June 2025 Featured Reviews
Novel Insight on 10th Jun 2025
June 2025 Featured Reviews
Check out our favourite new releases from our June Newsletter.
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Below you will find 13 of our favourite new releases from June 2025.
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Featured Reviews
Sidney of Sydney
| Author: Sue Whiting | Publisher: Walker Books Australia | |
| Illustrator: Liz Anellie | Release Date: 4 Jun 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781760657703 | Reading Age: 2 to 5 years |
Novel Insight Short Review: This is the story about a little penguin called Sidney who lives in a colony of little penguins in a cove along the shorelines of Sydney Harbour. He’s a curious little penguin who gets into all sorts of situations, keeping his parents busy looking after him. But one day Sidney’s curiosity gets him into big trouble and he has more of an adventure than he bargained for. A charming story about a curious little penguin exploring the world around them.
Wombat Dreaming
| Author: Caz Goodwin | Publisher: Affirm Kids | |
| Illustrator: Zoe Bennett | Release Date: 27 May 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781923046603 | Reading Age: 3 to 6 years |
Language Rating: No language concerns.
Novel Insight Short Review: Every Sunday, a group of Australian animals, including an emu, dingo, echidna, koala and red kangaroo, wake early to do yoga together. Lil the Wombat joins them but finds she can’t do the poses the other animals can do! A sweet Australiana picture book with playful illustrations perfect for young readers.
Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West
| Author: Jacinta Liu | Publisher: Lothian Children’s Books | |
| Illustrator: Freda Chiu | Release Date: 26 Mar 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9780734421791 | Reading Age: 3 to 6 years |
Representations: One of the girl’s grandmothers is Chinese and there are references to Chinese culture, including dragons in Chinese mythology.
Reference to star signs and her grandmother being a Cancer.
Her Chinese grandmother fought in the World War II.
Novel Insight Short Review: A young girl thinks about her grandmothers, one who lives in the East and the other in the West. Despite their differences, they both give her so much from different sides of the world. A joyful representation of family and culture that would relate to children from multicultural families.
Our Map
| Author: Angie Cui | Publisher: Wombat Books | |
| Illustrator: Novia Heroanto | Release Date: 5 Jun 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781761112362 | Reading Age: 4 to 7 years |
Content Insight: Contains reference to a country being annexed by another.
Representations: JJ is born in Australia to Chinese and Bangladeshi parents.
Lee’s parents are refugees from an unnamed country.
Children of other ethnicities are illustrated.
Novel Insight Short Review: JJ is an Australian. Her mama is from China and her baba is from Bangladesh. She loves maps, but her best friend, Lee, doesn’t like looking at them. He always has trouble finding his parents’ country. They came to Australia at a very young age. JJ shows Lee what her countries look like, but when she asks what his looks like, he doesn’t know. Lee says that his parents’ country has houses, animals and playgrounds, but another country decided to swallow it up. It makes them sad, but JJ has an idea. What if they make a new map? A sweet story of knowing your place in the world and embracing your heritage.
One Day
| Author: Shirley Marr | Publisher: Walker Australia Studio | |
| Illustrator: Michael Speechley | Release Date: 1 May 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781760659790 | Reading Age: 4 to 7 years |
Content Insight: Mayfly meets a presumably male mayfly and it’s very subtly implied they mate.
Representations: June spends the day with her grandparents who live in a retirement village.
Novel Insight Short Review: On the 18th of May, Mayfly is born in a fountain and spotted by a young girl with an interest in insects. Mayfly has just one whole day to explore, so she takes flight. An inspirational storybook urging readers to seize each day, make the very most of it, and appreciate all the sights they may take for granted.
Wasteland Warriors
| Author: Adam Wallace | Publisher: Larrikin House | |
| Illustrator: James Hart | Release Date: 4 Jun 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781923345072 | Reading Age: 7 to 11 years |
Content Insight: Contains zombies, extra-dimensional creatures, and aliens as well as cartoon death and violence.
Representations: George is gluten intolerant. He vomits after eating expired Mac-n-cheese containing gluten.
Novel Insight Short Review: Years ago, the apocalypse occurred, turning the population into zombies and opening interdimensional portals for mutant animals to wreak havoc. A teenage boy survives the initial chaos by sheltering in a summer camp kitchen food storage unit. A strange man and creature break in to attack him, leaving the boy transformed into a hero called the Lone Wolf. After his friend and trainer is killed, the Lone Wolf heads out into the world to rescue people. On his journey, he rescues Ariana, a very optimistic female with strange powers, Alby, a talking dog with lots of teeth, and a baby vampire from Mars, who also has sharp teeth. Lone Wolf finds himself drawn to them, but he’s meant to work alone… isn’t he? A comedic and fast-paced story about friendship and the need for companionship, set in a compelling post-apocalyptic world.
The Lost Loot of Lima
| Author: Melissa Wray | Publisher: Wombat Books | |
| Illustrator: Sandy Flett | Release Date: 4 Jun 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781761111600 | Reading Age: 8 to 11 years |
Content Insight: Contains discussions of pirates and pirate treasure allusions ghosts, although it is later revealed that these occurrences are not supernatural and more the imagination of the child.
Contains themes of grief.
Representations: This book is inspired by true historical events and figures, including the pirate Benito Bonito and the Lost Loot of Lima rumoured to be hidden in Queenscliff.
Novel Insight Short Review: It’s Ben’s first trip to his grandparent’s house since his Pa died. During his trip, Ben has two super-secret missions: to watch Nan for any out of the ordinary behaviour after losing Pa, and a treasure hunt for a long-lost pirate treasure. A captivating adventure story with intergenerational friendship and pirates.
