It’s 1979 and Skylab, the first United States space station, is in the dying stages of its life. It’s going to crash into the Earth’s atmosphere some time in July but NASA assures the world it wouldn’t harm anyone and the risk is minimal. 

Frankie and her younger brother Newt, live in country Western Australia and the news about Skylab’s deteriorating orbit become the focus of their lives. Ever since their father disappeared in a plane crash, Frankie has looked after Newt and the household. Their mum is s nurse who works long hours and is too tired when she comes home to do very much. 

When Newt hears about Skylab’s approach, he becomes even more secretive as he works on one of his science investigations. Newt is different to most eight year olds. He loves studying science and REAL facts and has no time for nonsense in any shape or form. 

As the time draws closer to Skylab’s arrival, Frankie finds her world closing in too. She’s tired of being the one to look after the unpredictable Newt. She’s sad she can’t easily ask her best friend Kat to stay the night. She’s hiding so much from everyone that she feels exhausted and everything is getting out of control.

She also misses her dad. Together they used to look at the stars with a powerful telescope and he promised to help her do more astronomy when he came back from his trip. The trouble was, he never returned and they never found his body. For years Frankie hoped and dreamt that he was on a desert island somewhere just waiting to be picked up. Her mum sold the telescope and now she’s in her last year of junior school, she knows it was all a dream.

As the time approaches for Skylab to plummet to the Earth’s atmosphere, Newt behaviour gets more and more erratic. Frankie must make sure he stays safe. Can she look after him all the time and can she and Kat remain friends with so many secrets sitting in-between them? Can Frankie even tell her mum how she really feels? 

Meg McKinlay’s Middle Grade novel captures more than a snapshot of an era. Her characters are real and their journeys are endearing. This is a wonderful story of family, loss and believing in something.

For Ages: 9+12 years

Number of Pages: 256 in paperback.

Published: March 2019

Themes: Family and loss.

Rating: 4/5

An orphan boy named Almanac and a girl called Etta are invited to work at a stately home. Almanac, so named because he never forgets things had always dreamed of finding a new life outside the orphanage. Etta, the twelfth daughter of a poor family, had also dreamt of escaping from her family who she suspected didn’t really like her. Almanac is to be an apprentice under footman and Etta a chambermaid. Arriving within minutes of each other, they set out to explore their new home. The inhabitants are strangely occupied and reluctant to meet them. Lady Simone never leaves her bed, Lord Nigel is extremely busy and must be left alone and Dr Mithily works on experiments in the attic. They do however, leave them instructions of what they are to do.

The mansion is beautifully decorated, and well maintained. Almanac is sent to clean out the basement and Etta is set the task of finding the library. As the days go by the two get more and more concerned about their circumstances. They try to find out more about the house and a boy who lives in the chimneys, Ugo, tries to help as best he can. Strangely, no one seems to want to give them a straight answer.

A spell has been cast over the mansion and its grounds and no one is allowed to leave. The spell is powerful and when Etta tries to escape she finds that it is much stronger than they thought. Twins Hackett and Elsie appear to start work at the mansion and now they must all work together to find the spell. Once read out loud, the spell will lose its power over all who live in the mansion, they just have to find it. The spell is strong and fights them every step of the way. Can Almanac, Etta and the twins, along with the mysterious inhabitants of the house manage to outwit it? The stakes are high and if they fail, they will be stuck there forever.

Sean Williams creates a wonderful atmosphere that is both beguiling and ominous. The haunted house, sorcerers and being prisoners of an evil being, are classic themes from fairy tales. Middle Grade readers will love this exciting mystery and of finding your home and yourself too.

For Ages: 8 -12 years

Number of Pages: 336

Published: April 2020

Themes: Courage, family, finding yourself

Rating: 4/5

Wonder Quinn lives a lonely existence at a school called Direleafe Hall. Hidden away in her attic room full of old dusty archives, she spends her days in the company of a grouchy crow called Hollowbeak. No one seems to notice Wonder as she sits at the back of the class. Even the school bully ignores her. Wonder is left to inhabit the hidden spaces in the library, reading her beloved books.

