Author: Meg McKinlay (AU)
Illustrator: Nicky Johnston (AU)
ISBN: 9781760658052
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Release Date: 1st November 2024
Reading Age: 3 to 6 years Language Rating: None Novel Insight Short Review: There is so much to enjoy in childhood. In this sweet picture book, experience the wonder of friendship, losing yourself in a good book, finding lost things, and much more. While reviewing the things to enjoy, there are lessons to learn! A simple, endearing picture book to celebrate growing up.
|
|
Author: Rosanne Hawke (AU)
Illustrator: Jasmine Berry
Series: Pepper Masalah #5
ISBN: 9781761111730
Publisher: Wombat Books
Release Date: 6th November 2024
Reading Age: 5 to 8 years Language Rating: None Content Insight: Contains mention of death. Contains illegal activities. Contains reference to eating pets. Representations: Zam is part Middle-Eastern. Novel Insight Short Review: Pepper and Zam have been on a series of adventures around the world and through time. Now, they are travelling to Kashmir. As they fly on the carpet, they see tents and land the carpet by a lake to explore. They see the ruins of concrete houses after an earthquake. They meet a boy named Naz in a tent village who says he came from the city Muzaffarabad and that they’re in modern Azad Kashmir. Zam and Pepper discover a scheme to steal money from the earthquake victims and decide to put a stop to it, discovering new friends and family along the way. An exciting adventure to end the series, about family, friendship, and determination. This is the fifth book of the Pepper Masalah series.
|
|
Author: Zanni Louise (AU)
Illustrator: Judy Watson (AU)
ISBN: 9781760657222
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Release Date: 1st November 2024
Reading Age: 6 to 9 years Language Rating: None Content Insight: Contains mild magic. Representations: Odette's Gran has passed away but the friends take time to remember her. Contains a Western representation of Christmas. Novel Insight Short Review: Hazel is a young girl who lives in a tree house with her animal friends, Poky, Odette, Walter, and Tiny. Poky is an echidna who changes colour with his emotions. Odette is a pademelon who loves to jump around. Walter is a wombat who does most tasks around the house, and Tiny is a honey possum. She is so small that Hazel can carry Tiny in her pockets. Each chapter is a short story about an experience that many young people will encounter. A thoughtful and heartwarming collection of short stories with gorgeous illustrations—perfect for bedtime or classroom settings.
|
|
Author: Adam Wallace & Lisa Foley
Illustrator: James Hart
Series: 18,000 Holes in the Universe #2
ISBN: 9781460764831
Publisher: HarperCollins AU
Release Date: 30th October 2024
Reading Age: 7 to 11 years Language Rating: Low Content Insight: Contains mild magical content. Contains very mild violence. Contains toilet humour. Representations: When the children first arrive at Snack Attack, Marco asks if they are in heaven. Contains intergenerational friendship. The GOLF squad are trying to rescue Grandpa Galileo. Novel Insight Short Review: Jordie, Noah, Mags, Marco and Felicity (the GOLF Squad) meet outside Grandpa Galileo's house one morning, staring at the wall surrounding his estate. It is plastered with keep-out signs. Great Uncle GOOF is trying to keep the children out because he plans to bulldoze Grandpa's house in one week and replace it with high-rise apartments. It is up to the children to find Grandpa Galileo and bring him back to save the golf course. A fun adventure story with a valuable lesson that you can always choose to do the right thing.
|
|
Author: Anna Battese
Illustrator: Ruth-Mary Smith
Series: PD McPem's Agency for Mysterious Mysteries #4
ISBN: 9781763526006
Publisher: Riveted Press
Release Date: 16th October 2024
Reading Age: 7 to 11 years Language Rating: None Content Insight: Contains references to animal poachers. Novel Insight Short Review: Penelope Delores (PD) McPem is the founding detective of the Agency for Mysterious Mysteries. In this fourth instalment in the series, PD is looking forward to a safari play date with Theodora, her new best friend. Theodora lives in a zoo with her Aunt Dot. PD is impatient as Grandpa puts a backpack of helpful items on her shoulders—just in case. Theodora arrives to announce that the safari is cancelled. Three elephants, Mali, Beatrice and Mae, have disappeared. Aunt Dot promised a surprise, but she has disappeared too! An intriguing adventure in a family zoo perfect for animal lovers. This is the fourth book in the PD McPem series and can stand alone.
