Felix and his half-sister Zoe, are trying to get used to each other. Their blended family is on holiday in France and they have an afternoon free before they have to meet up again with their parents and leave. They are wandering around the ancient Roman ruins of a bath house when Felix finds a message in a bottle with instructions on how to travel back in time. Zoe scoffs but Felix thinks it’s worth a try, just for fun. As he is writing the magic word on the wall of the bath house Zoe grabs him and the two of them are propelled back 1700 years. As they begin to explore their environment they meet Petronia, a young girl of high rank. Somehow, in the mix of people and the excitement of the day, when they travel back to their own time, Petronia has come too.

The siblings agree they need to return her to her time and make what they hope is a quick trip back. Things get complicated when they discover Petronia’s sleeping body has stayed behind and her family have taken her to a healing spring to try and wake her up. What follows is a great adventure that introduces the reader to some very interesting historical information about the lives of Romans from all walks of life.

Anna Ciddor’s time slip novel follows on from The Boy Who Stepped Through Time but is also a stand-alone book. Middle Grade readers will love this fast-paced, fun-fact filled, ancient adventure. While trying to avoid eating sparrows and hard, tasteless biscuits, and trying not to drown in the Rhone, the siblings must adapt to the social hierarchy. Felix is a loveable, if a bit clumsy character, whose rocky relationship with his step-sister grows through the novel. The descriptions of the houses and lives of this era are beautifully crafted. This voyage back in time will get readers wanting more.

For Ages: 8 - 13 years

Number of Pages: 336

Published: April 2023

Themes: Family, friendship and perseverance

Purchase here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Anna-Ciddor-Message-Through-Time-9781761180125/

Marcus Grady is a warrior and when he is playing his favourite game, he is invincible. In real life however, 12-year-old Marcus has no friends since Bashir flew out to India. He prefers playing Dragon Warrior, he doesn’t need other kids, especially the bully who demands Marcus hands over his lunch every day.

Marcus’ happy life is turned inside out when it is decided he spends too much time on the computer and is sent away to boarding school where, hopefully, he will learn to make friends and overcome his gaming addiction. He arrives at Bourkely Boys Grammar and is horrified by what he sees. It is situated exactly in the middle of nowhere and even worse, there is no internet or computers. Sleeping involves balancing precariously in a hammock and the food is so bad that one boy, Trent, has lost a third of his body weight in just one term. Marcus is befriended by Fred who talks continually and Trent, Fred’s bodyguard. The prefects, especially one called Scarface, are brutal and bullying is commonplace. All Marcus wants to do is escape.

Can Marcus find a way to leave this hell hole? Can he get to the one and only phone to call his parents? At every turn Marcus is presented with stumbling blocks that being a warrior, should make easy to overcome. As the students hurtle towards an unforeseen consequence of an overly exuberant history lesson and the toppling of a king bully, Marcus learns more about himself, and about friends, loyalty and forgiveness.

Nathan Luff has created a school that features in children’s nightmares, but not all is as it seems. Crazy teachers, a terrifying Principal, a library ghost and the half blind Italian bus driver all come together to create a wonderful adventure for junior and Middle Grade readers. Marcus’ thoughts and wonderful snippets from ‘The Warrior’s Guide to Everything’ create a character who will resonate with many readers. This re-release novel still packs a punch.

For Ages: 8 - 12 years

Number of Pages: 283

Published: April 2023 Walker Books Australia (originally released January 2013)

Themes: Friendship, bullying, video game addiction, resilience

Purchase here: https://www.sequelbooks.com/bad-grammar

Sibyl’s grandmother is the hotel witch at The Grand Mirror Hotel and Sibyl is her apprentice. Together they help the hotel and its guests wherever they are needed. They clean shoes and windows, help pastries rise, set tables and help guests when they have lost something or need more room in their suitcases.

Sibyl’s mother is away on very important business in the Black Mountains, but she always writes interesting letters and visits when she can. Grandma instructs Sibyl, and on a daily basis must remind her that letting her mind wander or to daydream while casting spells can only lead to failure. Sibyl can’t help dreaming and thinking about possible case scenarios.