The story opens with Wonder sitting in one of her favourite places – the roof of the school – looking out at the girls as they arrive for the new term. Every year she dreams of finding a friend. Someone who will notice her and fill her heart with friendship. This year Mabel Clattersham joins the class and an immediate friendship is born. Mabel sees her. She is funny and brave and is full of life. Together the girls work their way through a wish list Mabel has written. The friendship is strong and helps Wonder forget her lonely life. It lessens the sorrow of missing her mother and the lost opportunities that have passed her by.

Kate Gordon has given us another thought provoking Middle Grade novel. It is old fashioned in some ways with the use of interesting names reminiscent of Dickens and the setting in an old tired school. The themes of loss, loneliness and grief mingle seamlessly with the essence of friendship and letting go – even when it hurts. Readers will find this book intriguing and by the end, both sad and happy together.

For Ages: 9-12 years

Number of Pages: 184

Published: September 2020

Themes: Friendship, grief and loneliness

Rating: 3.75/5

The Chicken’s Curse is a wonderful tale of adventure set in the time of Julius Caesar. Felix is the servant of General Fabius Maximus Porcius – a man who ignores bad omens. Everyone knows (especially in ancient Roman times) that to ignore bad omens will only ever end in disaster. The night before a huge battle the General has ignored so many bad omens Felix feels he has no choice but to slip from the camp and head back to Rome and his mother. As he escapes, he meets up with Livia and a talking Sacred Chicken, both of whom want to go to Rome too. Livia needs to see her brother before he is killed by Caesar in his Triumph Games and the Sacred Chicken has heard that he will be fed on cake there – something he especially adores.

Their journey must be made in secrecy as Livia is a slave who has escaped her master. There are troopers looking for her and the trio are in constant danger. Their escape takes them in all sorts of directions – often away from Rome. The soldiers and baddies they encounter are ruthless and extremely unkind. What follows is one of the best road trips ever.

Frances Watts’ main characters are all loveable. Felix is kind and thoughtful and Livia brave and determined. Both of them are very loyal. Their fortitude in the face of so many set-backs is endearing and admirable. The themes of family, loyalty and friendship are strong and are approached with a lovely underlying humour. This book will be loved by all who read it.

For Ages: 8-12 years

Number of Pages: 272 pages

Published: February 2020

Themes: Friendship, loyalty and family

Rating: 4/5

We’re back at Watterson Primary and this time we follow the antics of the Green Peas. Casey, Zeke and Cookie are pranksters and they’re very good at it. The Green Peas want to bring to the attention of all people, especially adults, the state of the environment, but nobody seems to be listening. Casey lives with her grandfather (an inveterate prankster) and father, both of whom are deaf. Her mother died when Casey was just a baby but she left her with a box full of thoughts on everything she could think of. Casey gets her environmental warrior tendencies from things she has read from the cards her mother left behind.

After a memorable prank during morning assembly, the Green Peas stumble across a serious corruption breach by the Mayor of Watterson and are determined to expose her. What follows is a boisterous adventure into the world of spying and outwitting powerful and corrupt adults.

Casey, Zeke and Cookie use their individual skills to orchestrate the Mayor’s downfall. Zeke is a computer ninja and Cookie a fantastic artist. With Casey’s amazing ability to plan, they gather the information they need to expose the corruption in the local council that threatens the quiet peace of their township. During a promotional local fair put on by the Mayor, the Green Peas make their move. The pranks that follow are brilliant and managed by the help of all the kids from Watterson Primary. Together they stand and make a voice that cannot be ignored.

Nat Amoore has interspaced this great follow-on from Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire with words of wisdom from Casey’s mum and thoughts on friendship and the environment. Casey may not necessarily know exactly who she wants to be, and whether her mum would be proud of her, but she does know that this is where she belongs.

This is a great story full of humour but presented in such a way that it touches on serious and sometimes complex issues. It is a great tool to start conversations around the dinner table – as well as a lot of fun.

For Ages: 8+ years

Number of Pages: 288 pages

Published: 4 June 2020

Themes: Friendship, life lessons and the environment.

