A very funny look at the relationship between a brother and sister, brought to life through the story of a young boy, a knight, being taken over by his sister, the princess. She takes over his castle, despite him building a moat, she is not scared off by the dragon, inviting him instead to afternoon tea. She does not baulk and remains a problem. So he garners himself and presents the ogre, a fearsome looking creature who growls and scares her.
She runs away, causing the brother to have some doubt about his actions. He then sets out to invite her back into his realm.
A delightful tale of sibling discomfort as the princess tries to join her brother in his games. She tries all sorts of ways to invade his space, making him aware of her existence, but he repels her each time. He is king of his castle, not her.
All the situations are there for younger readers to recognise, the continuous game of what is mine, of wanting to be alone, of getting in each other’s way. Readers will laugh out loud as they see the lengths the boy goes to to keep his sister at bay, and recognise behaviours which sometimes appear in their houses. And the ways he helps bridge the gap between the two siblings show a compassion and understanding of other’s feelings that is to be admired.
The illustrations are delightful, showing a determined girl and her equally determined brother. Wonderfully witty, they are full of movement, the drawings are highly detailed, inviting readers to find information about the children’s lives.
I love the double page spreads, full of stars, and stuffed animals, crowns and armour. It is delightful to spend time poring over them, each look finding more to create laughs from the reader.
Themes Siblings, Arguments, Friendship, Knights and castles, Play.
Fran Knight
Sweet heartbreak by Alexandra Moody
Electric Monkey, 2026. ISBN: 9780008830113.
When her long-lost father suddenly reappears and reveals that he's one of the richest men in the country, Isobel barely has time to process it before she's pulled out of her old life and sent to Weybridge Academy, an elite boarding school where wealth and status seem to matter more than anything else. There's only one rule: stay away from Noah Hastings. Of course, that's easier said than done when Noah happens to be the most popular boy at school, and everywhere she turns, he seems to be there.
Noah is exactly the kind of character you'd expect in a boarding-school romance. He's rich, charming, and has a reputation for breaking hearts. At first, he comes across as the stereotypical bad boy, but as the story develops, it's clear that there's more to him than his reputation suggests. Isobel and Noah have obvious chemistry, and their relationship is definitely one of the strongest parts of the book. Their interactions are sweet, and the forbidden romance trope keeps the story moving.
Sweet Heartbreak explores themes of identity, social class, family expectations, and first love. Isobel struggles to adjust to her new environment and constantly feels like she doesn't belong. I liked that the story highlighted the differences between her old life and the privileged world she suddenly finds herself in because it made her reactions feel more believable.
That being said, this wasn't my favourite Alexandra Moody book. The concept had so much potential, but at times, the story felt a little repetitive, and some of the conflicts could have been resolved much more quickly. I also found it difficult to connect with certain characters, and there were moments when their decisions felt more frustrating than realistic. The plot relies heavily on familiar YA romance tropes, which means some parts become predictable.
The boarding-school setting was probably my favourite part of the book. The elite-school atmosphere, the complicated friendships, and all the drama surrounding status and reputation created an interesting backdrop for the romance. However, the story focuses much more on the relationship than on developing the setting itself, which left me wishing there had been a little more depth.
Themes of belonging, trust, family, and self-discovery are shown clearly throughout the novel. Even though I wasn't completely convinced by every part of the story, I can still understand why so many readers enjoyed it. It's one of those books that you'll either really love or struggle to connect with; there doesn't seem to be much in between, but one thing everyone would be able to agree on is the love for the side characters.
For fans of books such as Maxton Hall, Better Than the Movies, or other elite boarding-school romances, Sweet Heartbreak is still worth trying. It has all the classic ingredients: forbidden romance, the rich and powerful love interest, plenty of drama, and just enough emotional tension to keep you turning the pages.
Themes: Identity, Social Class, Family, Belonging, Trust, First Love
Everglade:The lost prince is the second book in the Evergladetrilogy by Perth-based author Kitty Black. Most readers would struggle and have to play a lot of catch up in order to read The lost prince as a standalone. There is not a lot of recap to assist the reader in traversing a complicated fantasy world. Thus it takes until about chapter 10 for the reader to come to grips with the personalities of the protagonists and the intricacies of the fantasy world of Everglade that Black has built.
