Eileen was only 4 years old when she was stolen from her mother on Mainoru Station in Arnhem Land, and taken to Croker Island Mission, north of Darwin. She is a member of the Stolen Generations, one of the many Aboriginal children removed from their parents under Australia’s assimilation policies from 1910 to 1970.
The little ones crying for their mothers were comforted by eight-year-old Lorky, another Aboriginal girl, who reminded them of their language, their people, and their ceremonies. She would tell them ‘One day we go home’. Eileen thinks she could not have survived without Lorky. The children accepted the arduous chores set them as just part of life on the mission. Worst were the laundry duties involving digging long poles into the boiling hot suds to lift out heavy sheets and turning them into the cold water. There were happy times on Croker Island, the groups of children running and playing in the trees in their free time, seeking out goose eggs, wild apples and cockles. But whilst there was the companionship of the other children, nothing could compensate for the feeling of loss, and lack of love.
Eileen Cummings describes the heart-breaking moment when as an adult she was reunited with her mother, the tears streaming down her mother’s face, the distance created by the loss of language, and the strangeness of a grown woman returning instead of the cherished child. Another devastating moment is later in life, when Eileen’s daughter in turn says ‘Mum, whenever we ran to you for a hug, when we were children, you would flinch’. This is the damage caused by growing up without love: how could the stolen generations know how to show love to their children, with no role models, no experience. Many succumbed to alcohol and violence, a long-lasting intergenerational trauma.
Eileen was determined to survive, and she took advantage of any opportunity for learning and further education. She carved out a career as teacher and public servant, and became an advisor to four chief ministers. She became the lead plaintiff in the landmark Northern Territory Stolen Generations Class Action. Her book is a moving personal account of loss and grief, survival and resilience. It reveals a terrible time in Australia’s history that has ongoing repercussions today.
The setting of South Australia’s beautiful Kangaroo Island drew me into The Couples Retreat and the twisty plot kept me reading. Three wealthy couples are staying at the luxurious Reef House for a weekend of gourmet food and drink. The men have all been to university together but deep rivalries appear as alcohol and drugs flow freely. Two of the women are close friends but Alison is an outlier, very critical of the group. When one of the men is murdered all are suspected of his grisly death. Unable to leave the island because of a storm, the five survivors are fearful that the killer is one of them. Rookie cop Emily Quinn, drawn to the island to get away from an obsessive boyfriend, becomes involved in the investigation, and secrets are gradually uncovered.
Told in the voices of Emily and Alison, the reader gets a very clear picture of what it is like to be a young policewoman on Kangaroo Island and what it is like to be part of a rich group, able to afford a luxury mansion and excessive amounts of food and drink. Emily’s intelligence and perseverance shine through as she begins to unravel the group’s background, while struggling with the coercive behaviour of her ex-boyfriend. The plot is tightly written, the characters are richly drawn and the tension kept me glued to the page – and best of all, I was surprised by who the murderer was, even though it all made sense in the end.
I look forward to seeing Emily Quinn starring in another book, and readers who enjoyed The couples retreat might like to read Black lies by Mercier.
Themes Murder, Kangaroo Island (S.A.), Drugs, Alcohol, Coercive control, Police.
Inspired by a viral social media post ‘What would you do if you had a whole day on earth free of men?’ Harper’s psychological thriller explores the male / female dynamics in a small rural town, a microcosm of society as a whole. It’s a town known for the unsolved disappearance of a teenage schoolgirl twenty-nine years earlier. It’s where Dove, the central character, has established an organic flower and vegetable garden on her large property alongside a popular bakery, and where, after a violent encounter with a male neighbour on the other side, she defiantly paints that pointed question on her mudbrick front fence. What she doesn’t anticipate is the outpouring of responses from women revealing the pervading fear of male violence, marked up in pen on the wall.
The chapters alternate the perspectives of the independent and free-spirited Dove; the story of Noah torn between his responsibilities for his wife and family, and his reignited passion for his earlier girlfriend Dove; and diary entries from Bella, his teenage daughter. Noah is an ordinary bloke, a hard-working electrician, hanging out with his mates at the pub, taking his wife for granted, and compartmentalising his burgeoning affair, until the implications of the women’s responses start to penetrate his thinking. Is he the good guy, or is he yet another pent-up explosion about to violently lash out?
Whilst ostensibly a thriller, Harper manages to examines social issues of the 1990’s such as abortion, gender identity, male violence, women’s safety, police response; many feminist issues that still resonate today. Her writing is underpinned by her experience working as a psychologist with violent offenders and victim-survivors of crime. Her novel shows that not much has changed and there will continue to be problems until men also assume responsibility for finding solutions. In some ways, Dove is a guidebook to better relations between the sexes.
Themes Feminism, Male violence, Toxic masculinity, Assault, Identity.