Rating: 4/5

As Fast As I Can by Penny Tangey

As Fast As I Can is a Middle Grade novel about Vivian and her dream of going in the Olympics. There is one small problem ­— 10-year-old Vivian hasn’t found a sport she is good at. She has tried gymnastics, but kept on falling off the beam. She tried soccer, but couldn’t kick a ball in the right direction. She even tried swimming, but managed to knock herself out while doing a tumble turn.  It was looking hopeless. Her best friend Olivia is a great sprinter and expects to do well on the School’s Sports Day.

Vivian lives with her mum and dad and big brother Noah. She suspects they don’t really share her dream, especially Noah, who has quit footy and only wants to concentrate on music. When Vivian finally finds a sport she is good at, she has an obstacle shoved in front of her that is so big that there may be no way to overcome it.

The book is divided in to two sections. The first is all about Vivian and her dream, and the second is after her mum’s diagnosis. It is during the second part that we follow Vivian and watch as she has to come to terms with what fate has thrown in her path.

Vivian’s outlook on life is that of a typical 10-year-old and it’s lovely to see her thoughts on friendships and family as we go through this interval of her life. The struggles with friend dynamics, finding her special talent and coping with what happens when her mother is found to be ill, are all beautifully portrayed in Penny Tangey’s novel. It’s nice to see the themes of coping with life changing illness, loyalty, friendship and finding your dream, being dealt with on a younger reader level.

Penny Tangey’s novel is inspirational in its exploration of the often-overlooked emotions of younger folk.

For Ages: 8-12 years

Number of Pages: 248 paperback.

Published: March 2020

Themes: Friendship, coping with illness, life dreams and frustrations.

Rating: 3.5/5

Dylan and her beloved French mother live in a small country town and dream of going to France, a place where Dylan’s dark skin would not be the thing that defined her. But Dylan’s small family is torn apart when her mother dies in an accident and she starts a journey across the country with Pat, her mother’s grieving boyfriend. Dylan’s world has been small but inhabited by big dreams and her unique way of looking at things and the way she processes the events around her, often lead to misunderstandings and confusing outcomes.

While she fantasises about the ocean and a boat that will take her to France, Pat drives them to somewhere she suspects she doesn’t want to be. Her violent father left years ago but he has family, and Pat is taking her to them. Dylan and Pat make their way across the dry and unforgiving landscape that somehow mirrors their feelings. They grudgingly try to process their grief and what the future holds in a world without the person they love the most.

When they arrive at Dylan’s grandfather’s house she must try and adjust but cannot get the idea of a boat to France out of her head. It’s the last dream she shared with her mother and she doesn’t want to let it go. Can she ever forgive Pat for bringing her here and how will she ever fit in with this family of strangers?

Cath Moore’s debut novel is a truly wonderful picture of grief and kinship. Of how different we all are and yet can still suffer the same trauma and its aftermath. The inner thoughts and conclusions that play through Dylan’s mind throughout the novel create a character that the reader cannot help but love. The themes of loss and family are beautifully portrayed. This is a must-read novel.

For Ages: 13+ years

Number of Pages: 272 in paperback.

Published: July 2020

Themes: grief and family

Rating: 4.75/5

Bindi is an 11-year-old girl who lives in Gundungurra Country. As the new school year starts, she falls into a routine of her favourite things - art classes, and dancing and riding her beloved horse. As the term progresses and her hockey team continues to lose every game, she and her classmates also learn about country.

This novel is written in verse and includes Gundungurra language. It is a story told from the child’s point of view and as the story progresses we see Bindi’s world unfold. The three main chapter headings – Seedlings, Cinders and Sprouts – refer to the renewing of the land after fire and through the storyline, show how both people and the land can heal if they cooperate and respect each other.

Kirli Saunder’s novel is lyrical and its simple language brings to life the struggles and joys of living in our unique land. The themes of friendship, family and respect flow through the narrative and will be well received by Middle Grade readers. Dub Leffler’s black and white illustrations fly through the pages giving us visual glimpses of the things that matter to Bindi. This book should be given to all upper Primary kids to read.

For Ages: 9-12 years

Number of Pages: 144

Published: November 2020

Themes: Family, belonging and respect

Rating: 4/5

You Were Made for Me is a lovely Rom/Com that is totally entertaining. Katie is an average girl with all the trials and tribulations a 16-year-old could have. She thinks that her glasses and frizzy hair make her fail as girlfriend material and worries that she has never been kissed. She is secretly in love with Declan Bell Jones, the best looking, most popular boy in her year. The trouble is, he has barely noticed she exists.

