Twenty years after writing the bestseller The bookseller of Kabul (2004) Asne Seierstad returns to Afghanistan as the Taliban has returned to power. Subtitled ‘Three lives through war, love and revolt’, this latest novel investigates what life is like under the new Taliban regime. Although fictionalised, the book is based on in-depth interviews with three key persons, Jamila, Bashir and Ariana, three people from different decades, Jamila in the 1970s, Bashir in the 1980s and Ariana in the 2000s. Seierstad’s approach was to combine verbatim interviews recording what people told her about their lives, with historical context drawn from documented research. She draws on her experience as a war correspondent to provide a full picture of life in Afghanistan. A ReadPlus student reviewer of another of her works Two sisters (2018) describes how this kind of approach creates ‘an intense, enticing and furthermore investigative book, one that has sparked questions and conversations within myself but [also] internationally’. The Afghans is another profoundly interesting insight into a world that most people have only a vague idea about.
Jamila is an Afghani woman who in the years following the initial defeat of the Taliban was spared the usual fate of arranged marriage because of a crippled leg as a result of polio that deemed her not likely marriage material. It meant that she was allowed to continue her pursuit of education and she made the most of that opportunity to intensively study the teachings of the Qur’an and develop arguments based in sacred scripture that argued against the oppression of women. She used her expertise to counter the traditional restrictive practices that had no basis in the religion.
In counter to this, Seierstad interviewed Bashir, a Taliban fundamentalist fighter, as well as the women that became his wives. The reader comes to live in his world, have insight into his perspective as arbiter of all decisions, and understand how the women also are a part of this, knowing no other expectation.
Finally there is Ariana, who in the intervening years between periods of Taliban rule, experienced the freedom of pursuing the joy of higher education only to have her dreams of graduation dashed one semester short of completion, with the return of the oppressive Taliban regime. In these times, her parents retreat to a fear that marriage is the only way to ensure her safety.
Seierstad’s book raises many questions about how to move forward with the issue of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Her observations reveal how actual support for women’s education within the Taliban has been overruled by an extremist view, and suggests that the best approach is not international sanctions but engagement in respectful dialogue with the varied perspectives of the Taliban group. After all, Afghanistan is the only Muslim country that has as its policy to not educate girls. Perhaps it is wiser not to confront, not to engage in war or internal uprisings, but to facilitate communication between nations.
The Afghans is a well researched and authoritative work that readily engages the reader in real lives, and puts across different viewpoints in an understandable way. It is a highly recommended book for readers interested in women’s rights and political history.
Themes Afghanistan, Taliban, Women's rights, Islam.
Helen Eddy
Snowglobe 2 by Soyoung Park
Penguin Random House Children's, 2025. ISBN: 9780241681084. (Age:12-17)
This is the sequel to Snowglobe, the story of privileged actors who live in comfort under the climate-controlled Snowdome while outsiders struggle to survive in the freezing outer world. But now the temperature inside the dome is far from comfortable as the heat soars and a power outage is imminent. A cast of characters at the front of the book helps orient the reader but we have to wait until page 25 to learn that the narrator is Jeon Chobahm, one of the Haeri clones who star in reality shows which entertain those who live on the outside. In this engineered environment, both physical and social, everyone is being manipulated and constantly surveilled by cameras gathering footage for the consumption of viewers. Even the Snowdome climate is part of the need for fresh pathos and drama for viewers as natural disasters are engineered. One of the Haeri, Serin, doesn’t fit in and is jealous of Jeon vowing to take what she has. When Jeon stumbles across the recently stabbed Goh Maeryung she suspects Serin is trying to frame her for the murder. I really struggled, not having read the first Snowglobe and gave up after page 70 when I still couldn’t piece together the story and many characters, made more difficult by the sometimes clunky translation and unfamiliar names. It is one of those books that is probably a great read but you do need to read the first book before the sequel.
Themes Identity, Social engineering, Reality TV.
Sue Speck
Gooramindi the crocodile by Quinlan Jaffrey. Illus. by Jade Goodwin
The tradition of storytelling, of passing on truths from one generation to another through stories, is brought to the fore in this exciting tale of crocodiles and their struggle for dominance.
