of Celeste and the riddle she must solve in order to save her family and the passengers and crew of the Empress. Her ship is caught in a ‘gutter of time’ – stolen by an evil menace. A man in an emerald suit plays a game called the Reckoning which he happily admits is impossible to win, especially by a child. With the help of her twin Marie, now a shadow and voice in her head, Celeste inhabits an in-between world where memories flit like shadows across her present reality. It is crucial that the man in the emerald suit doesn’t know of her twin’s existence, it is the only way they have a chance of winning the game.

She is living and working in a theatre that is putting on an opera with a most difficult and cruel diva, Madame Sabina Petrova. When disaster strikes and a huge chandelier shatters on the stage, injuring Celeste, the game takes on an even more sinister twist. Celeste discovers that when angered she emits a bright light. A brightness that resembles the sparkling slivers of luminosity that used to come from the chandelier.

With the help of her friend Viggo she is running out of time before New Year’s Eve when the riddle must be solved. Through the streets of the City of C-  and back stage at the theatre she works with Hildegard, the Diva’s daughter and Anna, her protector. Hildegard craves the love of her horrible mother but is constantly belittled and berated by her jealous parent.

When Hildegard is discovered to have a singing voice that is far better than her mother’s, she is chosen to play the main character in the end of year pantomime. Her mother is furious and takes revenge.

The characters inhabiting this fragile world are colourful and intriguing. Who exactly is the blind piano tuner Albert Ross and why is the seamstress his confidant? Will Mr Gautier, the director of the Royal Opera House, prove to be a friend? Is Mr Quigley as much of a fool as he seems or is the character he plays just a persona he hides behind? Floating in an undersea world, the man in the emerald suit seems to hold all the power. Can Celeste’s brightness overcome all the obstacles set before her?

Sally Gardner paints a wonderful world that is reminiscent of the fairy tales read by our grandmothers. Fantastical landscapes and characters, some of whom we would love to meet and others who would terrify us.

For Ages: 10+ years

Number of Pages: 340

Published: November 2019

Themes: Courage and friendships.

Rating: 3.5/5

I wish: I could visit the theatre and see the chandelier.

12-year-old Ruby comes home from school one day and is told by her father that they are moving to India – today. Along with her grandmother, her dog Polly, and an unexpected furry guest, they will sail across the ocean, board trains and buses until they reach a remote village in the Himalayas where her father is to be manager of a hotel. Ruby doesn’t want to leave Australia. Ever since her mother died, her home is the place where she still feels a connection.

The family arrives at the extremely rundown hotel and are told to watch out for bears and leopards. Ruby becomes friends with a local boy, Preveen who tells her about the Goddess Durga and how she is haunting the area. Goats go missing, a strange green glowing light is seen in the forest and a fire nearly wipes out the village. For a girl who, since her mother’s death, is afraid of the dark and of sleeping and never waking up, the future is not looking bright.

The owners of the hotel seem totally disinterested in the work that her father has put into getting it ready for its first guests and insist that no one be employed to help them. Ruby and Preveen grow suspicious and follow them one day. They discover their dark secret and together, plan how to catch them out. Ruby with her camera will get evidence they can take to the police. Together, along with some help from her Grandma, they trek through the mountains to catch their human prey.

Jess Butterworth has created a wonderful image of Ruby’s life in the Himalayas. The sounds and colours and many animals and insects that inhabit her world are exciting and sometimes a little daunting. Ruby proves to herself that she is stronger than she thinks and that family is family no matter where you live.

For Ages: 8 - 12 years old

Number of Pages: 282 in paperback.

Published: April 2018

Themes: Grief, family, animal poaching and friendship.

Rating: 3/5

I wish: I could take great photos.

The Monster Who Wasn’t is a lovely book about a boy-like creature who isn’t quite human and isn’t quite a monster. He is unique and as a consequence is very special. Monsters are formed by the last sigh of regret a human breathes. The depth of that regret determines the size and power of the monster hatched. But if a last regret somehow mingles with the laugh of an innocent child, a distinct being is created.