When her best friend Libby comes over one night, they jokingly create the “perfect guy”. Katie is a talented artist and has sculpted her perfect boyfriend in clay. Libby is great at science stuff and she makes a potion. After listing the “perfect guy’s” attributes, the girls do some secret stuff with Libby’s potion and that’s it - nothing. Katie feels let down when Libby explains that there is no such thing as the “perfect guy” and that she should just get on with her life. After Katie clears up the mess they’ve made, she goes to bed with just her dog Max for company.

That’s when things get interesting. Somehow, they have created the “perfect guy” and there he is in Katie’s room. Now she has to hide him from her parents and figure out what to do. She enlists the help of her life-long friend Theo who lives in their backyard granny flat and Libby too is bought in to help decide what to do. All the while, Katie has to deal with the school bully, Mikayla Fitzsimmons, and the now confusing but welcome attentions of Mikayla’s boyfriend and Katie’s secret crush, Declan Bell Jones. Her new perfect boyfriend, now called Guy, is so fresh and new that he knows nothing about how life works, so he too, has to be educated and protected from being discovered by Katie’s parents. Katie is so distracted by having the hottest boyfriend on the planet and all the things she has to deal with, that she neglects her best friends. As things come to a head, Katie finds that sometimes it’s better to not get what you wish for and that appreciating what you already have is the best way to go.

Jenna Guillaume’s novel is a great exploration of teenage life and how nothing is ever perfect. The themes of self-esteem, bullying and friendship are treated in an amusing and friendly way – readers will love this book.

For Ages: 14+ years

Number of Pages: 336 in paperback.

Published: August 2020

Themes: Friendship, self-esteem and bullying.

Rating: 4/5

This wonderful book opens with Winter and Summer, identical twins, living alone on an island in a post-apocalyptic world. Both sisters are narrators of their story and as it progresses, the reader is left with the knowledge that they are, at times, totally unreliable. Each chapter is seen through the eyes of one of the sisters as we follow their sometimes, idyllic existence in isolation, away from whatever the world has become. Their father bought them to the island when things went bad and shadowy characters were hunting him down. He had invented a way that the internet was totally accessible and free to everyone but the consequences got out of hand. As the world fell into a time of violence and uncertainty, an illness known as “The Greying” began to spread and kill hundreds of thousands of people. Their mother, who in the beginning we are led to believe died in childbirth, became a casualty to the brutality the world was now ruled by.

The girls were safe on their island until the day someone appeared at the edge of the forest. From that time on, their own world began to crumble. Winter fell in love with the intruder, Edward, and Summer was left with feelings of jealousy and abandonment. Her own prickly personality made things worse and eventually she decides to leave her sister and Edward to themselves. But by now things have turned nasty between the kind-hearted Winter and her beau.

The language used and the style of writing in this novel are fabulous. The chatty narration of Summer and her thoughts on everything are a joy to read. The questions that arise and the different way the sisters view the world create a scenario that, in the end, is heartbreaking. The sacrifices we make for those we love and the unbelievable pain left by betrayal are explored here with insight that leaves the reader breathless.

For Ages: 14 + years

Number of Pages: 288

Published: June 2020

Themes: Sacrifice, love, betrayal and courage

Rating: 4.5/5

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Clem and her best friends, Bridge and Ellie are getting back together again after the summer holidays. They are entering Year 8 and Clem can’t wait to see them and catch up with all their news. But they have changed over the holidays. Bridge is super interested in boys and Ellie seems to already have a boyfriend in the wings. Clem’s friends are making her feel left behind. They have bras and their periods and don’t seem to enjoy all the things they used to do together.

The Year 8 school camp is coming up and Clem hopes that this will give them time to get back to their old friendship harmony. She has also made a couple of new friends, Tom in her photography course and Jacqs, a girl who previously had seemed way too cool to consider even talking to Clem. The relationship and dynamics between the friends is taking a different turn and Clem is trying to find her place. Bridge is hanging out with the boys and always talking about boyfriends. She questions Clem about her friendship with Tom and encourages her to believe he likes her a lot. Ellie is tight with Sammy and although she tries to include Clem in the things they do, Clem feels uncomfortable around them.

