September 2026 Featured Reviews
Novel Insight on 16th Sep 2026
September 2026 Featured Reviews
Check out some of our top picks from our September Newsletter.
Below you will find short reviews on 13 new releases for September of 2026.
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Featured Reviews
I Call the Ocean Wardan
| Author: Ebony Froome (AU) | Publisher: Fremantle Press | |
| Illustrator: Dellas Bennell (AU) & Korinne Bennel-Yarran (AU) | Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | |
| ISBN: 9781760996307 | Reading Age: 3 to 6 years |
Representations: Noongar language and culture are shown.
Novel Insight Short Review: Kaya is a young Noongar girl who lives by the ocean and introduces us to her friends who share the seaside. A simple, entertaining story showcasing Australia’s beaches and the culture and language of the Noongar people of Western Australia.
Big Mountain, Little Emu
| Author: Emma Stuart (AU) | Publisher: Woodsland Press | |
| Illustrator: Emma Stuart (AU) | Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | |
| ISBN: 9781923350298 | Reading Age: 4 to 7 years |
Novel Insight Short Review: Big Mountain is filled with an amazing array of wildlife and plants. A mum and her daughter hike up the mountain, exploring, and notice they’re being followed by Little Emu. They’re shocked when the girl’s hat is stolen. Racing down to the bottom, they soon discover Little Emu but not where you’d think. A vibrant and engaging story sharing the First Nations myth of the origin of one of Australia’s constellations.
Stuff
| Author: Jen Sherrington (AU) | Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing | |
| Illustrator: Helene Magisson (AU) | Release Date: 1 Aug 2026 | |
| ISBN: 9781922858771 | Reading Age: 4 to 7 years |
Novel Insight Short Review: A whimsically illustrated picture book teaching the important message that having stuff won’t always make you feel enough. Readers will enjoy all the beautifully illustrated pages as they follow Morri’s adventures.
Honeysuckle Gold
| Author: Penny Jaye (AU) | Publisher: Wombat Books | |
| Illustrator: Natasha Hagarty (AU) | Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | |
| ISBN: 9781761112386 | Reading Age: 4 to 7 years |
Content Insight: Child labour in foreign countries discussed.
Novel Insight Short Review: Two girls who live far apart live similar lives. Then one girl is taken from her mother to pick cotton for dresses. The other girl works to create change. A thought-provoking picture book that encourages conversation about class divides and poverty. It’s ideal for ages 3 to 7.
The Sugarcane Kids and the Mystery at Angel Bay
| Author: Charlie Archbold (AU) | Publisher: Text Publishing | |
| Release Date: 31 Mar 2026 | ||
| ISBN: 9781923058385 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Content Insight: Mentions low-level name-calling and teasing.
Representations: A range of cultures included.
Novel Insight Short Review: Andy and his friends, Eli, Harvey and the twins, Bernie and Fletch, make up the Sugarcane Kids in Angel Bay. When a groper fish by the name of Jerry disappears and a fish kill incident occurs, the kids decide to investigate. A marine-fact-filled story about friends working together to solve a mystery and save a pristine environment that will appeal to children who enjoy stories about friendship with a mystery on the side.
Really Rubie: A Diary
| Author: Maddie Frost (US) | Publisher: Walker Books | |
| Release Date: 1 Jul 2026 | ||
| ISBN: 9781529534078 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Language Rating: Low
Content Insight: Contains potentially dangerous activities.
Contains toilet humour and partial nudity.
Contains frequent references to crushes and romance.
Representations: Rubie and Eliza both have divorced parents.
Novel Insight Short Review: When Rubie’s best friend Riley is unable to join Rubie at summer camp, Riley gives Rubie a TUCE Truce—a list of activities Rubie can’t do at summer camp until next year so they can experience them together. But Rubie makes another best friend at camp, Eliza, who urges Rubie to forget the TUCE Truce. Rubie must balance her friendships for Riley, Eliza and their crush, Owen, without making any of them jealous. A funny story about friendship and love triangles for children who enjoy camping and keeping relationships together.
Bandoola
| Author: Beverley McWilliams (AU) | Publisher: UWA Publishing | |
| Illustrator: Kate Jones (AU) | Release Date: 1 Aug 2026 | |
| ISBN: 9781760803377 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Content Insight: Contains some reference to animal cruelty.
Representations: Represents historical Burmese culture.
Novel Insight Short Review: Bandoola believes that he is a white elephant, destined for great things. However, like his mother, he winds up working for the Elephant Company in Burma. When war comes to Burma, it’s time for Bandoola to live up to his name. The leaders of the elephant company expect Bandoola to lead the elephants safely out of Burma to protect them from the Japanese. With his special intuition, Bandoola lives up to his name and saves his fellow elephants and many people. A thoughtful and captivating animal story with deep historical roots.