It seems that the "magic-kin" have gone into hibernation and monsters are gaining power. The world is decaying. As a fire-witch, twelve-year-old Wren (the lead character) is the only one who can save the world but she doesn't know how. There is a lot of responsibility on her young shoulders. The quest to make the right choices and fix the cycle takes Wren and her friends to dangerous places where they must solve problems with very few hints or clues. Her little group of friends include May(a bear), Pippin (a squirrel), Wish (a boy with feathers growing on him) and Blue (a girl with red hair). Black develops the characters nicely and one feels particularly engaged with Wren as the omniscient author viewpoint allows the reader access to her thinking - to all her self doubt, anxiety and courage. Having returned the Eater to the Well-of-All in book 1 (Everglade:The lost witch), Wren must now defeat the Everglade witch.
The dialogue is lively and humorous "...you're still concerned..,"said King Ares, giving Wren a pitying look. " Yes, because it's still concerning," said Wren, crossing her arms. King Ares was "not concerned..." (p.18) Black uses rich imagery throughout with sensory descriptions of the magical world of Everglade and its inhabitants. This evocative use of language is apparent on every page.
There are a couple of characters who are "theys". This can interrupt the flow of the text as the reader is jarred with the struggle of seeming noun/verb inconsistency until he/she realises that the reference is about gender identity. An important theme of Everglade:The lost prince is identity and finding out about who you are and where you come from.
Everglade:The lost prince is exciting in parts. Ending inconclusively, it invites the reader to seek out the third book in the trilogy.
What a brilliant picture book.This is a book that parents will likely walk past but will be one to appeal to children, because who doesn’t love a poo joke, or a book that gives them permission to say Poo!In the same way that The Book with No Pictures asked the adults to read every word, this book encourages the reader to trust the author and opens with the following:
Dear kind and trusting adult, Please read this book aloud. You won’t find any rude words here. It’s something that I’ve vowed
Then it goes on to address the children who are hearing or reading this book in the following way:
Dear Second in Command, You know just what to do, Please let your adult read this book, And laugh when they say POO.
I love books that rhyme, flow and add a touch of humour and share the joy of using language and this book does all three brilliantly.The illustrations tie in perfectly with the words and will appeal to the intended audience.I really loved reading this book first to myself and then aloud; it is a quick, fun book to share with children.
This book will be an instant favourite with children who find toilet humour funny and parents who want to guide children to the ways that language works and can be used.It is one that I would recommend for all libraries and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The Dragon Snare is the first in a new fantasy series about an inspiring knight, a grumpy dragon and a war that has been tentatively on hold, some might say it is over but that is only if dragons and humans stay in their place and don’t accidently use a magical sword to transform their enemy into a teenage girl.
Henry Haddow is an orphan who lives with the dogs in the castle kennels. He has a great affinity for the dogs but dreams of becoming a knight. When he learns about a magical sword that will grant him one wish, he knows that with the sword he can win the tournament. Unfortunately, before the tournament can start Henry uses the sword to transform a dragon into a teenage girl, and as they both live by the law that neither humans nor dragons may enter the lands of the other, this means Snare the dragon must remain in Henry’s world.
And so, begins the story of Henry and Snare. This is a brilliant read, and I am eagerly waiting for the next books in the series. The illustrations support the story and will engage readers who like to see the characters’ faces as they are reading.
I would highly recommend this book and can see it being used as a class text. The plot twists and descriptions help to engage the readers. This was a book that I didn’t want to put down and one that I have shared with young readers who enjoy fantasy novels.
This is definitely a book that should be on the shelf in every library as it engages the reader and is exciting with great characters and lots of suspense.
This is an outback detective story without the detective. Instead, the main protagonist is Rena, a recently widowed retired geologist, out on the grey nomad trip she and her husband had planned, but now she is doing it alone. Used to fossicking remote mineral sites, she has the fully equipped Ford Ranger, and the toughness and independence that comes with having dealt with all the male types over the years. So she is not the befuddled old lady that patronising young men often take her for. At the same time, there are moments of emotional vulnerability as she is carries grief for her beloved husband Tom taken by cancer.
The good deed that draws her into a whole heap of trouble is when she turns off the highway, having spotted dense smoke coming off a side track. It is a blazing motor vehicle, the body of the driver burnt to the steering wheel. Later when she discovers that the driver is a former geologist colleague, her curiosity and suspicions about the cause of the ‘accident’ find her researching his activities in the Kimberley outback, leading her deep into the murky world of exploitative land grabs and mining developments.
This is a slow moving mystery, slow like the pace of life in the outback, with sweltering days that create trickles of sweat under one’s shirt. In fact, the rugged Kimberley environment almost becomes a character in its own right with Kovacic’s vivid descriptions of the red earth, the termite mounds, the woollybutts and the dried-up creek beds. It is a land that attracts all kinds of strange characters lured by the glittering mirage of discovering priceless pink diamonds.