Born in the underworld where monsters of all kinds live and plot and squabble, Imp, as he is called by his adopted gargoyle family, has no idea about anything much. He is taken above ground to a massive cathedral and begins his new life. Knowledge is handed out haphazardly by the gargoyles Bladder, Wheedle and Spigot, who mainly want him to steal chocolates for them from the near-by shops.

Imp is discovered by Daniel, a busy angel who helps with his education and sets him on the road to discovering who he is and where he belongs. The boy-monster is drawn to a family who is somehow familiar. He meets Nick and baby Beatrice and their parents and gives his name as Sam. The same name as their recently deceased grandfather.

Meanwhile, in the underworld, Thunderguts, the ogre leader of the monsters is trying to track him down. Trapped underground during daylight hours, the monsters want 24-hour access to delicious humans. Imp is the only creature who can free them from their prison and they need him back to break the spell. An evil kidnap plot is formed and Imp is the only one who can save baby Beatrice from death. She cannot survive for long in the underground cavern and he must race against time and devious hungry monsters to free her.

T.C.Shelly’s novel is beautifully written with moments of wonder and humour as well. The themes of belonging and loyalty are well expressed and the reader cannot help but become very fond of Imp’s gargoyle family.

For Ages: 8+ years

Number of Pages: 271

Published: August 2019

Themes: Family, belonging and loyalty

Rating: 3.5/5

I wish: I had a friendly gargoyle family        

Mathew Reilly’s latest YA novel, The Secret Runners of New York, is a time travel thriller. Skye and her twin brother Red have moved to New York and been enrolled in the exclusive Monmouth school. Here Skye must deal with the Queen Bee, Misty and her side kicks, Hattie and Verity. Adding to the tension is the real problem that her school mates seem to be ignoring the predicted end of the world. A ‘Gamma cloud” of radiation will pass through the Earth’s orbit on St Patricks Day. Scientists have said that 95% of the population will die and all electrical systems will shut down.

No one can agree on whether the catastrophic disaster will happen and the elite rich of upper Manhattan continue life as usual. Red and then Skye are invited to join Misty’s private group and are introduced to their secret. Misty has a gem stone that opens a portal under Central Park that links to the future. And the future is not looking so good. The city is overgrown and buildings are crumbling. Dangerous gangs of survivors roam the streets and a lone crazy guy, that has a grudge against Skye, is coming to get her.

Reilly creates a wonderful contrast in the two New Yorks the teenagers inhabit. The present-day city continues on as usual and the kids at the school prepare for the huge Cotillion Ball that will be held just a week before the fabled end of the world. The future New York holds the secrets of what happens to their families and in a way, it’s an interesting insight into Misty and her friends. Skye and Red are freaked out. They try to figure out how to make their families believe them and how to survive the coming devastation.

The story’s tension mounts as Skye realises Misty has an agenda that is pure revenge. Her ruthlessness is extraordinary and nothing or no one can stop her. Will Skye become another of the mysteriously missing girls from Monmouth school? Will she be able to find Red in the chaos and who is the man trying to kill her?

This is a great thriller and Mathew Reilly’s description of time and how it folds from its spiral trajectory is one of the best explanations of time travel I’ve ever read.

For Ages: 14 + years

Number of Pages: 341 paperback.

Published: March 2019

Themes: Courage, bullying and mental health.

Rating: 4/5

Between Us follows two very different teenagers, both of whom are struggling with their lives and past demons. Anahita is an Iranian refugee who is allowed out of her detention centre to attend school. Life is so restricted at the camp and her pregnant mother is frantic to be reunited with the father of her child. They live not only with the constant threat of being sent back to Iran, but must also cope with the nightmare memories of why they left.