When Grandma disappears on the mysterious thirteenth floor of the hotel and objects begin to lose their shadows, Sibyl must try and solve the problem herself. With the help of her best friend Ahmed and a talking cat, Sibyl tries to fix the problem before it’s too late.

Jessica Miller has given readers a magical narrative full of wonderful characters. Sibyl’s struggle with concentrating and trying not to worry about things, are traits many can sympathise with. Her journey from young apprentice to confident sorcerer is beautifully played out against a backdrop of great imagination. The themes of family, believing in yourself, perseverance and bravery in times of trouble, are explored in this fun adventure.

For Ages: 9+ years

Number of Pages: 288

Published: March 2023 Text

Themes: Resilience, family and believing in yourself.

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-sugarcane-kids-and-the-red-bottomed-boat-charlie-archbold/book/9781922458520.html

Noah Wriggle has a magical book, given to him by his grandfather. With his best friend Blue, they create animals that are very unusual. Every Thursday, with the throw of a dice they choose two creatures and mix them together to invent an entirely new critter. There is only one rule that MUST be followed. The creature must be returned to the page it was drawn on before the end of the day or they will disappear off the face of the Earth.

In each adventure, the boys have to deal with the inquisitive and lively behaviour of their creations which can sometimes lead to both scary and hilarious predicaments. The creatures’ names are a fun mash up of the animals. There is Spidersaurus, an Ocktokey, a Moleon and a Tigerdillo, all of them giving the boys a wild adventure.

Nova Weetman’s characters are full of life and the boys make a great team. The language and sentence structure are perfect for younger readers and the illustrations by Chris Kennett are perfect. The expressions on various people’s faces when they encounter either the creatures or the trails of destruction left behind, make the story seem like a continuously moving cartoon. These are entertaining tales, with crazy animals and charming boy heroes, they will be a favourite for many a year.

For Ages: 5 - 9 years

Number of Pages: 368

Published: December 2022 Hardie Grant Australia

Themes: Friendship, magic and animal wrangling

Purchase here: https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/book/the-complete-creature-collection-by-nova-weetman/9781761211539

Queenie and her mum have a big problem. The house they’ve been living in for years has been sold and they need to find somewhere else to rent. The trouble is it’s the middle of the Pandemic and rental properties are scarce. Queenie and her mum start an odyssey that will take them on a journey that is far more than just moving house.

 Queenie loves music and plays her father’s acoustic guitar but she lacks the confidence she needs to perform. When the time comes to perform in the end of year concert, Queenie backs out when she realises her old friend Sparrow is singing the same song. No matter what people say to encourage her, she backs out.

 Queenie and her mum have always been a team. Ever since her father died, when she was very young, they have done things together. But since they started looking for somewhere to live things between them have changed and Queenie hasn’t quite figured out why. In one of their stays Queenie gets to know classmate Dory a bit better. He’s a chess whiz but also knows how to record her songs and up load them to Spotify. When she has to move on, Queenie struggles with the ever-increasing hopelessness of trying to find somewhere to live. Each place they go to is different from the last and each time Queenie realises she must step up and “put on her big girl pants”.

 Will she and her mum ever find a place to live? And will Queenie ever get the courage to perform in front of more than three people? How will she manage her renewed friendship with her singing rival Sparrow? All these things, as well as her mum’s new relationship, leave Queenie searching deep within herself.

 Zanni Louis has given us a cleverly constructed insight into the lives of others. She shared Queenie’s journey herself and sheds a light on an element of the Pandemic that has been quietly brushed under the rug. The growing self-esteem Queenie evolves over the course of the story, helps her realise that when awful things happen they don’t always end as badly as imagined. This is a book about resilience, family, friendships and self-belief. Readers will enjoy this modern-day tale of urban adventure and quiet heroism.

For Ages: 10 - 13 years

Number of Pages: 240

Published: February 2023

Themes: Family, friendships, resilience, homelessness and self-esteem

Purchase here: https://www.walkerbooks.com.au/book/9781760655662/

Waiting for Storks is the third book in Katrina Nannestad’s series set during World War II. This time we join Zofia, a Polish 8-year-old who lives in Krakow with her parents and aunt. Zofia and her family struggle with the severe restrictions imposed by the Nazi invaders but even though their clothes are patched and they never have enough to eat, at least they have each other.