Things get worse for Clem when she suffers two personal cringe worthy moments on the camp trip and struggles with emotions rising up within her. She leans towards her growing friendship with Jacqs and mixes less with Bridge and Ellie. Has their long friendship come to an end? Can Clem salvage this important relationship and find her new normal?

Nova Weetman’s novel is a delight to read. Her portrayal of Clem and her friends is perfect and the trials and tribulations of being thirteen are beautifully rendered.

For Ages: 11 - 14 years

Number of Pages: 256

Published: March 2021

Themes: Friendships, puberty and finding your own way.

Rating: 4/5

The Midnight Guardians is a great adventure story in the wonderful tradition of good versus evil. Col has been evacuated to the North of England, away from the blitz bombing of London. World War II is in its early stages but still threatens to destroy the only person he has left. Col’s sister Rose is in London working with the emergency services and since their father died, she is the one who knows him best. Col is staying with his Aunt Claire but she is always tired and cranky and when Rose’s plan to visit him for Christmas comes to nothing, Col is devastated. He runs away to the cottage they used to live in with their father, and it is there that things start to get strange.

When he was young, Col had invented some imaginary friends who he would have the most exciting adventures with. The was the King of Rogues, a miniature, amour clad, sword wielding soldier, Mr Noakes, a badger dressed in a waistcoat and an amazing six-foot-tall tiger called Pendlebury. Together they were the Guardians, whose sole aim in life was to protect and help him. As he grew older they were left behind at the cottage and in their own world. A place that was now suffering the same terror that England and the rest of the world were facing. The Midwinter King was gathering strength and was overtaking the land bringing darkness and misery. He was in a fierce battle with the Green Man who represented warmth, growth and renewal. The Midwinter King was determined to take over his world and was searching for the Green Man in order to finally destroy him.

Col not only had to get to London to save his sister from a deadly bombing raid, he had to find and protect the Green Man. While travelling to London, Col and his Guardians come across Ruth, a refugee from Nazi Germany. She too, needs to get to London in order to trace her parents. Together they must fight off the evil creatures sent to kill them and kidnap back the Guardians.

Ross Montgomery’s novel is a joy to read. Readers are immediately drawn to Col and his circumstances. The Guardians are a wonderful trio of squabbling comrades who are loyal and steadfast. All the characters are beautifully portrayed and the humour that runs through the book manages to soften the horror of war. As a parallel story of two worlds fighting against evil forces it works beautifully.

For Ages: 9 - 13 years

Number of Pages: 387 plus historical notes

Published: September 2020

Themes: Family, loyalty and resilience.

Rating: 4/5

Charlie has wanted a little brother or sister for ages, and when Dara is born with a serious heart problem, Charlie is devastated. Running from the hospital and into Mandel Forest, Charlie tries to deal with all the feelings that have suddenly sprung up. Deep into the forest, Charlie finds a boy seriously injured and tries to run for help, but something is different. Charlie realises that although the forest is basically the same, it’s the era that’s different. Harby is dressed in deer skins and has lost his memory, somehow Charlie has landed back in the prehistoric age.

Together Charlie and Harby try to find the injured boy’s home and family. This is not as easy as it sounds because the forest is now a wild place inhabited by wolves and other dangers, so much is different from Charlie’s usually favourite place. Harby slowly starts remembering his life and realises his baby sister Mothga is missing and alone in the forest. Will they find her before she is taken by predators? And more importantly, how will Charlie find a way back home? The journey with Harby, and the lessons learnt along the way, all help Charlie realise that running away from problems is not the answer.

Sophie Kirtley’s middle grade novel is a time-slip adventure wrapped around the themes of family and courage. The characters are real and even Harby and his life come alive as the reader is dragged into his existance and everyday fears. Charlie’s character is kind and brave and also, intriguingly non-gender specific. It’s great to read a book where any reader can so easily align themselves with the main character. This book will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy seeing the world through different eyes.

 For Ages: 9+ 13 years

Number of Pages: 256 in paperback form.

Published: July 2020

Themes: Family, courage and acceptance.