Jono is coming out the other side of a dark depression that threatened to swallow him last year. His girlfriend dumped him, his mother has left the family and his sister has moved with her to go to university. He is left with his strict Vietnamese father Kenny who has started a new job at the detention centre. Kenny is trying to understand the workings of the camp. After giving some friendly advice to Ananhita to look out for his son Jonathan if she needs help at school, he is warned by workmates not to get close to the inmates. He mustn’t trust them, they are only out to use and abuse any kindness offered.

Ana and Jono become friends and as this grows into something deeper, things become more complicated and tensions rise at both the camp and at home for Jono. The teenagers try to cope with their changing circumstances. Ana is enjoying the new freedom she finds at school as well as the joy of being able to learn again. At the camp, her mother gives birth but falls into a post-natal depression that threatens their status and Ana must stay to look after her little brother and the new baby. Communication between her and Jono is limited and he is left wondering what he did wrong. He is stuck with his father who confiscates his phone and along with his friend Will he is smoking too much dope. He tries to visit Ana but the rules prevent her from meeting him. They are both left unable to talk and clear things up between them.

Clare Atkins creates a picture of an ill-fated love. Two people separated by powers bigger than them. The combination of their fight to stay together and the outer forces of their situation prove to be too strong. Ana and her family are moved again and she falls back into a coping mechanism of wiping out the past and starting afresh. Jono is left to continue with his life, but both of them will never forget their time together.

The use of first person point of view for each main character and the way their worlds are formatted, add to the personal drama. The themes of prejudice and abandonment running through this novel give an insight into how others think, and how mistakes can be made on both sides of any relationship.

 For Ages: 12+ years

Number of Pages: 275 paperback.

Published: February 2018

Themes: Prejudice, family loyalty, refugee treatment and relationships.

Rating: 4/5

Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein is a debut novel shortlisted the Children’s Book Council of Australia (2019). Right from the very beginning we are drawn into the troubled world of Tash Carmody. The first chapter sets the scene in this gripping thriller about a girl who no one believed when she told them what she saw. Nine years ago, Tash was witness to the abduction of Mallory Fisher but her own parents, the police and her psychiatrist lead her to believe that the figure she saw and who had been taunting her, was not real. Sparrow was only a figment of her imagination and her need for attention. Mallory was found a week later wandering the state forest and has never spoken a word since.

Tash had been staying at her Aunt Ally’s ramshackle house in Willow Creek when the abduction took place. A free spirited, yoga and organic food enthusiast who was meant to be looking after Tash while her parents were awaiting the arrival of her new baby brother. Ally appears in her life again and invites Tash to come for a weekend. Believing this little show of independence will prove to her parents that she is capable of looking after herself, Tash agrees. When she arrives, she is told that she will be looking after Ally’s dog while she goes on a yoga retreat.

Tash’s life gets more complicated as she believes her mind is playing tricks. She thinks she sees Sparrow again and things go missing around her aunt’s house. When Benny, the dog she’s looking after suffers serious injury from some unknown person, Tash is spooked. Things go from bad to worse as she tries to deal with her mounting troubles.

Sarah Epstein has crafted a wonderful thriller that cranks up the tension, chapter by chapter. Tash is surrounded by people who are tired of her claustrophobia, anxiety attacks and the lies they think she tells. The only good thing in her life right now is the growing friendship she has with Morgan, Mallory’s brother. When bad things start happening again Tash is confused when a good friend points out that Morgan was present each time.

Who can she trust?

Small Spaces is a book about loyalty, family and the lasting damage of childhood trauma.

For Ages: 14+ years

Number of Pages: 378 in paperback.

Published: April 2018

Themes: Courage, friends, loyalty and trust.

Rating: 4/5

The Bogan Mondrian by Steven Herrick is a YA novel shortlisted by the CBCA in 2019.

The story follows Luke Saunders, who lives in the Blue Mountains and attends the local high school (sometimes). He hates maths, prefers hanging out with his buddy Blake and always tries to look out for his mum. They are both dealing with their grief over the death of Luke’s dad. He and his mum struggle at times for money but still enjoy time spent together over the occasional pizza.