 Zofia’s life falls apart when she is taken away by soldiers and thrown into the back of a truck in the middle of the night. She has no idea what is happening and is terrified she will never see her family again. Blonde haired, blue eyed Zofia joins hundreds of other children just like her at a school to begin their German re-education. Slowly and sometimes violently, she is brainwashed into believing the new story of her life. She is now a German orphan called Sophia and with some guilt she excels at fitting in. She is adopted by a top Nazi doctor and her life of poverty and discrimination is left behind.

 As the war comes to an end, Sophia’s life gets complicated and she is torn between two worlds. Katrina Nannestad has given us an insight into another version of life for children during World War II. She explores, through Zofia/Sophia, the emotions, confusion and terror of the children kidnapped to fuel Germany’s Lebensborn Program.

 The themes of family, hardship, death, loyalty and survival all play out here in an exciting and captivating novel. This is a story of the horrible choices that had to be made by some the most vulnerable people in order to survive. It is also about hope and redemption. It is a complex set of thoughts beautifully crafted into a very readable novel.

For Ages: 12 + years

Number of Pages: 358 Hardback

Published: May 2022 ABC Books Au/ Harper Collins

Themes: Family, resilience, loyalty and identity

Purchase here: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780733342271/waiting-for-the-storks/

Indigo Michael is lonely and angry, and she has good reason to be. She has been abandoned by her mother, (her father left years ago), and now she is living with a foster family. Luckily for Indigo, she has landed in the best place possible. Noni, her faster carer, and Noni’s niece Aster, are good people. They are patient and kind and only want Indigo to feel she belongs and is loved for who she is.

 Indigo tries to fit into her new school but feels out of place there as well. Drawing helps her and sometimes eases the pain that her mother has left behind when she packed up and left. When Indigo meets Liam, also new at their school, she sees a revolutionary. Someone who wants to take action against an unfair world. They slowly form a friendship and decide to change the world.

 Kate Gordon has given us a story that is both strong and wild, as well as quiet and contemplative. Indigo Michael, ‘born during a storm’, has always been wild, and will continue to be. Now, perhaps, she has direction and people around her who can believe in her and stand by in support and love. This is a story about belonging, friends, creativity and the environment, and how, when all these elements come together in the right order, life can be worth living. Indigo’s voice is at times rebellious and at others small and fragile. Her search for herself is just starting and with the help of those around her, she may find a way forward.

For Ages: 9 - 13 years

Number of Pages: 195

Published: March 2023 Yellow Brick Books

Themes: Friendship, belonging, family, environment

Purchase here: https://www.yellowbrickbooks.com.au/indigo-in-the-storm

10-year-old Pearly Woe is a worrier — and she’s very good at it. She also has an incredible talent with languages which allows her to converse with any creature, human or animal. She lives with her adventurous parents and a small pig called Pig who talks to her all the time. Pig has an incredible talent for smelling out danger and anything else you care to find.

When her parents go missing, Pearly attempts to save them and she and Pig find themselves prisoners on a fast-moving icebreaker heading for Antarctica. The evil Emmeline Woods has something dastardly planned and it seems that Pearly is the only who can save the situation. She and Pig, stuck in the frozen South, must overcome their worries and a numb snout and somehow outwit their cruel captor.

Sue Whiting has given us a fast-paced, action packed adventure. Right from the very beginning, the reader warms to Pearly and her own brand of worrying. With her Italian worry language, intermingled with pig oinks, we are whisked off into the fray. Descriptions of clanging footsteps on the ship and of the crunch of snow and ice, all create an electric atmosphere. The illustrations by Rebecca Crane capture the essence of the characters beautifully. Pearly learns about the power of family, loyalty, animal survival and believing in yourself. Readers will definitely enjoy this first book in the Pearly and Pig series.

For Ages: 8 - 11 years

Number of Pages: 224

Published: March 2022 Walker Books

Themes: Family, resilience, ecosystems and believing in yourself.