The Haunting of Hindmarsh Hall
| Author: Kate Gordon | Publisher: Riveted Press | |
| Release Date: 30 Apr 2025 | ||
| ISBN: 9780645869385 | Reading Age: 8 to 11 years |
Content Insight: Contains lots of references to ghosts. A potential sighting of a real ghost is recorded.
Representations: Rocko and his sister were raised by a widowed mother. A character is home schooled.
Novel Insight Short Review: Thirteen-year-old Rocko Jarvis seems destined to live in his cool big sister’s shadow. But then his detective club takes off, and next minute they are investigating a haunting at Hindmarsh Hall for a world famous author from Sydney. On his pursuit to crack the case, Rocko discovers a bit about himself and what he is good at. A slim, warm-hearted detective book with paranormal intrigue sure to charm middle grade readers.
Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady
| Author: Dianne Wofer | Publisher: Fremantle Press | |
| Illustrator: | Release Date: 4 Mar 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781760995270 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Representations: Representations of Indigenous culture in remote Australia.
Robin Miller is remembered as a pioneering female pilot.
Novel Insight Short Review: From a young age, Robin Miller dreamed of piloting a plane, but her father, Horrie Miller, an aviator, laughed at the idea as it was unheard of for a woman to fly a plane. After finishing school, Robin goes on to become a nurse and begins taking flying lessons. In 1962, Robin successfully completes her nursing training, including midwifery, and eventually earns a commercial pilot’s license, though no one wants to employ a female pilot. When a new effective polio vaccine becomes available, Robin gets an opportunity to deliver it by air to remote areas. She becomes known as the Sugarbird Lady as the vaccine is delivered to children on sugar cubes. An engaging story about an adventurous young woman determined to help others, aimed at older primary school students.
Elsewhere
| Author: Shelby Matheson | Publisher: Wombat Books | |
| Illustrator: | Release Date: 4 Jun 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781761112140 | Reading Age: 10 to 13 years |
Content Insight: Contains reference to wartime and warfare and animoisity between English and German students. Contains reference to death and bullying. Contains magic and alternate realms.
Representations: Represents different cultures, including varying social dynamics between the children of at-war countries.
Novel Insight Short Review: After leaving her home in rolling farmland of rural Australia for the hectic life of 1912 London, nine-year-old Elsie Clarke feels adrift. Two years later, with World War One building in the wings, eleven-year-old Elsie is invited to attend Miss Coleridge’s Academy for Gifted Youths. Everything at the Academy seems drab, grey and brown, except for one teacher all dressed in purple, Ms Tryll, who reveals that Elsie is a Guardian with powers gifted from a realm called Elsewhere. Some of her classmates also have these Gifts and together they band together against the cruel headmaster, Miss Coleridge. A captivating historical fantasy story.
Trapped
| Author: Julia Lawrinson | Publisher: Fremantle Press | |
| Illustrator: | Release Date: 3 Jun 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781760994990 | Reading Age: 12+ years |
Content Insight: Contains xenophobic language and actions. Joe is bullied at school because of his non-English speaking background.
Contains physical discipline.
Representations: Shows the struggles faced by immigrants in the early 1900s.
Describes life in remote Australia during the early 1900s.
Novel Insight Short Review: Based on the true story of the miner trapped for 9 days in the Bonnie Vale mine in 1907, this verse novel follows the perspective of Joe, the fictional son of the man trapped underground in a flooded gold mine. Joe has recently moved to Australia from Italy, and struggles to fit in. When is father is trapped, the community pulls together to support Joe whilst he awaits the fate of his father. Photographs taken during the rescue and of the trapped miner are included at the end of the book. A rich, captivating retelling of a point in Australian history with a powerful perspective on community.
Snow in the Sky
| Author: Gina Inverarity | Publisher: Wakefield Press | |
| Illustrator: | Release Date: 22 Apr 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9781923042797 | Reading Age: 13+ years |
Language Rating: No language concerns.
Content Insight: Contains magic as typical for fairy-tales.
Novel Insight Short Review: Snow White and her huntsman lead a small mountain chateau through an endless winter, struggling to keep their people safe and fed. When they discover a woman who crash-landed in a flying balloon, everything changes. The stranger claims a volcano on the far side of the island might hold the key to ending their frozen world. Snow wants to help, but as time passes, it becomes clear the stranger isn’t telling them everything. A beautiful tale of friendship and hope amidst hardships and betrayal, perfect for fairytale fans.
The Glittering Edge
| Author: Alyssa Villaire | Publisher: Penguin UK | |
| Illustrator: | Release Date: 06 May 2025 | |
| ISBN: 9780241739594 | Reading Age: 15+ years |
Language Rating: Very High
Content Insight: Contains magic and supernatural themes.
Novel Insight Short Review: Penny Emberly becomes caught up between two feuding families when her mother begins a new relationship with a Barrion family member—her schoolmate Corey’s aunt Helen. Everyone in town knows about the feud between the Barrion and De Lucas families. With Penny’s mother now involved with Helen, she could be the next victim of the Barrion curse, so Penny resolves to force Corey Barrion to work with her and Alonso De Lucas to break the curse. Corey understands Penny’s struggle, having already experienced his mother passing away, and has decided to keep himself distant from everyone and never fall in love himself. When they start to work together everything seems against them, but Penny is determined to find out the truth and save her mother. An immersive gothic story with a large cohort of interesting characters.
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We hope you enjoyed these insights into some special new releases from November.
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