|
|
Author: Anna James
Illustrator: David Wyatt
Series: Chronicles of Whetherwhy #1
ISBN: 9780008611583
Publisher: HarperCollins GB
Release Date: 18th September 2024
Reading Age: 9 to 13 years Language Rating: None Content Insight: Contains magic. Representations: Contains a brief reference to a same-sex relationship. All the meals mentioned are vegetarian. Contains traditional family structures. Rafferty and Juniper are twins. Novel Insight Short Review: As a grandfather reads the first Chronicles of Whetherwhy to his grandchildren, the grandchildren ask questions about what will happen next. In Whetherwhy, everyone has some magic inside of them. On the Spring Ember day of their thirteenth year, all citizens of Whetherwhy must present themselves to the town hall for an enchantment inspection. Each person is linked to a weather season as they form the basis of this world. Twins Rafferty and Juniper Quinn travel to the test with their father. At the test, a seed is placed in their hand. Rafferty discovers he is attuned to spring, but Juniper learns she is an enchanter who can weld all four seasons of magic. She is then invited to study at Thistledown Academy in the capital of Stormgrove. As the twin’s lives diverge, the chapters alternate between them. Both must face the dangers of people trying to steal their magic. A magical tale for upper-primary students who love Harry Potter and adventure. This is the first book in the Chronicles of Whetherwhy series.
|
|
Author: Emily Rodda (AU)
ISBN: 9781761069758
Publisher: A&U Children's
Release Date: 1st October 2024
Reading Age: 9 to 13 years Language Rating: None Content Insight: Contains death, murder, tyranny and violence. Contains magical abilities. Contains theft and gambling. Representations: Both Derry and Num are disabled. Derry's arm is disfigured during the shipwreck where he is abducted. His disability stays with him even after he is renewed. Num walks with a limp. Num is also non-verbal and speaks through a doll he carries with him. Nissa has brown skin. Novel Insight Short Review: In a country called Landovel, where mystical creatures called ‘El’ are believed to roam, a natural disaster splits the continent. The King’s heir, Alma, interested in technology and scientific discovery, is forced to flee to the lower half, named Free Landovel. Her twin brother, Greville, names the northern land True Landovel and rejects technology and literacy with harsh punishment. This story is divided into three books, but they are sold together in a box set. In Book 1, a boy named Derry is abducted from a shipwreck fleeing True Landovel and enslaved as a Poison Tester on an island fortress. When a mysterious woman chased by the elusive, magical 'El', arrives and leaves behind a secret book, Derry is swept away on a secret quest that involves the warring lands of True and Free Landovel. In Book 2, Derry, Straw, Cat and Num begin their quest to find Hant. Hoping to stir the folk hero against the cruel King Greville and evade an attack on the city by Free Landovel, they encounter new friends and foes, and learn to trust each other on the road to the Scarlet City where the King resides. In Book 3, Derry becomes the newly assigned truth-teller of King Greville. Although he has the opportunity to pick up where Hant left off, all is not as it seems: Greville is not a cruel tyrant, but a gentle, manipulated man controlled by a greedy Chancellor and palace nobles. Seeking the third spy and attempting to reunite with his friends, Derry uncovers a weapon built in the palace, planned for use against Free Landovel. While unravelling the story of Hant, V, and the El, Derry discovers how his past intertwines with theirs. A spell-binding fantasy adventure story with expansive world-building suitable for fans of Rowan of Rin, The Hobbit and Eragon.
|
|
Author: Lucy Strange
Illustrator: Katie Hickey
ISBN: 9781913322380
Publisher: Chicken House
Release Date: 1st October 2024
Reading Age: 9 to 13 years Language Rating: Low Content Insight: Contains depictions of drugs. Contains mild violence. Representations: Faye is adopted. She lived with her adopted father until he got sick and they had to move in with his sister. Contains friendships across genders. Novel Insight Short Review: When Faye Fitzgerald's aunt sends her away to a boarding school on Auk Island, Faye has to discover who she really is in order to find a way back to her ailing father. The school on Auk Island is really a prison for unwanted children—some of whom are killed at the request of their relatives, for the right price, of course. Faye finds in herself a courage she did not know existed as she works with the other children to expose this evil operation and escape the island. A mysterious tale of resilience among courageous children who have been labelled wicked.