While school interferes with Luke’s passion for taking photographs of the natural world and characters in his life, he manages to balance enough class time and absenteeism to live a life he believes his father would approve of.

Luke has also noticed the new girl Charlotte, a rich city kid who has presumably been transplanted to his school as some form of punishment. She’s beautiful and way out of his league but a mutual dislike of the principal unites them. A friendship forms and as they get to know each other, Luke discovers the reason Charlotte is so distant. Her father is violent so she and her mother live in a constant bubble of fear and growing tension. With Luke’s help, Charlotte manages to film one of the harrowing incidents and together they confront her father and give him an ultimatum. Move out or be exposed.

The novel is full of interesting people, all whom help shape Luke’s life. A shady character called Rodney proves to be helpful rather than dangerous and his next-door neighbour Mr Rosetti, who teaches him swear words in Italian and promises to look over his school essays. Together with the corner shop’s new owners and Mrs Grady from across the road, Luke is nurtured by this small community.

The themes of courage, friendship and loss run throughout this wonderful novel. Steven Herrick’s portrayal of Luke is especially endearing and captures the ups and downs of late teenage hood.

For Ages: 13+ years

Number of Pages: 256 paperback.

Published: September 2018

Themes: Courage, friendship, loss and domestic violence.

Rating: 4/5

The Peacock Detectives by Carly Nugent was shortlisted by the CBCA in 2019. This delightful tale follows Cassie Andersen who knows how to find things, including her neighbour’s missing peacocks. With her “interesting facts” sharing friend Jonas, she starts the search. Writing her story as she goes, Cassie follows leads that become more complicated than just tracking down two birds.

 In between school and wandering the streets looking for peacocks, she realises things are slowly falling apart at home. Her “fourteen-turning-fifteen” sister Diana has taken up Buddhism and is now living in the garden. Her mum moves out and her dad sits on the sofa in his pyjamas rather than going to work. On top of all of that, her Grandpa is sick and no one will let her go into his hospital room to visit him.

 All these things are weighing on her mind and distract her from tracking down the peacocks. The school bully Rhea Grimm has taken more of a dislike of her as Cassie’s father suspended her before he took sick leave. Cassie assumes things can’t get much worse, that is until Jonas disappears and now she must find him too. 

 After collecting clues in Jonas’ bedroom, Cassie heads off to the big city to bring him home. Feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, she is both surprised and a little worried when Rhea Grimm steps onto the same train. However, they team up when it becomes obvious that together they can navigate the craziness of the city better as a duo rather than stumbling around alone. They manage to find Jonas and bring him home. Cassie’s disappearance has set in motion a change in the family dynamics, and even though nothing has returned to the pre-peacock missing times, much has changed.

 Carly Nugent has created a wonderful novel that is a lovely study of what a family crisis looks like through the eyes of an “eleven-nearly-twelve” year old. Cassie’s writing tips, dotted throughout the book are a great template for budding writers to follow when they write their own story. Readers will enjoy this engaging tale of family and friendship.

 For Ages: 9+ 13 years

Number of Pages: 288 in paperback form.

Published: June 2018

Themes: Family conflict, friendship

Rating: 3.5/5                                    

I wish: I could write like Cassie.

Adele Joubert is looking forward to re-joining the cool girls at her school, Keziah Christian Academy in Swaziland. She’s worked hard to be in with Delia, the most popular girl, and enjoys the prestige this friendship brings. Unfortunately for Adele, this is all about to change. She is late for the school bus and discovers Delia has a new friend, a girl who is richer and has parents who own the newest and most exclusive shop in town. Adele is left choosing between sitting next to a boy who has wandering hands or Lottie Diamond whose reputation for swearing and fighting make her the school pariah. She keenly feels the humiliation and betrayal of Delia’s actions. It’s going to be a very long term at boarding school.

Adele and Lottie are allocated a haunted room; a dusty abandoned place and are forced to get along. Negotiating the twists and turns of school politics and racial hierarchies is a constant battle. There are so many rules, both written and unwritten that must be endured, no matter how unreasonable or unfair.