Gooramindi the old, wise and strong crocodile lives near Margaret River at Fitzroy crossing in northern Western Australia. Quinlan based the crocodile’s strength on his grandfather a man who taught his grandson about Country, passing on stories. The crocodile protects his area from his hollow in the river bank. Here he laughs and jokes with the children from the area, the Gooriyanndi kids.
But one day he hears the kids crying out for help. He sees that the cheeky young crocodile, Walwarranga has taken Corey, one of the children. Gooramindi tears along the riverbank following the footsteps. He finds Corey tucked into a hollow and urges him to hide. He then calls Walwarranga out to release Corey. But the younger crocodile is hungry and wants to eat Corey. The two animals fight for a very long time. Eventually Walwarranga gives in: he might be younger but he is not as strong as Coorramindi, who sees him off telling him not to come back. Corey is taken back to his community on Goorramindi’s back. A feast is prepared in his honour, and he is content to laugh along with the children as he continues to patrol Margaret River.
This delightful story sings with community and responsibility, as the children laugh and play with the old crocodile, who patrols their area keeping them safe, a symbol for the older people in the community.
I love the inclusion of the map showing readers exactly where the story is set. And the large print words will have kids easily recognising them and acting them out. How can they sit still when the words, help, thwack and chomp loom before their eyes. Other descriptive words are also presented in larger print, encouraging children to recognise the words on the second and third reading.
Stealing away Corey will have younger readers full of concern for the lad, and they will be relieved when Goorramindi saves the day, the fitting end to a good story.
Goorramindi looks perfect with his cowboy hat and neck scarf, ready to protect those who live in his area, feeling responsible for the children who play along the river. Colours dazzle the eyes as each page is turned, the green of the crocodiles, the blue of the river and red dirt of the land.
And the endpapers will have children trying to find them in the illustrations in the story.
A short clip can be found here showing how Jade creates her illustrations. Another clip shows her making the things shown on the endpapers for a display: an activity which could be done in a classroom or at home. A colouring sheet is available from the publisher.
Juniper loves the beach and her greatest joy is being outdoors exploring her beachside environment. On rainy, grey days Juniper struggles with being indoors and finding something to while away the time.
The beautiful rainbow coloured cover of Juniper’s Painting is a precursor to the delightful illustrations shared throughout the book. The clever endpapers with sparse grey images at the front with a tiny paint palette in the corner, give way to the final endpapers showcasing a bright and sunny beach scene painted by Juniper in all its glory.
This is a picture book where the illustrations and text work perfectly together. The opening sentence… ‘It was a grubby-grey, hazy-sky day’ sets the tone for the feelings felt by Juniper. Added to the words are swirling grey clouds and dark seas. With the red roof of Juniper’s house a standout on the following page, the descriptive language used such as blurry smudge, lurched, rolled, pitched and tumbled describes the wild weather outdoor scene vividly.
Juniper is forced by the weather to find indoor activities to occupy herself while her Mamma works. She moves from activity to activity all shown in shades of grey with the occasional pop of colour. Finally Juniper settles down to a paint a beach scene and is so engrossed that she does not realise the sun is out and she and her Mamma head outdoors.
This is a delightful read. It tells a familiar story that younger readers may recognise when stormy weather might halt or change their plans. The striking illustrations complement the perfectly positioned text and provide so much visual interest.
Themes Beach, Stormy Weather, Painting, Family, Home, Indoor Activities.
Kathryn Beilby
I am not Santa Claus by T. L. McBeth
Walker Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781761601217.
Ask any little person how they would recognise Santa if they saw him, and you would get very similar answers - an older man, a big red coat with a matching hat, big, round belly,...
So when the little boy sees a man matching that description in the street, he is convinced he is Santa and is so determined to give him is Christmas list, that he even follows the man home where he discovers more similarities! But the old man is equally determined not to engage because he is NOT Santa...
Written as a conversation between the narrator who insists all the clues point to the man being Santa Claus, and an old man who insists he is not, and there are logical explanations for his actions, this is a story for young readers who will be carried along in the playful back-and-forth that will make them focus on their vision and version of the real Santa Claus.