Rena is a strong female character, astute, independent and resourceful. The young Aboriginal woman she befriends, Aitch, is a similarly strong and confident character, strong in her culture and respect for her Elders. When the two team up, the reader knows that they have the right combination of local knowledge and geological expertise to solve a mystery which the police haven’t begun to piece together.
Whilst it is a slow paced novel, the tension builds up as Rena and Aitch draw closer to their suspect; and there are still a few surprising twists for the reader. ‘No good deed’ makes for another variation on the kind of outback detective stories that readers of Jane Harper might enjoy.
The latest joke collection from the Instagram sensation @DadSaysJokes is one that would be a good gift selection for any Dad who likes to tell Dad jokes and annoy the people around him, while eliciting reluctant laughs from his listeners. In the introduction Kit Chilvers and his dad, Andrew Chilvers, quote: ‘Here’s to making the world a little lighter and a little sillier’ and it certainly does that.
How do cats cut the grass? They use lawnmeowers.
With 271 pages of jokes, there is something for everyone and it is easy to flick through, each page sure to bring a grin to the face and lighten the mood.
Unlike The little book of Cheesy Dad jokes by OH , Dad Jokes: All-time classics contains some jokes that are definitely for an older audience; although there are many that will appeal to any age group.
Themes Jokes.
Pat Pledger
Jo Weston's Netball Besties: Double or nothing by Jess Black and Sam Loman
It’s school holiday time and Jo and Ava are off to the big city to play in a special country team at half time during a professional netball game and they can’t wait. They are travelling by train to the city where they will stay with Ava’s aunt and cousin before heading to the stadium to meet the other girls selected from other country teams and practising so they are ready to play.
Jo has her suitcase packed with her clothes, netball uniform and her special toy dog and can’t wait for the adventure to begin. However, disaster strikes when she opens her suitcase and realizes that she has the wrong bag, although what it is inside might just help her to find the owner, swap bags and play the game of her life all in one weekend.
This series of books is brilliant, and I love the way the girls are portrayed as confident children who still need support from adults and help to solve their problems. They are very real and this will appeal to the young reader as they will be able to identify themselves in the characters and the adventures they have. I really enjoyed reading this book and the illustrations certainly add to the story and will support the reader to feel part of the girls’ adventures.
This series will be a popular addition to any library, particularly with newly independent readers and netball players.
My only complaint is that I don't like that random words are written in bold, cursive writing as this doesn’t add anything to the story and I found it irritating that there was no pattern or need for this.
Ted McKenley’s family consists of his mother, Salma, and their cockapoo dog, Darwin. Added to it recently is a baby sister, Hazel, and a stepfamily consisting of Eugene, Nana Elsie and his children, fourteen-year-old Luke, ten-year-old Frankie. Things weren’t so bad when evil stepsister Frankie was absent at boarding school but now their parents have inherited Tartarus Hall, a crumbling mansion which they plan to turn into a hotel and they are all going to do it up and live there. Ted is afraid of many things but spending the summer with prankster Frankie sends chills down his spine and when strange things start to happen he is sure she is to blame. But it is soon clear that the old mansion is home to the ghost of the old Duke, his sister Arabella, and some servants. The children can see and hear them but the adults remain oblivious, blaming the mishaps on Ted and Frankie. The Duke is proud of his haunting antics, hoping to outdo the reputations of other haunted mansions with his spooky pranks, and with an animated suit of armour, the breaking of possessions, rattling windows and flickering lights, he is having fun, calling on the other house ghosts to keep up the haunting pressure, determined to drive the newcomers out. With two weeks to the grand opening of the hotel with influential invited guests there is not much time to save the Tartarus Hall project, and on finding a common enemy Ted and Frankie decide to join forces to defeat the ghosts. There is a hilarious, improvised séance “sort of a zoom meeting with ghosts” using scrabble tiles, and even Luke “an impenetrable teenager with zero emotions” who spends his time on video games eventually acknowledges the probability that Tartarus Hall is haunted “way worse than the rabid tree goblins in Forest of the damned 7”. As the deadline gets nearer and more pranks are blamed on Ted and Frankie they get unexpected help from Nana Elsie and Luke, but will they succeed in driving the ghosts away?
Fast paced and funny the story takes unexpected twists and turns while maintaining the narrative and developing the main characters. There are occasional black and white cartoon illustrations but the strength is in the writing, especially the different points of view, great vocabulary and dialogue. Adults would enjoy reading it aloud and independent readers will be looking forward to the promised sequel.
Themes Ghosts and haunting, Blended families, Humour.