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/pearly-and-pig-and-the-great-hairy-beast-sue-whiting/book/9781760653590.html

The Travelling Bookshop is on the move again, and this time the Cohen family arrive in a quaint English village just in time for the Puddling Muddlebury Dog Show. They set up their caravan near the village green and open for business. One of their visitors is Lord Melville-Timms and his incredibly headstrong English Bulldog, Bubbles. When he is asked to fill in at the last minute, as a judge for the dog show, he is delighted to help out. Unfortunately, judging also includes his Lordship and Bubbles opening the obedience trials with a glorious display of skill. Lord Melville-Timms is a very worried man. Will the books chosen for him actually help? It’s hard to say.

 Katrina Nannestad’s Travelling Bookshop series is a delightful journey into the joy of imagination and the magical power of books. With flying sheep, expanding caravans and quirky characters, the reader is invited in for a time, to this extraordinary world. Mim’s narration gives the reader a cautious perspective and shows her gentle appreciation for the inner workings of her father’s mind. Little Nat, her brother, is always in the thick of the action and this time is obsessed with the letter C. Holding them all together, her father has a love of adventure that includes a fair amount of make-believe.

 The themes of family, adapting, the environment and taking time to appreciate the simple things in life flow through this story. It is filled with colourful characters and funny situations. The story draws you in from the beginning as any reader of the series would agree. It’s always fun to see what books Mim’s father chooses for his visitors and how such obscure titles could possibly be of use.

 The illustrations by Cheryl Orsini add so much to the narrative. From picnics on top of the caravan, to dog breeds and cardboard cars, the characters come alive with all their eccentricities and fun adventures. Middle Grade readers will enjoy this next instalment.

 For Ages: 7-12 years

Number of Pages: 256

Published: March 2023 Harper Collins

Themes: Family, Imagination and adapting

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/mim-and-the-disastrous-dog-show-the-travelling-bookshop-4--katrina-nannestad/book/9780733342240.html

The Lorikeet Tree is an exploration into the journeys families make in difficult and heart-breaking times. Twins Alex and Emily live with their father in a woodland farm in Eastern Victoria. Their mother died when they were young and now at fifteen, they are told their father is dying.

 The contrast between their emotional turmoil and the peace and beauty of their farm, put a strain on the twin’s relationship. Alex is good at maths and building things but also is very sensitive emotionally. Emily has an inner strength and practicality that makes her father ask her to look after her brother.

 The twins set about making their father’s last few months happy and relaxed. But when Alex keeps a kitten from a litter of a feral cat, Emily can’t believe he would risk the birdlife and small animals they have worked so hard to help re-inhabit the area.

 Jennings explores the themes of love, loss, grief, family and the environment. The story is written from Emily’s point of view as an English essay. Set in four parts that cover the seasons of the year, the reader is taken into the world of the twins, sharing their love of nature and the tragic death of their father. The Lorikeet Tree in the title plays a major role in the narrative and is a great symbol of life and harmony within nature. Middle Grade readers will enjoy this gentle observation of life, death and everything.

For Ages: 11-14 years

Number of Pages: 192

Published: January 2023 Allen & Unwin

Themes: environment, death, acceptance and family relationships

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-lorikeet-tree-paul-jennings/book/9781761180095.html

Tumble Glass is a time-slip novel about the meaning of family and the secrets they keep. While painting a bedroom, sisters, Ash and Rowan, discover an old ring, and from that moment on, everything changes. They travel back in time to 1999 and land in their own house during a party. Ash is excited and joins the party, happy to experience the era and all it holds. Rowan is shyer than her older sister and tries to explore the house. She runs into a younger version of her mother and accidently interferes with time.

 Shortly after, Rowan finds herself back in her own time but minus Ash. She must find a way to bring her back home and enlists the help of an old family friend. Verity knows the history of the house and tells Rowan that it is magical. They must work together to find pieces of glass from inside the house in different times.

 Rowan travels back to the 1970s, 1940s and the 1900s. Each time she encounters residents of the house she has only known as her own. Each time, something momentous is happening and Rowan is drawn into the lives of those who lived there before. Can Rowan gather the things she needs before her family forgets that Ash ever existed? Can she be sure not to tamper with history or the lives of those around her? Time is running out and she must act quickly before her family is torn apart.