Molly and her family have moved into a new home full of light. Each day Molly goes for a walk, and one morning she spies a cat, Prickles, who lives on the street and often sees Molly as she works.
Priceless has led a carefree life on the streets. His home in the alleyway is a warm place to come back to each night. During the day he has lots of adventures. He dances with the flying papers, purrs for the children waiting at the bus stop, and after rain looks at his reflection in the puddles.
He sees Molly but Molly is concentrating on her work and doesn’t see Prickles. One day when Prickles wakes, he doesn’t feel well; he feels pricklier. When it rains he looks into the puddle but it is all very blurry.
He finds the colour has melted from his world, and is in danger when lots of people pass him by. He spies Molly and someone reaches down, picks him up and calms him, offering soothing words. Prickles is taken back to the house full of light and stays, joining Molly on her walks.
This warm hearted story is one that will be read and reread, as children follow the story about Prickles and Molly, and how their paths meet as Prickles develops impaired sight.
The story overflows with the warmth that a home with a loving family can bring. Prickles’ life may seem idyllic, but once problems occur, she needs help and asks Molly. She moves from an alley way with the possibility of being attacked by a roaming dog, to a warm home where she is valued and safe.
Watercolour and pencil illustrations perfectly suit the mood of the tale. Goldsmith creates characters that readers will recognise as they read the story. Each character is individual, not only the family which is the focus of the tale, but also groups of other people we see through the book. Amongst many other pages, I love the group at the bus stop, all cluttered together waiting for their bus. And the double page where the illustration goes all round the two pages, or the beautiful Japanese style bridge. The pages contrasting Prickle looking at his reflection will intrigue readers as they ponder what life without reduced vision is like. And the pages where Prickles is tangled underfoot by passing people, the lack of colour reflecting Prickle’s deteriorating sight. I love the energetic endpapers, and the images of the cat as he jumps and frolics his way through the book.
This delightful tale will not only entertain, but will enable readers to think about the possibility of having impaired vision, a disability affecting nearly half million people in Australia.
’Not a romance. A love story’. Penalba’s novel is not the usual LGBTQIA+ coming out story. And, while she does draw on the fake-date and enemies to lovers romantic tropes, these are not the main focus. Sacha, the central character, is aro-ace i.e. aromantic and asexual. While she might enjoy romantic movies, she has never wanted romance for herself, and she has never felt the stirrings of sexual attraction. But that doesn’t mean she does not love, nor want love in return. There are other shapes of love.
Sacha has become Sassy, a young singer-songwriter whose viral success has drawn a huge fan base on social media, all wanting to know more about her and the romantic stories behind her hit songs. The Sassy persona is fostered by her manager Marissa, but Sacha finds herself being drawn more and more into a false world, acting out the PR storylines her fans crave, and becoming more and more removed from her real friends, and from her true sense of self.
Penalba presents a range of gender-diverse characters, all genuinely warm and caring people. She explores the dilemma of being different in a predominantly heterosexual world with the usual expectations on young people to date and find romantic love, the fear and insecurity of being something other, and the anxiety in ‘coming out’. The ultimate message is love; love and trust between friends who care for each other. It is that love which helps Sacha to retrieve her sense of self, and become confident in who she really is.
This is such an important book for young people unsure about their sexuality and what it means for them and the people around them. It shows all kinds of loving relationships in a positive light. It is a reassurance that gender diversity is okay, and that love and acceptance is available from the people that matter, the people who really care. Not a romance, but a genuine affirmation of platonic love.
Stella and her girlfriend Jamie travel from outback Western Australia to Melbourne to start year 9 at a new school. They both receive scholarships to board at MIC (Melbourne Indigenous College) and will pursue their special talents, ballet for Stella and AFL for Jamie, at the adjacent prestigious grammar school. This is principally Stella’s story told in the first person, plus her diary entries. We know Stella is very anxious about not only fitting into this posh grammar school but having to do art, which she doesn’t think she is any good at. She is anxious that Jamie will break up with her and partner with another queer football playing student. She is anxious that she won’t succeed with her dancing and expose something that she is embarrassed about to Jamie. Her anxiety leads to misunderstandings and some explosive angry reactions, and she needs to repair relationships with friends. We also learn that she has been hospitalised for her anxiety in the past and is taking medication for it.
Making trouble is a sequel to A good kind of trouble which is Jamie’s story prior to their move to Melbourne.
Stella and Jamie are believable fleshed out characters. Stella is a bit dramatic and problematic but has good peer and adult support. She is also able to reflect on her behaviour. The dialogue amongst the largely indigenous cast truly reflects what young people might say. Themes of mental health and queerness are traditionally found in material for older young adults, but this is handled with a light touch here and so I believe it is quite appropriate for readers from years 7+. I do think there is a discord between the cover art and the intended audience. I assumed it was targeted at much younger readers. I like the way the arts were championed in the story – the famous Bangarra Dance is mentioned plus a successful collage artist. Both authors are proud indigenous women and have written an engaging story which will enlighten nonindigenous readers and may help indigenous readers feel proud and affirmed too.