Adele and Lottie start to read Jane Eyre together and through their love of books and shared lower status, a slow bond starts to form. After managing to help save the school from a bush fire, the girls then need to find a missing fellow student. Tragically he has died and while waiting for his body to be collected, the girls and their American missionary principal are confronted by Bosman, the meanest and most violent man in the district.

The girls now become outcasts at the school as it is rumoured the devil and ghosts must have helped them find the boy and survive the fire. A letter Adele writes to her mother as a form of confession and release but never intends to send, mistakenly gets posted. She fears the letter’s contents will show her mother that the careful front she has built up to protect herself is just a series of lies. Adele waits for her mother’s return letter and is surprised when she turns up in person. It is just what she needed, comfort and answers about her mother’s past.

Malla Nunn’s novel is an emotional journey through prejudice and relationships. Adele’s inner voice that walks her through her difficulties is honest and refreshing. She starts the story as one of many; a school girl who tries to conform to both social and peer pressures. She finishes as a confident, loved and loyal friend and daughter, comfortable with her decisions and new standing.

For Ages: 12-18 years

Number of Pages: 257 pages in paperback

Published: June 2019

Themes: Prejudice, friendship, family and loyalty

Rating: 4/5

Lenny’s Book of Everything is the best book I’ve read this year. No wonder it made the shortlist for the 2019 Children’s Book Council of Australia. Written from Lenny’s point of view, we are drawn into her family’s life. Cynthia Sparks’ husband has left her and her children, Lenny and Davey to fend for themselves. Things get worse when it becomes impossible to ignore the fact that Davey is sick. He is diagnosed with Gigantism and his following treatment and operation are a trauma they must all endure.

 During this time, the highlight of Lenny and Davey’s life is the delivery of a Burrell’s Build-it-at-Home encyclopaedia, a prize their mother won in a competition. Travelling through the A and B issues and then deeper into topics such as Falconry and Log Cabins, the children furnish their small world with wonder and possibilities. Letters from Cynthia to Martha Brent from the encyclopaedia company are woven through the story and though simply written, they give insight into the family’s struggle.

The book is full of wonderful characters. Mrs Gaspar, their next-door neighbour and babysitter who shares the stories of her amazing dreams. The not so nice Mr King who fancies their mother and CJ, Lenny’s best friend.

As the family works its way through Davey’s illness, Lenny tries to escape the unsettled time by finding a relative who can tell her about her missing father. Discovering Great Aunt Em proves to be a disappointing experience and Lenny must accept that the family she has is enough. Lenny’s voice is both fragile and strong as the story unfolds to an inescapable ending. Davey’s characterisation is so endearing that when his end comes it is hard not to be deeply affected.

 Karen Foxlee’s novel is a beautiful snapshot of family, love, loyalty, strength and grief.

For Ages: 10-14 years

Number of Pages: 340 in paperback.

Published: October 2018

Themes: Family, grief and courage.

Rating: 5/5

Sometimes I think it’s a great idea to revisit old favourites. It doesn’t matter when a book is published, if its a goodun its worth reading again. So, this time I’m looking back at Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables by Tim Harris and illustrated by James Hart.

The children of Class 12B are worried about their new teacher. Their old one, Miss Schlump, a cranky woman, had luckily for them, fallen in love and moved to Switzerland.

Who would replace her?

When they arrive in their classroom, there, balancing on a unicycle was Mr Bambuckle and from that moment onwards their lives were going to change. This marvellous teacher, with methods never witnessed before, was simply wonderful.

Sadly, the principal, Mr Sternblast is not impressed and tries daily to find a replacement for Mr Bambuckle. And every day he left fuming at his failure.

The children, in the meantime, grow in confidence and camaraderie under his tutelage. Evie works through her terror of the evil washing machine in her basement. Harold tells the tale of his Rent-a-Parent experience and the wonder of the Kilt Dance. Ren gets to experiment with detective work and Carrot Grigson wins the drone competition with a little help from his faithful homing pigeon, Jones. Even the class bully, Vex, with Mr Bambuckle’s help, comes to realise that he doesn’t need to be mean to be noticed.