Rating: 3/5                                       

This is a lovely tale about what it is to be human, even though it’s all about a cat. A 300-year-old alien is transported to earth to experience life on our planet for one month. He dreams of being a ranger in Yellowstone National Park, of using umbrellas and getting as much data as he can for his “Hive”. Unfortunately, something goes wrong during his journey and he appears in the body of a cat in the wrong place in the middle of a storm. Luckily, he is rescued by a young girl.

Olive is a child who has trouble making friends and often is referred to as “weird”. She has a head full of interesting facts and sometimes no one to tell them to. She names the cat Leonard, and after a few hiccups, he lets her know his is an alien. Together they try and work their way through Leonard’s wish-list of human experiences. Making a cheese sandwich and hosting a dinner party are things he believes will help him really get a handle on the whole human thing.

Slowly Olive gains more courage to be her own human self too. They spend their days helping her grandmother at the local Turtle Beach Aquarium and making friends with penguins. It all seems to be working out fine. But there is one problem that Leonard has and Olive is determined to help him. He must be at Yellowstone National Park on a particular day, place and time so this his “Hive” can pick him up and take him home. If he misses the rendezvous he will be stuck on Earth and become mortal.

How will Olive manage to get Leonard to a place hundreds of miles away? Will they make it in time? And how can Leonard drag himself away from the best person he has ever met?

Carlie Sorosiak has followed on from her book I Cosmo with another delightful story told through the eyes of an animal. Leonard’s voice is amusing and heartfelt and Olive’s take on the world is honest and warming. Sorosiak explores what it means to be human and also about belonging to a family.  

For Ages: 8 + 12 years

Number of Pages: 272 in paperback form.

Published: September 2020

Themes: Family, being human and loyalty

Rating: 3.5/5                                    

I wish: that I had a cat like Leonard.

Susan Arkshaw has come to London to start her life after finishing high school. It’s 1983 and she is looking forward to getting a job, finding somewhere to live and start her art course. And also, to try and find father. Her mother, Jassmine, is terribly vague about any details to do with her father’s identity, so Susan is left with only one contact – “uncle’ Frank Thringley. Unfortunately, shortly after seeing Frank for the first time in years, he is “disincorporated” by a strangely dressed young man called Merlin. After that encounter, Susan’s life changes forever.

Merlin and his sister Vivian are part of a secret parallel world. In Susan’s London, they are booksellers and seen as slightly eccentric. Merlin’s world is inhabited by ancient gods, evil goblins and Cauldron-born lethal monsters. Life takes a sinister turn for Susan as it becomes clear that some malevolent entity wants her dead and it is all tied up with her father’s identity. Merlin’s left-handed powers help fight off any number of threats and Vivian’s right-handed talents can control the brains of those who are trying to kill them. Together, the trio try to track down Susan’s father and the evil presence that is trying so hard to kill Susan and take over both the New and Old Worlds. They are not sure who they can trust and suspect there is a double agent somewhere close to them. Are they strong enough to stop the collapse of the carefully balanced worlds? And can they find Susan’s father before it is too late?

Garth Nix has created a world that slips seamlessly from one time and place to another. On the surface, to everyday people, London life continues as usual but when evil from the Old World invades the New, London disappears, is transformed and dragged back hundreds of years. Elements of the supernatural and all the rules of physics are turned upside down. Nothing is as it seems and hidden below buildings and lakes are dangerous trails that take them on a journey of untold danger. Nix’s characters are completely charming, and welcome the reader into their world and their plight, promising an adventure that runs non-stop from beginning to end.

For Ages: 14 + years

Number of Pages: 416 paperback.

Published: September 2020

Themes: Courage, family, loyalty

Rating: 4/5

Hannah and her family are on holiday in Dresden and on the night they arrive, they go to visit the famous Christmas Markets. There are so many things to look at as the snow gently falls around them. Hannah sees a wooden figure of a bear and is immediately drawn to him. He looks angry and scared at the same time. When the stall owner makes the bear puppet dance, Hannah falls in love.

Later, when she is back in her cosy hotel and settling down to sleep, Hannah’s little sister takes her puppet out of his bag and starts to play with him. Hannah is angry and they have a fight. The bear is broken and Hannah cries herself to sleep.