Sue Speck
Confetti and the Rainbow Garden by Shane Jenek & Dylan Finney
Confetti is on a mission to discover who they will be when they grow up. In the world of Nan’s garden where plants play games, do science experiments and have big personalities this is a very important question.
This is a beautiful story of self-discovery, finding your place in the world and realizing that whoever you are, you have something to bring to the world and make it a better place.
What I really loved about this book was the bright illustrations that really showcase the wonder of Australian flora in such a special way; the text and the illustrations work perfectly together to engage the reader in a story that gently guides them to seeing that no matter who you are or what you can do there is a place for you and a reason for your being. Confetti and the Rainbow Garden is written by Shane Jenek (better known as drag artist Courtney Act) and I believe the author’s lived experience helps to give the story a layer of understanding about finding your place and learning to live your authentic self.
I would recommend this book to any child as it is a beautifully written story, and the illustrations are so much fun to explore and look at. I also think that older readers will find joy in seeing Confetti work out where they fit and how others see them may not matter when it comes to their own happiness.
This is a truly fabulous picture book that I loved reading and will be sharing with friends and family.
Themes Friendship, Self-discovery, Plants and animals, Family.
Mhairi Alcorn
Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins
Allen & Unwin, 2026. ISBN: 9781761474019. (Age:Adult - 16+) Recommended.
Following How to Kill a Client?and The Bluff, Joanna Jenkins continues to write a gripping mystery this time set in an Art Deco building in the upmarket suburb of Potts Point in Sydney. Ruth Dawson has just moved into The Lumen, a beautiful building with flats having parquetry floors, and a harbour view after her colleague Sybil gave her a headsup about its availability. But all is not well in the building. Ben, a young homeless man who used to live in one of the flats before his father died, is sheltering in the garden, much to the dismay of many of the tenants. Meanwhile the couple in the penthouse have covered up the lightwell without permission and Ruth is asked her opinion by the housing committee. Then Ben is found dead and Ruth is convinced that he has been murdered and brings in the police. What follows puts Ruth in danger of becoming a murder suspect.
The residents of The Lumen are an eccentric group whose characters are fascinating to follow. Zara is an aging, poverty-stricken pop star, Stella a rude, dominating woman, Laura runs the Air BNB in one of the units, while Lucas lives in the basement flat and is uncommunicative, and Humphrey and Lawrence are odd. Ruth wasn't sure what to make of Silver, the beautiful influencer and Anthony her rich husband, who live in the penthouse. None of these people wanted Ben living on the grounds, but would any of them kill him?
Jenkins lets the reader into the thoughts of Ruth, Ben, Sybil, Jack, Silver and Anthony, who expand the story and give different viewpoints and timelines. This adds to the complexity of the mystery and it is very difficult to sort out who is the murderer.
This is a clever crime novel with fascinating protagonists, red herrings and witty dialogue. Another winner from Jenkins, I have enjoyed all three of her novels and loved the different settings of Brisbane, north coast and Sydney. I look forward to her next novel and hope Ruth Dawson will bring her curiosity and intellect to solve another case.
In true Tom Clancy style, Ward Larsen has created another action-packed thriller, involving highly skilled special operatives, the President of the USA, a defector from Russia and military capabilities in the cyber-arena that defy civilian understanding. When an ethically poor financial wizard from Russia attempts to unload his secrets to the USA, he immediately becomes a threat and a target. For USA he is a valuable asset and must be protected, but his knowledge also points to a potential radioactive threat that would unsettle the world and oil supplies. The secret world of the military and cyber information-gathering combine in a time-sensitive arena to protect the Suez Canal.
Written with the same style as Tom Clancy’s books involving Jack Ryan (now President Ryan), we also have two Ryan’s from the next generation working in high-level roles. Every chapter flips across the globe to see the action at play from terrorist perspectives and the opposing ‘good guys’. Lives and global security are under threat, and the action is fierce and fast - this would make a brilliant action film! With warfare and espionage heavily dependent on advanced technology and cyber-capabilities this is an eye-opening read. And the body count for the ‘bad guys’ is high. For lovers of spy-thrillers (and Jack Ryan - an exemplary US President with integrity and intelligence) this is a brilliant book. And even for those who have never read a Tom Clancy book before, this glimpse into the intense world of special-operations and global power struggles will keep the reader glued to the pages to the very end. (NB: some similarities and differences to the conflict involving the Strait of Hormuz may also pique readers’ interests.)
Themes Thriller, Terrorism, Special-ops, Drones, Military capabilities, USA vs Russia, Cyber capabilities and espionage.