Jihad is the name of the central character. It means ‘a struggle to become the best version of yourself. To overcome obstacles. To be strong. To dream despite it all. To survive. To live’. Katouh’s novel is the story of how New York school girl Jihad endeavours to live up to her name, despite persecution by others who only see an enemy.
Jihad’s world has lost all its colours, following the death of her mother, the marriage and departure of her older sister, and the withdrawal of her father into depression. But her dream is to complete school, go to the Opus School of Art and become an artist. Jihad has been born with a ‘blessing’, she can see the colours that make up the soul of a person, words splash her world in colour, and she can taste the colours. After her mother’s death, her world turns grey and only slowly do the colours begin to return.
As a hijabi, Jihad is an obvious target for anti-Muslim hate and bullying. She is enrolled in a prestigious school for her final year, in the hope of improving her chances for an art scholarship, and finds herself alone, the focus of insidious bullying that increases in intensity to the point of serious physical assault. The school principal fails to support her in the most appallingly way. Jihad knows that there is no help, she just has to endure, keep turning up, and refuse to be a victim. Fortunately there is one friend, the new boy Jamie, who offers her care and respect.
Katouh’s description of Jihad’s suffering is deeply moving, and raises awareness of how isolating and scary bullying can be. She also exposes Islamophobia for what it is, racism based on a false stereotype, ignorant about Islam and the life of a Muslim. Readers learn that women in Islam were able to own property, have the right to their inheritance, get higher education, work and control their wages, long before their Western sisters were able to. America has its share of domestic violence and ‘honour killings’, women killed by abusive exes when they try to leave. Katouh provides insight into the importance of personal modesty and prayer in the Muslim faith. The character Jihad stays strong in her beliefs, steadfast and determined; she is a powerful example of resilience.
Zoulfa Katouh is the award-winning and bestselling author of the novel ‘As long as the lemon trees grow’ (2022). This, her second novel, 'The ocean would paint me blue' is an equally enthralling and rewarding read, combining authentic experience with elements of magic realism in way that promises to be enjoyed by both YA and older readers.
Fiona Wilkes has created a glorious homage to the joy and exhilaration, and most especially the love, shared between a group of queer friends in early 1980s London. They lived their lives laughing, dreaming, and partying in pubs and a shared house open to a diverse range of characters.
The two childhood friends Billie and Laura escape their stiflingly conservative homes in Suffolk, fleeing firstly to university life in Bristol and then to London. Free-spirited Laura has already come out as a lesbian teenager, whilst Billie’s love for Laura is camouflaged as ‘best friends’. They build a ‘found family’ of gay, queer and trans personalities.
And then ‘It’, the insidious AIDS epidemic creeps in. Part Two ‘the worst of times’ is the longest section of the book, and details the gradual succumbing to sickness; and the fear, condemnation and shunning by wider society. Billie cares for all of her friends through their disease then death. It is a terrible time, torturous and profoundly sad, but still infused with love and caring.
The novel reads like a memoir, but surprisingly is a work of historical fiction in which Wilkes has been able to draw on her own experiences of love and friendships in the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as her research of the AIDS crisis. She includes snippets of Billie’s present day life, revealing her to now have a wife and son. Billie’s memories reveal the devastating trauma of AIDS, but they also revel in the happy times. As she says, ‘I remember everything’, the little shared memories, the laughter, the love and the freedom. This is the overwhelming feeling the reader comes away with, just how deep and caring the friendships were, and the love that carries through to the end. Shortlisted for the 2024 Hungerford Award, 'I remember everything' is a very moving, really lovely story.
Francie wants to be like the other kids. She loves the pool and does all sorts of things in the water, swimming like a duck, dipping and gliding, swimming with her head up like a swan, but she cannot dive like her cousins. They jump from the board and dive straight down like an arrow. She wants to look like a gannet, not a duck or swan and joins the queue to climb the ladder to the diving board.
Nervously she climbs up, but part way she baulks, and begins to climb down. She sits by herself, blushing, wondering whether gannets blush. Her cousin comes by and offers help. He can see a way out of her dilemma. They climb together but at the top she releases Arthur’s hand because gannets dive alone. Bubby waves from below offering support. She wriggles her toes to the edge, looks over, folds her wings and jumps. She comes back to the surface just like a gannet, keeping her wings close to her body.
This charming story of being brave, of trying something new, of being helped by someone else, will strike a chord with all readers, as they recall times when they have been afraid and cautious. And when others offer help to overcome their hesitance.