With its striking Bruna-esque illustrations, this might seem to be one for our youngest readers as, like the little boy, they apply what they already know to what they are seeing, and may have fun casting a vote about whether this is or isn't Santa before the final pages. But, like quality picture books, it can have applications across the years as it could also be used to introduce the concept and layout of dialogue for slightly older readers, as the narrator's voice is in regular text while the bunny's is presents as speech bubbles. How might this have been written in a novel using quotation marks and other punctuation? Some might even like to turn it into a Readers Theatre to perform for younger students.
Older readers could enjoy it as an introduction to the concept of stereotyping, perhaps beginning by drawing their image of Santa before the book is shared, and discussing how their interpretations compare to those of their friends as well as those identified in the book. Even the too-cool-for-school brigade harbour a secret belief in this particular childhood favourite so this is a great opportunity to engage them in the fun while still respecting their growing maturity. They might even consider the validity of the boy's evidence that this is indeed Santa comparing it with Santa's logical and plausible explanations to the contrary.
But, whether it is shared with little ones or used as a teaching tool to keep older readers engaged as the end of years looms, the old man's final message proves that there is more to this time of the year than someone in a fancy suit distributing largesse and it might, in itself, spark further discussion about how they might make someone's Christmas that little bit better.
Australian author/illustrator Anna Walker has created a striking new picture book that will appeal to her loyal readers but also find a new legion of fans. Between is simply beautiful. Illustrated in softened tones of blues and apricots, this exquisite narrative uses few words - but the depth and detail of the double page illustrations provide all the meaning needed for understanding.
The idea behind the story came about when Anna discovered the bodies of a cabbage moth and cricket lying on her window sill. From this she developed a story that is so creative and imaginative that it will resonate with readers both young and old. The carefully orchestrated dance-like interaction between the cricket and the moth plays out across the pages with the insects first moving as separate entities and finally connecting. The clever use of antonyms to engage the imagination and make sense of how the narrative is developing is executed perfectly. This is an important incidental learning moment for children to explore language features in writing.
The illustrations showcasing texture, shadow and movement are exquisite. They were created by hand using stencils, spray paint and pencil. Each page is outstanding in its own right and the limited colour palette is both calming and mysterious with the endpapers beautifully representing the passing of time.
Between is a book to be treasured. To be read slowly and savoured over and over again. A beautiful gift to be shared and a must have for all school libraries, both primary and secondary.
Themes Insects, Difference, Empathy, Friendship, Antonyms, Connection, Passages of Time – twilight & dawn.
Kathryn Beilby
Down comes the night by Allison Saft
Orion, 2025. ISBN: 9781510113688. (Age:14+)
The Danubians and the Vesrians are sworn enemies in spite of a recent armistice, but there have been disappearances of soldiers along the border and the Vesrians are suspected. Wren, under her commanding officer Una Dryden (who is also her girlfriend) capture a spy while on patrol. Wren, a Danubian army medic, can’t resist the urge to disobey orders and use her magical abilities to heal the boy spy’s badly broken arm; the boy escapes and Wren is in trouble. As the illegitimate orphaned niece of the Queen, their relationship has always been troubled, and this incident results in Wren being suspended and sent back to the convent where she was raised. When a letter arrives from a Lord Lowry of Cernos, Danubia’s neutral neighbour, asking Wren to come to find the cure for a strange illness killing his servants in exchange for diplomatic help, Wren follows her feelings and in spite of orders to ignore the offer she escapes to the Lord’s Gothic mansion in Cernos. It turns out the patient is Danu’s arch enemy Hal Cavendish, 'the Reaper of Vesria’, whose gaze can kill. Wren uses her considerable skill as a healer to identify and eventually cure his illness, planning to redeem herself by taking him prisoner. As expected, close contact results in a strong mutual attraction and a questioning of many of the things each thought were true. Far from being a weakness, Wren starts to realise her compassion and empathy are positive qualities and that her love for Una can be just as strong while she is romantically attracted to Hal. As they search Lowry’s mansion for clues as to the disappearance of the soldiers and source of the mystery illness it becomes clear that Wren and Hal are trying to save their countries from an unjust war and their people from needless sacrifice. The concept of two countries at war for so long that a lasting peace seems impossible and the lost clarity of what individual duty and sacrifice mean, even bending magical gifts to gain a wartime advantage, will resonate with readers in today’s troubled world. However I found the world building sketchy and unconvincing, Danu, in the grip of industrialization with pollution and no electricity but some magic, seemingly limited to healers and a very sophisticated health system, while Cernos has no magic but a more luxurious lifestyle and Vesria seems to be a bit more pastoral but with magical weapons, but it is all a bit vague. The plot was a bit confused, including a great deal of medical detail, the gothic mansion was one minute crumbling and mysterious and the next a swirling social hub and the sexual attraction between Wren and Hal climaxed in the single sex scene and then moved on. I wasn’t invested in the characters enough to really care about the outcome, and to believe that the exposure of Lord Lowry’s plot would solve a 300 year old war would be a fantasy in itself.