|
|
Author: Antony Elworthy (NZ)
Illustrator: Antony Elworthy (NZ)
ISBN: 9781760658915
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Release Date: 1st November 2024
Reading Age: 9 to 13 years Language Rating: Low Content Insight: Contains magic. Contains a mild reference to alcohol. Contains toilet humour. Representations: Harriet comes from a dysfunctional family and her parents don't care that she has gone missing. Her father works as a dodgy salesman, and her mother spends the day playing bingo. The young boy being told the story comes from a traditional family with a married father and mother. The boy has a close intergenerational relationship with his grandfather. Novel Insight Short Review: When a young boy visits a retirement village, his Gramps tells him a story about when he became the famous magician, The Astounding Alfredo. After quitting his job as a deep-sea diver, Gramps became a travelling magician. His rival, The Incomparable Marvin, often attended his shows to hurl insults at him and throw rotten fruit. Gramps later pioneered a trick where he pulled a dove from a hat named "The Mysterious Bird of Mystery". Gramps had a dove, Montgomery, who was part of his famous trick. However, Montgomery was a bitter bird who complained and wanted to be the show's star. As Alfredo became famous, Montgomery became more hostile and refused to cooperate during the magic shows. An entertaining and whimsical read for lovers of magic, mystery, and adventure.
|
|
Author: Stuart Wilson
ISBN: 9781761342257
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Release Date: 29th October 2024
Reading Age: 9 to 13 years Language Rating: None Content Insight: Contains threats and mild violence. Contains magical creatures. Contains very mild implied romance between Oliver and another apprentice. Representations: One character has a terminal illness. Novel Insight Short Review: Like all 13-year-olds, Oliver must select a trade to contribute to society. He is the sixth child in his family, and his father is a lawmaker. His father's dream is for all his children to take up reputable trades like him. However, at his test, Oliver fails at almost everything he attempts. But just as the testers are packing up, the librarian shows up late to recruit. As the librarian starts telling Oliver the most important thing to remember about running the library, the librarian drops dead. Confused and unprepared for the magical quirks of his trade, Oliver is stuck as the 113th Assistant Librarian forever! A whimsical and compelling middle-grade story for lovers of books, magic, and unusual creatures.
|
|
Author: Katrina Nannestad
ISBN: 9780733343148
Publisher: HarperCollins AU
Release Date: 30th October 2024
Reading Age: 10 to 13 years Language Rating: Low Content Insight: Contains violence and blatant discrimination. Contains mild kissing. Contains some alcoholism. Contains toilet humour. Representations: Contains references to Jewish and Lutheran religions. The Lutheran pastor performs Eva's fake funeral. He offers to pray with Anna. Rachel is a Jewish girl who has a Mezuzah and says Jewish prayers. Contains cultural differences between the wealthy Nazi leaders and the poor townsfolk. Eva was born with a disability and is the size of a toddler at age 7. Her body is weak and she struggles to learn new things. Gunther has shell shock from the trauma he experienced in World War 1. Mutti is a single mum. Her husband died as a soldier in Russia. Udo's mum took his brother Theodore and ran away because she wanted to join the Nazi party. His parents got divorced. Novel Insight Short Review: It's January 1943. 12-year-old Anna Baumann, her mother (Mutti), and her little sister Eva live in wartime Bavaria. Anna looks like the perfect German girl but hates Hitler. The Nazis do not want people to be different or weak, so Eva, who was born with a disability, is kept hidden. If they discover a person with a disability, they send them to an institution where they are starved and killed. Anna does her best to bring joy into Eva's isolated life with stories and treasures from the outside world. A beautifully written and heart-wrenching book about loyalty, love, and finding beauty in small things.
|
|
Author: Isobelle Carmody
ISBN: 9781760294762
Publisher: A&U Children's
Release Date: 29th October 2024
Reading Age: 12 to 15 years Language Rating: Low Content Insight: Contains implied mild romance. Contains mild threats. Novel Insight Short Review: Will is a dreamwalker, but he doesn't know it yet. His uncle recently died in his sleep, and Will is visiting his uncle's apartment for the first time since. Although it only happens when Will is alone in his uncle's apartment, the building speaks to him in his own voice. Will finds this unsettling but only shares his discoveries with his best friend, Ender. Ender's twin sister, Magda, disappears without her family knowing why. After several strange occurrences, Will discovers he can walk into other people's dreams. But the dreamscape is full of devourers—powerful, dark entities seeking to control and destroy dreamwalkers. Dreamwalkers like Magda. Will has remained hidden thanks to his uncle's experiments, so is he the only one left who can save her? An engaging read for teenagers that combines fantasy and modern technology to create a futuristic dystopian adventure.