During the night she has a strange experience. She wakes up to find herself dressed in old fashioned clothes and back in a time before the Christmas Market even existed. She is in a stable next to a small bear cub with an angry big bear in the next stall. She meets a boy called Matthias and together they plan a daring rescue. Can they steal Luna away from her cruel captors? Can they find their way safely back to Matthias’ village? And most importantly, can Hannah find her way back to her own time.

Holly Webb weaves a magical atmosphere into this story for early readers and Hannah and Matthias come to life with the illustrations of Jo Anne Davies. Together they have created a tale of adventure and open young readers up to the world of animal cruelty in a way that is safe and not confrontational. It is a lovely read and will be enjoyed by Holly Webb fans.

For Ages: 6-9 years

Number of Pages: 192 in hardback form.

Published: September 2020

Themes: Bravery, coping with adversity and friendships

Rating: 3.5/5                                    

I wish: that I could visit the Christmas Markets in the snow.

The Golden Tower is a great old-fashioned fairy tale filled with characters like an evil step-mother, impertinent little sprites, flying horses and a talking cat. It starts innocently enough, like most fairy tales do. Sophie is staying with her grandmother in England while her mum takes her little brother to a fabulous summer school course for super bright kids. Although Sophie loves her brother she finds it hard sometimes as she struggles with dyslexia and can’t get the cruel words of her school bully out of her mind. She’s timid as a mouse, stupid and useless. With these thoughts trooping through her mind it’s easy to see that Sophie has a bit to deal with.

One day, while exploring the countryside near her Nanna’s house, Sophie follows a cheeky cat into a cave. It seems to be talking to her and her curiosity gets the better of her. Inside, she finds evidence of a Roman era mosaic but gets lost in the process. She finally finds her way out but soon realises this is not the English countryside she left behind. She has been transported to the land Tuscia. Life here is nestled in a different time. Here, there are castles, servants, horses, powerful dukes and magical elements.

Sophie saves a young girl, Bia from a wild boar and is taken back to her castle to meet her grandmother. Bia comes from a noble family and lives with her big sister, Isabella and her cousins Nicco and Leo. Shortly after Sophie arrives, the girls’ step-mother Ginevre arrives and says they are going to visit their father at his main estate. Isabella, Bia and their cousins are invited for an extended stay. Nonna doesn’t trust Ginevre and urges Sophie to go as well so she can keep an eye on the sisters and protect them.

Sophie doubts she has the courage or the know how to do such a job, but goes along. Ginevre has plans and will not tolerate any kind of disobedience. She has arranged a marriage between Isabella and the lord of a powerful neighbouring family and nothing is going to get in her way. Somehow Sophie must work out a way to save Isabella and get them all safely home to Nonna. But Ginevre has powerful potions and magic on her side and Sophie finds it hard to gather the courage needed to take on the sorceress.

Belinda Murrell paints a beautiful picture of the world of Tuscia. The descriptions of everyday life in the Renaissance period and the superstitions of that era, all come together to create a suspenseful narrative. This novel will appeal to all readers who love a mystical journey and the battle between good and evil.

For Ages: 9+11 years

Number of Pages: 297 in paperback.

Published: March 2021

Themes: Family, bullying and courage.

Rating: 4/5                                       

Liam’s brother Aidan has disappeared and the whole town is out there trying to help find him. For six terrifying days Aidan’s family are dealing with the possibility he may never be found. The questions of how and why, followed by who took him, run through everyone’s minds. When Aidan miraculously re-appears in the attic, a place that has been searched many times, he is dishevelled and disorientated and everyone is relieved. Then the questions start again and this time Aidan’s story is posing more questions than answers.

Liam and Aidan share a bedroom and in the night time darkness they talk. There is only a year between the brothers and being 11 and 12, they are at an age where fantasy worlds and the truth are divided by a fine line. As the family try to return to their normal lives, Aidan’s explanation of where he had been is examined and turned inside out. His parents don’t believe him, and are confused and angry as to why he can’t tell the truth. The police don’t believe him, apart from one officer who is willing to believe that Aidan believes what he is telling them. Students at his school are divided and then begin to turn against him. The brothers’ relationship is tested and so is the question of friendship and how far it can be stretched before it is broken forever.