Author of Break the fall (2020), Jennifer Iacopelli excels at teenage sports-related romance novels. In Finding her edge, a soon to be Netflix series, the story focusses on the aspirations of ice-skate dancer Adriana Russo, growing up in a famous ice-skating family, owners of the Kellynch skating rink. She has always lived in the shadow of her older sister, Elisa, an Olympics finalist, but now has a chance at the Junior World Championships, with new skating partner, cool guy Braydon, ex-boyfriend of her sister. The only problem is that she had to ditch her long-time close friend and former dance partner Freddie, because he hasn’t matched her growth spurt and isn’t considered suitable any more.
This is the central dilemma. To be successful, the skating duo have to not only be highly skilled but a good visual combination; they need to be a good physical match and create the sense of romance that the song routines demand. Braydon is the perfect heart-throb, he and Adriana dance well together, but in order to create that magical spark, the idea of fake-dating seems like a good way to draw in sponsors and the financial backing they need. That is, until Adriana realises that Freddie still stirs her heart. She has to work out how to be honest, her true self, and still achieve her dreams.
Iacopelli brings to life the conflict between ambition and loyalty, career aspirations and personal relationships. There isn’t an easy answer; it means being truthful, honouring friendships but at the same time appreciating personal goals. It’s a delicate balance, which takes open and honest communication. This is another thoughtful and inspiring story which is sure to be a winner with teenage audiences on Netflix.
I was recently gifted this stunning picture book which has opened the door to a whole new area of reading and learning for me. Whilst knowing of the Tiwi Islands, I am unfamiliar with literature from that region and for me personally this delightful narrative is a wonderful introduction.
Based on a true and unique adventure, Glen Farmer Illortaminni, born in Milikapiti on Melville Island, travelled to Paris to act as an interpreter for his uncle, artist Timothy Cook. Restless during the night, Glen decides to go for a walk and becomes lost. He is missing for a period of time and experiences true homelessness as he wanders from place to place.
Drawing on his limited knowledge of Paris, he tries to navigate the cityscape to find his way back to the hotel. With no understanding of the French language and limited funds, Glen spends time at the airport, walking around Paris, staying with a group of homeless people, boarding the Metro, following a tour guide, is fed in a market, sleeps in a church, and after falling and hurting his head, is taken in by a young French girl and her Papa. He is taken to hospital but leaves once more, meets a Moroccan family who feed and provide shelter for him before he is eventually directed to the Australian Embassy.
Glen’s story is told in a gentle and straightforward manner with descriptions of Parisian landmarks shared throughout including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumph, the Metro, a huge church, canal, and markets. The belief Glen has in finding his way safely back to Country comes across strongly during his journey.
The striking double page illustrations consist of black and/or white line drawings on black or white backgrounds with watercolour washes. This appealing naïve style provides the perfect accompaniment to the highly accessible text. Tiwi in Paris will be a fabulous addition to a home, school or public library.
Themes Tiwi Islands, Paris, Journey, Lost & Found, First Nations Peoples & Culture.
Perfect for those just embarking on their Harry Potter journey or for those who simply can't get enough, comes this new series of informative picture books all about the main Hogwarts crew. The first five (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Luna Lovegood) have already been released, with a further two on their way in 2026. Each book is beautifully illustrated by a different illustrator and includes labelled pictures, quotes and character, setting and storyline information. Each double-page spread has a different focus and guides us through the character's background, notable events, skills and personality traits. The pages are informative and cover the span of the Harry Potter series, without ever spoiling the plotlines for those who haven't made it through all the books yet. Each page is heavily illustrated and heaving with details, however the text is large and approachable and there is still enough white space on the page to make it easy to weave your way through. There are often young Harry Potter fans whose only real experience is with the first movies or through secondhand retellings. These are great for those who want an introduction to the world but aren't quite ready to listen to or read the whole story. They are also great for collectors who want to relive the stories or best bits without rereading.