Carolyn Hull
All Wrapped Up: May Gibbs Spiral Notebook by May Gibbs
Hardie Grant, 2026. (Age:7+)
All Wrapped Up: May Gibbs Pocket Notebook 96 pages ISBN: 9781761218750.
These two attractive notebooks immediately caught my eye because of the beautiful covers with May Gibbs designs.
The All Wrapped Up: May Gibbs Spiral Notebook is a large spiral notebook containing 160 pages to use for notes, drawings, and lists. The interior can be viewed here.
The All Wrapped Up: May Gibbs Pocket Notebook is smaller and has a gorgeous cover featuing wattle and the wattle babies from May Gibbs' iconic books. It contains 90 pages and is small enough to go into a handbag or briefcase. The interior can be viewed here.
These would be lovely gifts for people who like stationery and love the artwork of May Gibbs. There are also two notebooks for younger writers, Hello Kitty, equally attractive.
Themes Notebooks.
Pat Pledger
How to kill a client by Joanna Jenkins
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761471377. (Age:Adult - 16+) Recommended.
After reading The Bluff as it was shortlisted for the 2026 Davitt Awards, I immediately went to the first in the series, How to kill a client. Gavin Jones is a powerful man. He is the person who hires the legal team for the big firm, Minerallic and a man who loves to be surrounded by people who kowtow to him. When Ruth arrives at the law firm of Howard Greene, as a visiting senior partner, she immediately notices that Viv, whose clever mind quickly grasps details and is an invaluable worker, seems to be under threat from Gavin who does not want to work with women. He controls his wife Anne at home, leaving her with no money of her own and no way to easily leave him. Viv befriends Anne hoping that this might help her keep her job. Then Gavin is found dead at the age of 39. There are multiple suspects and Ruth begins an investigation of her own into the murder.
Jenkins has a background in the legal system and this in-depth knowledge makes How to kill a client a fascinating read. Where there is a lot of money to be made, there is also potential for corruption and fraud and what unfolds can be eye-opening. Told in separate chapters from the viewpoints of Ruth, Viv and Anne, the reader is taken into the corporate world of wheeling and dealing. It is easy to relate to the fear that Viv has of losing her job and having her ideas stolen, and the reader will hold their breath, wonder if Anne and two daughters will be safe from Gavin, an angry man. Did Viv or Anne kill Gavin? Or was it someone else? Ruth cannot resist investigating, gradually uncovering the truth, even though it will have consequences for her career as well.
There are multiple suspects and a complex plot. I didn’t guess who the killer was, which is always a bonus for people like me, that are avid readers of the mystery genre.
I enjoyed the legal background and read the story in a couple of sittings. I am looking forward to the next story featuring the intrepid Ruth.
Themes Murder, Corruption, Corporate law.
Pat Pledger
Nanny Tobbins and the midnight plan by Lucie Stevens
Nanny Tobbins and the midnight plan is a charming adventure set in mid-Victorian London. Albertine is a young brave girl from a wealthy German family. Her father is a good friend of Prince Albert and he dotes on Albertine, calling her “little dear”. They visit the Great Exhibition, a huge temporary Trade Fair that was quite an event in its time. It showcased modern inventions and curiosities. Albertine catches up with a working-class family friend called Blot and they have a very unpleasant encounter with a villainous Lord Snaffington. Snaffington accuses Blot of stealing the Queen’s valuable diamond, the Roshen-Tarin-Nor. If Blot can’t prove his innocence, he faces hard labour in Van Dieman’s Land. Albertine’s father tries to help Blot but it is Albertine and her wonder dog Quiver who are successful. They also enlist the support of Nanny Tobbins to use her ghostly powers to help.
This is the second adventure for Albertine, and it would be worth reading the first, R.I.P. Nanny Tobbins, considering how much fun this book was to read. The quest to discover the truth about the disappearance of the diamond is a compulsive read and Lucie Stevens has done a great job creating the era, language, beliefs and strict etiquette. Albertine’s encounters with the Royal Family children added further historical interest. The author’s notes were useful for outlining the truths and inaccuracies. This includes the fact that important and valuable cultural artefacts were stolen by colonial rulers and removed from the original country. Albertine and Quiver are smart and brave, and Nanny Tobbins adds humour and quirkiness. Some readers may be concerned by ghosts and the supernatural; however it is all dealt with in such a light manner it is totally inoffensive. I think this book would be enjoyed by middle to upper primary school readers. It reminded me of The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea mysteries by Thomas Taylor or Withering-by-Sea by Judith Rossell.