 Kate Constable’s latest novel again tackles the idea of family. As with The January Stars, sisters are thrown together and must work out how to solve a problem that threatens the essence of their family. I really enjoy reading Constable’s explorations of the sometimes very complex relationships within a family, and what efforts siblings will go to, to save their greatest emotional asset. Rowan’s character starts out as a shy and an unconfident person, but as the stakes get higher, she finds within herself a strength she didn’t know she possessed.

For Ages: 9-13 years

Number of Pages: 320

Published: January, 2023 Allen & Unwin

Themes: Family, relationships, secrets and determination.

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/tumbleglass-kate-constable/book/9781760526962.html

The Goodbye Year is a story about finding your place among your friends and community as well as accepting that sometimes life can be a bumpy road. Harper is really looking forward to Year 6 as she and her classmates will get to enjoy the comradery and special privileges that come with your final year of primary school. She is also keen to see which captains badge she’ll get. When her best friends Cleo and Ro are given great badges along with her arch enemy Corey and she is left with the Library Captains role, she is devastated. Each recess and lunch her friends seem to be slipping further away as they have meetings to discuss various projects. Harper’s life is thrown another curve ball when her parents, both nurses, decide to do aid work in a war-torn country far away. Harper is left to go and live with her grandmother Lolly, who she hardly knows.

 Living with Lolly isn’t bad, but Harper is finding it difficult to sleep. Something keeps on waking her up at 3am and she is beginning to sleepwalk. An old cadet badge she found on the way to school keeps on turning up in the strangest places and she is wondering if there is something wrong with her. Harper’s life is further thrown into disarray when schools are shut down during the pandemic. What with her friends seemingly abandoning her, trying to find something exciting about the library to engage her fellow students and her sleepless nights, she is growing more and more unsettled. When she sees a ghost in the library, Harper finds herself exploring another time that is eerily similar to her own.

 What does this young soldier want and why is Harper the only person who sees him? His appearance and their conversations only manage to create more difficulties with her friends. Surely there must be a solution somewhere to be found in a thread from the past.

 Emily Gales’ character Harper embodies the thoughts and experiences of so many kids in the past and recent times. The themes of friendship, family, resilience and empathy flow throughout the novel which combines the perennial ups and downs of the final year of junior school with modern experiences. The Goodbye Year gives a glimpse into a world inhabited by characters familiar to many, and readers will enjoy Harper’s journey and the unexpected twists it sometimes takes.

For Ages: 10-12 years

Number of Pages: 256

Published: August 2022 Text

Themes: Family, friendship and resilience

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-goodbye-year-emily-gale/book/9781922458599.html

Harper has been placed in a dilemma. Her dad has disappeared of to “a conference” and left his phone behind. The clothes he packed, the snorkel and ukulele suggest another story, but before Harper can ask him, he’s off out the door. For most families, this wouldn’t be much of a problem, but Harper’s dad happens to be Prime Minister of Australia. He was thrown into the job when he saved “two kids (and a labradoodle)” and is finding it to be just a tad overwhelming. Harper’s mum is away and uncontactable so it’s left to her and her little sister, Lottie to keep their father’s disappearance a secret.

 Harper is bombarded by texts from Dev, her dad’s chief of staff, asking politically sensitive questions. Harper and her sister must deal with all this and explain their father is sick and contagious and must stay in bed until he is better. Fending off Cerise, their bossy nanny, their body guards, Dev and the scheming bad guy, Deputy Saunders, is proving tricky. Time is running out as the Party Conference is only a week away and their dad is being pressured to reveal his policies.

 Themes of loyalty, family, the environment and the delicate balance between the truth and a lie are explored, and all inter-twined with a gentle humour. Harper’s character is shy and lacks confidence (a bit like her dad), while her sister excels at making friends and public speaking. Harper’s sensitivity as to why her dad has disappeared and how she holds the fort in his absence drawers the reader in. You can’t help but want her to succeed. You can’t even really get angry with her dad! Middle grade readers will love this fun tale of cat and mouse and light-hearted political satire.