Harry's book guides the reader through his past with the Dursley's and along his Hogwart's journey including his role as Seeker on the Quiddich team and the mischief he gets up to in each book.
Themes Harry Potter characters.
Nicole Nelson
The hits and misses of Melody Moss by Helen Dallimore
Melody Moss is a 12-year-old girl who lives in suburban Australia and is about to start her first day of High School. She is so obsessed with musicals that her best friend from Primary School, Abby, decides to ditch her for cooler friends. Melody is alone and friendless, and her eccentricities make it very hard for her to find new friends. Luckily, she meets Victor who is also a social outcast, and he is a talented musician and musical lover. Together they write a musical about octopuses falling in love and win a school competition to co-direct the musical as the annual school play.
Tyler, the lead actor, is heart throbbingly good looking and Melody has a huge embarrassing crush on him. To make it worse he is not interested in Melody. Victor is upset by Melody’s betrayals in her efforts to impress Tyler and refuses to be involved in the play at all. The story is peppered with the funny, silly moments when Melody says and does things without considering the consequences. Such as when she is crying about Tyler and tells her teacher she is allergic to paper.
This is a funny and engaging read. Since it is written as a diary, we understand Melody’s thinking and personality. It reminded me of books like Dork Diaries and the classic, Hating Alison Ashley. The key themes of friendship, valuing creativity and embracing our differences are critical for younger readers. Helen Dallimore has created a variety of other quirky characters who are central to many humorous situations. For example, Melody’s mother invents dishes such as seaweed sorbet.
Melody and Victor are supported in their trying situations by loving supportive families. Melody also has sympathetic imaginary friends she discusses her problems with. Importantly the main characters develop to be confident and happy, without losing their essential selves. It is a visually appealing novel too. There are fun touches like drawings, text messages, and suggestions that the reader google things like the camouflaging behaviour of octopuses. “This is totes worth a google they’re incred.”
Garry Disher is one of my favourite crime writers and I was thrilled to see Mischance Creek, the 5th book in the Hirsch series. I was quickly drawn into the life of Hirsch, a rural policeman travelling long distances to check firearms on isolated farms and performing welfare checks to ensure that lonely people were safe. Another of his jobs is to help tourists when they get into trouble on country roads and he sent to Mischance Creek to help Annika Nordrum whose vehicle has gone into a ditch. But Annika is not your normal tourist; she has come to the outback in search of her mother who disappeared seven years ago. She knows that her mother could not have been involved in her father’s murder and the scant information left by the police does not add up. Hirsch is drawn into the cold case, while keeping an eye on altercations about parking at the school and trying to find the culprit who is illegally abandoning rubbish in the park.
Life in a small country town of outback South Australia is vividly brought to life by Disher. I got to know about the politics surrounding the mayor and the local council, the protection of a sacred site by a strong woman and the impact that merging rural schools can have on a community. The distances between farms, the heat, the desert like conditions as Goyder Line is crossed, the differences between the struggling small landholders and the very rich graziers are subtly explored by Disher and provide a wonderful background to the story.
Hirsch is a calm man, endeavouring to do his job under difficult circumstances. He is trying to keep in touch with his grieving mother in the city, while maintaining a relationship with a local woman and her daughter. His knowledge of his community is invaluable and his intelligence gathering leads to a stunning conclusion.
There are lots of threads and twists in the story, some very unexpected and dark, and these kept me reading avidly. I can’t wait to see what Disher writes next.
If Martha Mayfield was represented as an animal, she would be a turtle or a snail - a quiet creature that lives inside its own shell, rarely making a headline of itself. In this tender story we feel the torture of shyness and grow in respect for Martha who eventually raises her head (and her voice) so that others might see and hear her. With a very small pool of friends and a tendency at school (and at home) to keep her ideas to herself, she is always afraid of the reactions of others. Her battles with ‘What if ..?’ and her interior negative dialogue are a constant companion, and she is often overlooked. In this remarkably insightful story, we see Martha … a situation that is rare for her, and discover that she has much to offer, but it might look different to the standard ‘Class Captain’ or school leader.