Harper Wells: Time Walker
| Author: Bethany Loveridge (AU) | Publisher: Wombat Books | |
| Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | ||
| ISBN: 9781761113482 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Content Insight: Contains descriptions of magic.
Representations: It’s implied that Harper has anxiety and she describes having panic attacks.
Novel Insight Short Review: Twelve-year-old Harper Wells continues to search for her mother, travelling across Australia and through time by using a Wollemi bed. She uses the clues the bed gives her, gleaned from where and when in Australian history it sends her, to find her missing mother. An engaging story with themes of family, understanding and emotional growth.
Maya Follows Her Nose
| Author: Nic Gill (AU) | Publisher: UWA Publishing | |
| Illustrator: Jake A Minton (AU) | Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | |
| ISBN: 9781760803391 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Language Rating: Low
Content Insight:
Contains mild toilet humour.
Contains supernatural/religious references.
Contains mild violence.
Representations: First Nations and French characters are included.
Novel Insight Short Review: Maya Follows Her Nose is based on a true story about an abused border collie who was dumped at an animal shelter by her owners. When Maya is given to Romane, he discovers she can detect koala habitats by sniffing out koala poo, and hopes Maya will prevent trees from being cleared, saving koalas from extinction. Maya must prove to others that she really can sniff out koala habitats or risk not finding her forever home with Romane. A cute story about family for children who enjoy dogs and koalas.
Otis Ottley And The School In The Sky
| Author: Will Kostakis (AU) | Publisher: Allen & Unwin | |
| Illustrator: Hana Kinoshita Thomson (AU) | Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | |
| ISBN: 9781761181139 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Language Rating: Low
Content Insight: Contains many references to magic and some occult
Novel Insight Short Review: The Manor School for Magic is a school in the sky. Otis desperately wants to enrol, but his widowed dad can’t afford it. Then Dad’s new girlfriend moves in with them and although Otis acts as though he’s okay with it, he isn’t. Otis must find a way to learn magic while holding onto his mother’s memory. A science-fiction story about keeping the ones you love alive for children who enjoy magic and memories.
Protector of Beyond
| Author: Shara Curlett (NZ) | Publisher: Penguin | |
| Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | ||
| ISBN: 9781761357329 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Content Insight: Contains mild fantasy violence and fighting.
Novel Insight Short Review: As Elder comes of age, she is taken to the Gloaming ceremony to see if she will produce a spark so she can be trained as a protector of beyond. She watches other children and wonders if she will be accepted like her sister was. But when her spark is bigger than everyone else’s, questions are asked. Elder is definitely different and that scares the others but also inspires hope. How can Elder’s spark help stop the war? This is the first book in a new fantasy series and is an exciting read.
How To Make the World Cup And Survive Grade Five
| Author: Carla Fitzgerald (AU) | Publisher: University of Queensland Press | |
| Release Date: 1 Sep 2026 | ||
| ISBN: 9780702271229 | Reading Age: 9 to 13 years |
Language Rating: Low
Content Insight: Contains light peer teasing.
Novel Insight Short Review: Eleven-year-old Ronni Greenfield is thrust into an unexpected adventure as the Australian Soccer Team’s new (secret) coach. Alongside her best friend Kai, the pair spend an unforgettable few weeks coaching the Aussie team from the shadows in preparation for the World Cup, all the while dealing with the new and difficult challenges of Grade Five social rules. An inspiring read about friendship, sports and the value of teamwork. Sure to be a good read for any sports enthusiast.
Miss Fortune
| Author: Ashley Bustamante(US) | Publisher: Quill & Flame | |
| Release Date: 31 Mar 2026 | ||
| ISBN: 9781964726656 | Reading Age: 15+ years |
Content Insight: Contains magic and dark fantasy themes.
Contains murder and torture.
Novel Insight Short Review: In the flood that killed her parents, Nia’s life was saved when she was given a magical stone, and she vowed to live a quiet life from then on. But one day, her home is attacked by a deadly creature and she finds herself inside the castle of a powerful and mysterious magic user, guarded by the same handsome boy who gave her the stone years ago. Nia knows she should feel incredibly lucky, but something about the man and the castle keeps bugging her. A magical and romantic story full of adventure and wonder, Miss Fortune is a fresh take on the legend of a lucky stone. A great read for fantasy and romance lovers.
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Enjoy!
Rochelle and the Novel Insight team
Thank you for supporting us, these authors, and the publishers by reading this newsletter.
We hope you enjoyed these insights into some special new releases from November.
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