For Ages: 8-12 years

Number of Pages: 256

Published: August 2022 University Queensland Press

Themes: Family, loyalty and the environment

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/how-to-be-prime-minister-and-survive-grade-five-carla-fitzgerald/book/9780702265587.html

In this pre-quell to The Grandest Bookshop in the World, we are introduced to 12-year-old Billy Pyke who lives with his parents and numerous siblings. Things are tight in the Pyke household so Billy goes in search of a job. And so, begins this wild adventure. Set twenty years before Mellor’s first novel, Cole’s book stall is trading in busy Paddy’s Market. The story is set in the real world of Melbourne in the 1870s but with one small difference. Here, some people, like Billy, have the ability to perform magic to help them with tasks or daily life. Surrounded by all sorts of nefarious traders and colourful characters, Billy finds a new friend in Kezia Nobody, a perhaps orphan. The evil Mr Maximillian or Obscurosmith as he is commonly known, has done something with her parents and she is trying to find out what exactly he did.

 Together, all they want to do is go about their daily lives with no interruptions but Obscurosmith has other plans. He has taken a dislike to Billy as his magical practices interfere with his own. When the Haymarket Theatre burns to the ground after Obscurosmith made a tricky deal with its owner, Billy realises that the evil magician will stop at nothing to destroy those around him. Bravely he confronts Obscurosmith and challenges him to a duel.

 The two of them will set a puzzle for each other and they will have from dawn to dusk to solve it. The looser must leave Paddy’s Market and the winner can stay and do what they like there. The stakes are high, and Billy is not sure if he will be able to outwit the sneaky magician. Luckily, he is allowed “a second”, a tradition in duelling, where the duellist has someone to stand by them and help where needed. And so begins the race against time as Billy and Kezia try to solve Obscurosmith’s riddle.

 Amelia Mellor has yet again created a great imaginative narrative based in fact. The market comes to life with smells and noise and bustle and Billy’s life in a large family highlight a part of Melbourne’s fascinating history. Themes of friendship, family and bravery are clear through the novel and any reader who loves a puzzle or riddle will absolutely love this book.

For Ages: 10+ years

Number of Pages: 320

Published: September 2022 Affirm Press

Themes: Friendship, family and bravery

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-bookseller-s-apprentice-amelia-mellor/book/9781922400871.html

Evie is a silent girl who lives with her grandfather in Southern Victoria in 1891. Together with Cook and Mr Duffer, the farm hand, they live a quiet life at Lunar House. Evie’s parents died two years ago and she hasn’t spoken since. Her grief is tied to her voice and Evie knows that speaking will overwhelm her so much she daren’t try.

One morning, after a terrible storm, Evie discovers an amazing creature lying in the sand, exhausted and asleep. Evie has an affinity with animals and immediately senses this one is gentle and needs help. She takes him home, settles him in the stables and goes to find her Grandpa who identifies it as a Rhinoceros. A ship with a precious cargo from India, including some exotic animals destined for the Melbourne Zoo, was shipwrecked at their beach and although all the humans survived, no one is sure what happened to the animals. As time goes by and at last the roads are safe enough to travel, Grandpa goes to report the shipwreck but neglects to mention the rhino. During the weeks they anxiously wait for news from the Royal Melbourne Zoo, Evie and her family from a strong bond with their gentle giant guest.

Finally, young George Henley arrives to take Rhino back to the zoo. He is a kindly soul who suffers greatly from his father’s anger and apparent dislike. When he meets Rhino and stays with Evie and her Grandpa for some weeks due to bogged roads and terrible weather, he realises taking the creature away from its idyllic life and his beloved Evie, will break everyone’s heart, including his own. What can these fine humans do to save this wonderful creature from a life of captivity in a soulless concrete bunker?

Neridah McMullin has woven a gentle story of love, bravery and standing up for yourself and your principals. Loss, grief and also joy and friendship are all explored in this tale developed from a true moment in Australia’s history. The illustrations by Astred Hicks are thoughtful depictions of the characters and their changing emotions. As well as ornithological pictures of Australian birds, the images in this book compliment the narrative beautifully. Readers who love animals as fiercely as Evie will cherish this story of an unusual friendship.

For Ages: 9-13 years

Number of Pages: 272

Published: October 2022 Walker Books Australia

Themes: Friendship, grief and standing up for yourself.