Tim Harris was, in a previous life, a primary school teacher so he knows his audience well. This story of wonder, excitement and overcoming fears, captures a kind of joyousness that will engage even the most reluctant reader.

The illustrations of James Hart and the unusual formatting bring to life the student’s stories and make the adventure even more exciting. 

For Ages: 8-11 years

Number of Pages: 240 in paperback form.

Published: August 2017

Themes: Overcoming challenges and embracing adventure

Rating: 3.5/5                                    

I wish: t: Mr Bambuckle could teach me how to ride a unicycle. I would kind of like to see the Kilt Dance too.

His Name was Walter was shortlisted for the 2019 CBCA Book of the Year and is a fantastic thriller. It’s a story within a story and the clues given solve a mystery that has lain unsolved for more than half a century.

We follow a small group of stranded students and their teacher into the countryside and an old abandoned house. Really, who could ask for anything more?

Our modern-day cast includes Colin, a country kid forced to move to the city. Tara a frail and sensitive girl who can see things others can’t. Grace, the school extrovert and Lucas a silent observer whose chilly personality helps rack up the tension. Their teacher, Mrs Fiori, is naturally annoyed with being left beside the road and her patience is at an all-time low.

They are forced to take refuge in a creepy, abandoned tumble down house and the tension mounts when they find a hand-illustrated and written fairy tale hidden in a secret drawer of a desk.

Naturally they start to read it and throughout the night the evil presence in the house tries to scare them away. Colin and Tara are drawn to the story and so continue to read it while the others are asleep. They are joined by Lucas who seems strangely unaffected by the atmosphere in the house. Grace is woken by nightmares and comes to the kitchen for company. As the story unfolds, the house and the evil spirit rebel and terrifyingly shake and twist the house. Mrs Fiori wakes and is persuaded to finish the story for them.

The group realise that the fairy tale is hinting at true events. But how will they prove it and who will believe them?

Emily Rodda has created a riddle within a story which will keep readers turning the pages until they too, find the truth. The students, overcoming their fear and believing in themselves, push through and uncover what happened to a young man who disappeared so long ago.

For Ages: 9+ years

Number of Pages: 288 in hardback form.

Published: July 2018

Themes: Courage, friends and perseverance.

Rating: 4/5

I Wish: I could paint like Sparrow.       

What would you do if you found a million dollars?

 Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire by Nat Amoore is a wonderful adventure about Tess and her best friend Toby. Tess’s family is a lovely jumble of five kids, their stay-at-home Dad and stage manager Mum. Tess is the middle kid and very independent. And more importantly, she is an entrepreneur. Her schemes for making some extra cash are as imaginative as they are on the slightly dodgy side.

 The Heckleston family have a next-door neighbour Scotty who also deals on the dodgy side of the law. Just before he gets arrested, he hides something on Tess’s side of the fence. Naturally curious, Tess investigates and there, lying in a sports bag are all her dreams come true. Money – lots and lots and lots of money.

 Together with Toby, her voice of reason, they go on a spending spree of goodness. A charity giving superhero kind of spending spree. However, it’s not as easy as Tess expected. It’s hard to give when you don’t have a credit card and it’s extra hard when you’re a kid.

 Tess and Toby navigate their way through a family emergency, a singing homeless woman and ultimately the return of a very angry Scotty. It’s all suddenly going pear shaped – Tess and Toby need help, but who can they turn to?

 Nat Amoore has written a great friendship novel. Tess’s voice is so alive and quirky you fall in love with her immediately. Her tips on life, dotted through the book, are actually a guide everyone could follow.

This book is guaranteed to entertain all readers.

For Ages: 8+ years

Number of Pages: 288 pages

Published: 4 June 2019

Themes: Friendship, life lessons and family

Rating: 4/5

Take Home Element: I’d like Tess to be my friend too.