|
|
Author: Amelia Mellor (AU)
Series: The Grandest Bookshop in the World #3
ISBN: 9781922863973
Publisher: Affirm Kids
Release Date: 24th September 2024
Reading Age: 12 to 15 years Language Rating: Low Content Insight: Contains paranormal activity, possession and references to ghosts. Contains references to nudity. Contains mild violence and theft. Contains magic. Representations: Contains Chinese immigrants. Miss Kwon is a Chinese immigrant living in Melbourne. Part of the story takes place in Chinatown. Miss Kwon says she encounters woman haters and Chinese haters every day. The Chinese zodiac is mentioned in passing in the context of the Chinese New Year. Miss Kwon states that the year that matches your zodiac is bad luck, but wearing red is good luck. Pearl's sister, Ruby, died in a previous book. In solving a puzzle about a 'god of old', the characters consider Roman gods and describe the sky as the 'realm of gods'. Novel Insight Short Review: Devastated that her family are leaving behind their beloved magical bookshop, Pearl finds comfort in a new friend—a bodiless spirit called Autonomous Wraith. At times, his magical help is good, as he assists Pearl in fixing up the bookshop. At other times, Autonomous Wraith's ambitions make Pearl uncomfortable. At other times, Autonomous Wraith's ambitions make Pearl uncomfortable. He wants to push the limits of the magic by swapping animal skins with bird feathers or changing the weather. Instread, he uses his powers and forces Pearl to help him try to escape his father. She can only occasionally resist his will. While Pearl struggles to discern whether Autonomous is good or evil, Vally, Mr Pyke, Miss Kwon and Ivy find themselves helping the Obscurosmith, a man who has been separated from his spirit. They are also uncertain about whose side they are on. To help the Obscurosmith access his lost book of magic and reunite with his lost spirit, the group must solve a variety of ciphers, tangrams and riddles that take them on a scavenger hunt all over Melbourne. A thrilling tale of trust and discernment between good and evil for lovers of mystery and fantasy.
|
|
Author: Julie Leong (US)
ISBN: 9781399729055
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 12th November 2024
Reading Age: 16 to 18 years Language Rating: Medium Content Insight: Contains mild violence. Contains some sexual references. Contains high magical content and superstitious people. Contains references to pirates. Representations: Contains high religious content. Tao tells Esther about a nunnery where the nuns believe that the best form of worship is living well and in peace. When visiting the village of Turtling, Tao and Mash visit the church to light candles for The Mother and The Soldier's Son. The people have Eshteran god shrines. The characters pray to the Mother and her sons. The people bow and pray at her statue. Her children include the Soldier Son, the Scholar Son, and the Silent Daughter. The Mother is the creator. The Shinn faith is called qi, which is known as a life force. Contains mild discrimination against women in general, Shinn women, and individuals who are same-sex attracted. This is not portrayed positively. People discriminate against Tao because they believe she is a cheater like the other Shinn people. Contains a same-sex relationship. When Tao meets Esther on her journey, Esther reveals that she is not interested in men but has a friend named Jane whom she loves. But her friend Jane is interested in men and has married and had children. Tao tells Esther about a nunnery where the nuns live in harmony, away from judgment. These nuns are a community of women like Esther. Later in the book, Esther has a girlfriend called Maeve, whom she met at the nunnery. Novel Insight Short Review: Tao, a young Shinn woman, is the teller of small fortunes. After packing up her wagon and mule, Laohu, Tao runs away from her family and home, Eshtera, because she does not want to live at the Guildtower. Throughout her travels, Tao stops at many small villages and tells the fortunes of the people who live there. However, she cannot stay at any place for long as her truth-telling is not always received positively. Along the journey, Tao meets two men, Mash and Silt, who travel with her while looking for Mash's missing daughter, Leah. At Shellport, they meet Kina, a baker apprentice for her uncle. Kina is unhappy with her life and decides to join them on their journey through the kingdoms. Fidelitus, the cat, also joins their travelling crew. A magical tale of friendship and adventure, filled with the joy of shared experiences and the warmth of growing new bonds. |
|
|