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/evie-and-rhino-neridah-mcmullin/book/9781760654207.html

In this second book of the Prometheus High series, we join Athena and her friends Marceline and Godfrey as they start another school year. This time, their classes are being held aboard a zeppelin which is moored above the pyramids at Giza, and Egyptology and raising the dead are top of the agenda in the class room.

 Athena is also trying to help Marceline find out more about her beginnings. Being a “Creation” is part of Marceline’s secret and Athena is the only one who knows she’s not exactly human. They are trying to find “The Book of Creators” which will possibly tell them where she was created and by whom. Marceline has distant glimpsed memories of her time before ten years ago and is becoming obsessed with knowing as much as she can.

 Against a background of hidden tombs guarded by booby-traps and mummified warriors, the students learn their craft. Some, however, are not only concentrating on class. Drew and his side-kick Emily, are up to something seriously dodgy which may well end extremely badly. They have roped Godfrey in by sneaky lies and as Athena and Marceline are off doing things without him, he unwittingly helps Drew.

 The characters must find their way through mazes and spooky mummy infested pyramids. They have to try and calm a very angry re-awakened Princess and find a precious treasure. Athena and Marceline need to decipher the Book of Creators and live to put that knowledge towards discovering Marceline’s creator.

 Stuart Wilson has given us a jam-packed adventure. The opening scene in the library and the one on a school excursion to inside a pyramid, are fabulous and edge-of-your-seat exciting. The friendship between Athena and Marceline is tested to breaking point as the friends try to overcome so many deadly obstacles. The themes of friendship, trust, loyalty and self-belief run throughout this great next instalment of Prometheus High. Middle grade readers will not be able to put this book down.

For Ages: 8-12 years

Number of Pages: 320

Published: August 2022 Penguin Random House

Themes: Friendship, loyalty and self-belief

Mary-Kate Martin and her mum, Prof Martin, are visiting the lovely Greek island of Galinios were a construction site has uncovered ancient mosaics. The Prof has been called in to investigate the find which is delaying an extension to a famous sardine processing plant. Mythology tells that the island is protected by a two-headed hydra called AYO. Sadly no one has seen the creature for a while and the islanders have stopped celebrating its power to keep the surrounding waters safe and full of fish.

 Mary-Kate meets Nikos and goes on is island tour while her mother checks out the mosaic. This quickly turns into and investigation and search for clues as to what has happened to AYO. There have been some unexplained incidents that are be blamed on the two-headed hydra but Mary-Kate is not so sure. With Nikos’s help, the two monster hunters follow clues and keep watch over the activities of the suspicious Legendary Pest Control crew.

 The smiling face of Kyrios Famous Sardines, Katarina Kyrios, is a smooth talker who is keen to dismiss Mary-Kate and Nikos as two pesky kids. Mary-Kate knows there is something very wrong with the waters around Galinios and its problem starts at the sardine factory. Mary-Kate must overcome her fear of practically everything and her ability to see the worst-case scenario. With the help of her lucky objects and Nikos, she may well discover the secret of the two-headed hydra.

 Karen Foxlee has given readers another great adventure. The island of Galinios and its famous monster need help and Mary-Kate and her new friend Nikos, stand up to the challenge. Mary-Kate’s fear of the unknown and habit of thinking about all the bad things that can happen, are an insight into anxiety and possible remedies that may help combat the situation. Freda Chiu’s illustrations are clever and full of character. Mary-Kate’s special red sparkly shoes and the hydra itself capture the excitement and atmosphere perfectly. Readers will enjoy this next instalment of Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters.

 For Ages: 6-10 years

Number of Pages: 304

Published: November 2022 Allen & Unwin

Themes: Anxiety, bravery and perseverance

The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen is a great collaboration between the skateboard champion and writer Jess Black. Readers are invited into Poppy’s busy life. Along with her family and friends Poppy has a lot going on. When she hears about a skateboard competition at her local Bondi Beach skate park, she is excited and tries to enter. While going through the forms she has to fill in, she realises there is no place to enter as a girl – it’s only open to boys! Then, the comp itself is threatened by the local member of council who believes all skate parks are dangerous and lead to vandalism. Poppy, with the help of her family and the fantastic support of her friends decides to tackle these set-backs one by one.

