The Tale of the Whale is magnificent. A child and a whale begin upon a magical journey, sailing across oceans, diving into the deep. They see a polar bear, dance with dolphins and splash high into the spray. Theirs is a journey that conjures pure joy. Continue reading The Tale of the Whale

Girl of the Southern Sea is a fast-paced, emotionally charged novel that tells harrowing tales inspired by the realities of girls in Indonesian slums. Continue reading Girl of the Southern Sea

Mina and the Whole Wide World by Sherryl Clark is a powerful verse novel about loss, bullying and the power of friendship. It explores topics that younger children may not yet have been introduced to, but in a gentle, easy to understand way. Continue reading Mina and the Whole Wide World

This review was originally written for Pen and Fable It’s a dark and dangerous journey for the Cobb & Co night mail coach. But, young Jem Donovan isn’t afraid. He’s helped his father deliver the coach and its passengers safely dozens of times before. With six mysterious characters packed into the coach, this is sure to be an exciting ride.  But an accident causes the … Continue reading Night Ride into Danger

Wednesday Weeks never wanted to be a sorcerer’s apprentice. She loves science, not magic. But when a power-hungry goblin king captures her master, the Protector of the Realms – also her grandfather – Wednesday must embrace her magical potential to save him.  Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows is the first in a new series by Denis Knight and Cristy Burne. It is an utterly … Continue reading Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows

This book was gifted to me by The Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Reading Time in exchange for an honest review. 10 stories. 10 mysterious situations. 10 brave kids. 20 minutes to solve. Kane’s parachute fails during a skydive. Is someone trying to kill him? Fang is investigated by secret police. Can she prove she isn’t a traitor? Omar is buried alive in a coffin. … Continue reading 200 Minutes of Mystery by Jack Heath

By Asphyxia This book was gifted to me by The Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Reading Time in exchange for an honest review. Reading Future Girl is an incredibly immersive, tangible experience. It is an important book, one that every young adult should read. Written and illustrated by Deaf artist and writer, Asphyxia, Future Girl is an Own Voices story that proves illustrated books are not just for children. This enthralling … Continue reading Future Girl

This book was gifted to me by The Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Reading Time in exchange for an honest review. Zeek and Arnie are best friends. They do all their favourite things together – gaming, coding, inventing; that’s why they’re the SUPER GEEKS! But when Zeek comes up with a plan to become Supreme Ruler of the world, he puts their friendship to the test. … Continue reading Super Geeks: Fish and Chips

Ambelin Kwaymullina, Billie and the Blue Bike, Magabala Books, February 2021, 32pp., RRP $24.00 (hbk), ISBN 9781925936124 This book was gifted to me by The Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Reading Time in exchange for an honest review. Billie wants a new bike, but Mum doesn’t have any money spare to buy it. Uncle Jack could buy it for her, but he won’t. Instead, he’ll give … Continue reading Billie and the Blue Bike

They say nobody does spooky like Holly Black. Oh, boy, were they right. In this middle-grade fantasy by Holly Black, Doll Bones delivers a bittersweet combination of friendship, growing up and the price of story weaving. And a ghost. Zach, Poppy and Alice are best friends, a friendship which feeds on the worlds created in a role-playing saga of pirates, queens and quests. But they … Continue reading Doll Bones