I absolutely loved this story, recognising my own former classmates, family members, and students that I have taught. Not everyone thrives on public speaking, publicly revealing their thoughts, or conversations with strangers, and Martha (and her mother) must find ways to succeed while being true to themselves. The striving to be more than the overlooked one is presented with great compassion in this school-based story. The story has moments of humour but is also a gently winsome journey into the emotional struggles of the shy child. This is a book that is an absolute delight - get it into the hands of the shy child as an expression of affirmation, but also into the reading journey of the loud and confident kid so they can learn empathy and perhaps will learn to listen more. Martha is a year 5, readying herself for the ‘senior’ year of Primary school and this would suit a target audience of 10–12 year-olds, but the inclusion of an older sister already in the land of dating and formal dresses will also enable readers up to age 14/15 to enjoy the story too. I loved this book as an adult reflecting on the challenges of overcoming fear and anxiety and the sensitive handling of the topic, but young readers will absolutely love the ‘remaking of Martha’.
Mega Rich Guinea Pigs by Kate and Jol Temple is a highly amusing, fast-paced adventure that blends humour, heart and high-stakes antics into a fun and fabulous read for young independent readers - or even as a read aloud. Written in a lively, conversational style, the story unfolds as though an amused outsider is whispering the tale directly into your ear; an approach that adds both charm and comedic punch.
At the centre of this quirky caper are three guinea pigs and one very hungry capybara who is convinced he’s simply an “extra-large guinea pig.” Their lives take a dramatic turn when their fabulously wealthy owner dies unexpectedly, leaving behind not only a mansion filled with creature comforts but also an astronomical fortune; given entirely to these four animals. What follows is a hilarious clash between pampered pets and greedy human relatives who had been expecting the inheritance for themselves.
These devious humans attempt to do away with the furry heirs in ways that are both outlandish and zany, resulting in slapstick mayhem and unexpected twists. Meanwhile, the guinea pigs and their oversized companion must summon all their creativity, courage and collaboration to outsmart the money-hungry relatives. Their problem-solving strategies, misunderstandings and moments of bravery keep the plot moving at a brisk pace. The capybara’s insatiable hunger and the guinea pigs’ energetic personalities provide a steady stream of giggles; making them irresistible heroes to cheer for.
Mega Rich Guinea Pigs is a thoroughly engaging novel that is a perfect balance of comedy and adventure. For readers who adore animals, enjoy mischievous plots, or simply want a laugh with a feel-good book, this novel ticks every box. It’s witty, entertaining and delightfully imaginative - an adventure that will bring a smile to everyone.
Springing from the award-winning podcast of the same name, this collection of traditional tales and folk stories from around the world is nothing short of read aloud perfection. Each story starts with a solid hook, engages the reader throughout with carefully-curated suspense and just enough detail and then finishes things off neatly and usually with a reader appeal that encourages thoughtful conversation or contemplation about the onus to continue the oral storytelling tradition. As Normanton said: "Telling traditional tales has been a neglected art, but there's growing interest in celebrating diverse cultures, and a raised awareness about the need to improve our children's speaking skills". These stories have rich language and encourage retelling and reinvention.
Normanton is an early-years expert and radio producer and has compiled this book from the podcast stories told by a diverse array of expert storytellers from around the world. These are expert, celebrated oral storytellers, which makes both the podcast and the written versions, incredibly punchy stories purpose built for reading aloud. The Year 1 and 2 students that I have tested these stories out on are desperately hungry for more, sit enthralled and hang on each and every word and even enjoy the tidbits of factual information about the origins and cultural history of each story.
Organised into 5 continent sections, each continent has about 6 stories from various countries. Some are funny, some are magical, many are moralistic, some are creation or origin stories and all are well-told. Beautiful illustrations accompany each tale and they are all of a similar length, making for about a five- to ten-minute read. There is a follow-up book scheduled for publication in 2027. Information about the storytellers and the podcast are available here.