 The book is sprinkled with interesting facts about the history of skateboarding and the terminology of both skating and surfing. The layout flows well and is interspersed with fun pictures drawn by Poppy. Its chatty style makes it easy to read and the short chapters broken into sections add to the friendly vibe. Jess Black has written over 40 children’s books and is the co-author to many more. Her style is perfect for this type of story based on a real personality.

This novel is a wonderfully positive glimpse into a famous Australian’s life, just before her career takes off. Poppy’s actions and thoughts through the book, showcase what dedication and effecting change can do to help create possibilities for all. The themes of friendship, family, advocacy, determination and the rewards of practising the thing you love, all are explored here.

 For Ages: 9-11 years

Number of Pages: 240

Published: August 2022 Puffin Books

Themes: Family, friendship, advocacy and determination

The Raven’s Song is a story about collaboration, destiny and sacrifice. Set in two different times, we follow Phoenix and Shelby. Phoenix lives in an era where a mysterious disease is killing children and the planet has become more and more toxic. Shelby loves in a time after Phoenix, where communities live on 700 acre lots with only 350 inhabitants. There, they grow their own food and raise chickens and sheep to sustain their lives behind perimeter fences they must not cross.

These two worlds collide when Shelby and her best friend Davey explore outside their compound and discover an abandoned city. The only living human they encounter is Alle who has been left to look after the children frozen and only to be woken when a cure is found. They lie suspended in large egg-shaped pods with liquid being pumped into them to sustain them.

Both Shelby and Phoenix are drawn to a bog near their homes and the song of a girl who was sacrificed there many, many years ago. The Raven Girl sings to them both and helps each of them to find the solution to their problems. Phoenix and Shelby, although believing they are powerless children, both share a role that will help their people survive.

This writing collaboration between Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble came about with a Twitter conversation during the recent Pandemic. Together, they have crafted a story of hope and salvation. The warnings of climate change and damage to our planet play out here as a reminder that we can all help in some way, to try and find another path.

Shelby’s voice is clear and inquisitive and shows a girl who is curious and kind. Phoenix who sees visions, has a weight upon his soul that is at times heavy and despairing. He overcomes his fears and sees what is needed of him and what he was to sacrifice. The Raven’s Song will entrance Middle Grade readers with its intriguing descriptions of the future that may await all of us.

For Ages: 9 - 14 years

Number of Pages: 288

Published: October 2022 Allen & Unwin

Themes: Sacrifice, family and climate change.

Nash Hall is having a hard time. His situation is unique and it’s giving him more than a little grief. In a nutshell, his divorced parents represent two ends of the spectrum — his mum is a cop and his dad is a criminal. He loves them both equally, but is torn between telling the truth or loyalty, when his dad involves him in one of his robberies.

 Nash’s dad is in big trouble. He owes some really shady people serious money and they are coming to get him. He has been arrested by his ex-wife and is waiting for his court appearance and this time he could be put away for years.

Nash is struggling to cope with these dilemmas and the only thing that helps him is his cross-country running. By a stroke of luck, he has made it into the regional finals but the joy of that is tempered by the arrival of two bad guys, Tattoo and Worm.

 Can Nash’s dad pull off a heist that he has pulled his son into helping with? Can Nash live with his conscience, knowing what his his dad is about to do? Should he tell his mum? All this comes to a tremendous climax on the day of the school fair, Nash’s big race and the worst dust storm the town has seen in decades.

 Tristan Banck’s Cop and Robber starts with a bang and continues with a great mixture of tension and emotional turmoil. Nash’s character, as he tries to deal with this impossible situation, gives the reader a glimpse into someone who is torn between loving his parents and just wanting a normal life. Who do you trust to do the right thing when you’re not sure exactly what the right thing is? This novel is a wonderful combination of adventure thriller and an exploration into family dynamics. Middle Grade readers will love this fast-paced tale of redemption and honour.

 For Ages: 10-14 years

Number of Pages: 256

Published: July 2022 Penguin Random House Puffin Books

Themes: forgiveness, resilience, ethical dilemmas and family