Aidan is lost again, but inside his own world where things have changed forever. Trust has gone from his relationship with his family and friends. The only person willing to believe him is his brother Liam. What can they do to bring all their lives back on track? The ending leaves the reader with even more doubt as to what really happened and who actually believes Aidan’s story and why they aren’t coming to his defence.

David Levithan’s novel is a story about trust within the small group of family and the larger group of community. About loyalty and surviving family trauma. The story is intriguing and whether you believe Aidan’s version of events or not, the journey through it is compelling.

For Ages: 10 – 13 years

Number of Pages: 224 in paperback.

Published: February 2021

Themes: trust, bullying, family trauma

Rating: 3.5/5

The Valley of Lost Secrets is a story about fear, belonging, acceptance and love. Set at the beginning of WW!!, brothers Jimmy and Ronnie are sent to Wales as evacuees. A number of children from their school in Islington join them in this unknown place, all of them reluctant to be separated from their loved ones. Most of the children would rather face the bombs than be separated from their families, especially Jimmy.

The mining village of Llanbryn is nestled in amongst a series of rolling mountains. The streets are steep and the small houses covered in coal dust. A mist often hangs over the valley and the children from London are rattled by more than just the strange spelling and the lilting Welsh language. Nothing about this place is familiar.

Mr and Mrs Thomas, who choose the brothers to come and live with them, are kind hearted people, but Jimmy is determined not to become attached as he is sure the war will be over soon and he will be able to return to his own family. Jimmy’s best friend, Duff, is billeted with the local vicar’s family and along with Jack, the vicar’s son, and a pair of burly twin brothers, starts a campaign of bullying the other evacuees, especially Jimmy and little Ronnie. Florence, who was an outcast in her London life, has found the love and comfort of a true family and tries to help Jimmy protect his younger brother.

The three children are thrown together when they are told to entertain themselves until a teacher can be found to take on the new evacuee pupils. When Jimmy finds a skull in a tree trunk, the village takes on an even more hostile atmosphere. Whose skull could it be? How did they die? And most importantly, what should they do about it? Jimmy and Florence decide to try and figure out the answers themselves but find that there are secrets everywhere in this small Welsh village. Who can they trust and can they figure out the mystery before the bullies beat their secret out of Ronnie?

Lesley Parr’s novel gives readers a glimpse into the emotions of children separated from their families during war. She explores the feelings of outcasts, strangers and victims in a gentle, thoughtful manner. The language used is targeted perfectly to the early Middle Grade audience. I love historical fiction and this is a captivating example of the genre.

For Ages: 9+13 years

Number of Pages: 297 in paperback.

Published: January 2021

Themes: Belonging, acceptance, bullying

Rating: 4/5                                       

Wen Zhou lives with her mother and father in a run-down, rough part of the city. Her life is surrounded by boundaries, the highest and strongest put there by her father. Back in China he was a doctor with dreams of becoming a surgeon. Here in Australia he works in a Chinese restaurant. His stubborn pride stands in his way and so he can’t help but let his bitterness flow into the lives of his wife and daughter.

Wen’s best friend Henry is still getting a grip on the English language but is an absolute superstar student. Together they are going to try and break free of their pre-destined paths. They want more. In two weeks, they will sit an exam to get a scholarship to a fantastic, opportunity laden school. This will be their ticket out to a life where they can study what they want and join the world around them.

Their plans suffer a blow when tragedy strikes Henry’s family. Wen must try and find a way to get her friend back on track. A way to remember their dream for a better life. She must also manoeuvre her way through the minefield of her father’s emotional instability. Can she help her friend, manage her father’s unreasonable expectations and coax her mother out from her introverted shell?

Rebecca Lim has written a wonderful book that gives an insight into the life of an immigrant and anyone who is made to feel they don’t belong. Living in Australia, a place that on the surface is an easy-going, accepting society is not easy for many new-comers. A narrow-minded mentality and hostility towards those who are different, is examined in a way that will find a resonance with many readers. The clash between culture and tradition is examined with an understanding that can only come from one who has experienced the divide. This should be a compulsory text for all upper middle grade or younger YA school kids.

For Ages: 11-14 years

Number of Pages: 206

Published: February 2021

Themes: Family, honour, belonging, cultural differences and resilience

Rating: 4.5/5