Readers will empathise with Francie and her attempt to overcome her fear.
The illustrations show a gaggle of children at the pool, doing a range of activities, surrounded by the things children will see at the local pool. Francie is a delightful young figure in her striped bathers and matching cap, appearing on every page, reflecting the range of facial expressions which children will easily recognise. And they will be further fascinated as they see the differences between the front and back covers, and the endpapers, showing gannets within the pool’s walls. The gannet’s behaviour reflects the growing strength of Francis, as she takes on its actions. I love the way the gannet is shown on the covers, and readers will be enthused seeing gannet’s wings behind Francie as she becomes braver.
University of Queensland Press, 2026. ISBN: 9780702269257. (Age:6-8) Highly recommended.
Kid is a young goat living on a farm amidst chickens, pigs, sheep and cows (and an occasional feathered visitor). Kid lives with the hard story related by Audrey the hen, of parents that were chased away by a fox, leaving him abandoned to the in-farm nurture of animals who are not ‘his own kind’. The dream of finding his family and living in the wild requires bravery that must be developed alongside his innate goat (Greatest Of All Time?) identity. And to do this he would be leaving behind the farm and its security. Can this little kid, named Kid, find where he truly belongs?
This is a story with immense heart, a little bit of a quest mingled with danger, and a resolution that suggests that family may be found in a farmyard. The journey through ‘the wild’ has some inherent risks that Kid must overcome; young readers should be able to cope with a few ‘adrenaline moments’ that are quickly resolved when friends step in unexpectedly. Kid grows in maturity and goat-talent as the story progresses … but he is always a miniature goat. This charming and emotional reading journey has all of Peter Carnavas’ story-telling wisdom and his simple illustrations add his usual visual charm. Readers aged 6-8 will be delighted by this book and as an early Quest genre it introduces a story-type that may lead to other discoveries of this type of story. (Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda would be an older reader Quest story.) Farmyard adventures with heart eg Charlotte’s Web may be a suitable next read! This book though would make a great read-aloud delight for younger Junior Primary classes or as a bedtime shared story.
After reading this there will be a beeline for the beach to look more closely at what can be found in the shallows. Readers and adults alike will be transported by the information rich single sentences set against the marvellous illustrations. From starfish to crab, blowfish, seahorse and jellyfish, stingray and sea urchins, octopus and anemone and clownfish, sea creatures are shown in their environment. The stunning illustrations are full of colour and interest, directing young readers to check out the detail in each panel.
I love the blue endpapers, summarising all the information in the book, encouraging readers to find all the creatures in the book.
Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. With her medical training, Helen is very involved in the health and well being of children, and has a written a growing number of books aimed at all children, encouraging their interest in the world around them, supported by stunning illustrations reflecting her Aboriginal heritage. Beach buddies is the first in a new series about the beach.
Like the others in the series about the bush, the books are presented in a smaller size and with a solid cover, all designed for younger readers to hold and read. They will quickly learn the names of the animals on each double page, and eagerly look for clues in the illustrations reflecting their environment and habitat. Teaching notes and an activity are available from the publisher.
Themes Aboriginal themes, Beach creatures.
Fran Knight
Chicken Hill: Attack of the zombie cactus by Beccy Blake
Fans of graphic novels are sure to love Chicken Hill, which contains three stories: Alien invasion, Attack of the zombie cactus and King Frog. At the beginning of the book the reader finds a map that is an introduction to Chicken Hill, a small town where pets can talk. Characters in the stories including Ferdy a nerd, Gripper the dog, a fartypants fashionistapug, Tink, a sleepy cat, and Uncle Russ are also introduced, each with a colourful description and drawing.
Drawn in by the fabulous text and pictures the reader is plunged into a hilarious episode where Gripper and Uncle Russ are abducted by aliens who are on the prowl for baked beans. You can imagine the laughter this causes, especially as Gripper is a fartypants. Then the heroes must fight off a zombie cactus attack with clones taking over the world and finally they meet King Frog.
I loved the full colour illustrations, with the expressions of the characters so well drawn that I laughed aloud at many of the escapades. Older readers will love reading this, while younger children will enjoy reading along with a parent, one story at a time. It is sure to be a graphic novel that is revisited for its humour and clever dialogue.
Fans of the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey are sure to enjoy it too.
A worthy winner of the 2025 Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, Wastelands is a gripping dystopian story that I couldn’t put down. It is set in the near future, where people live in Domes and there is no green plant life. Karridrae is different – she is a telepath, but difference is forbidden in her world and she must suppress her ability, while working as a drudge. When she has a vision of a green plant growing in a crack, it becomes increasingly difficult for her to follow the rules of her community, and a meeting with Ryn, a rebel who has connections with the underworld of the Dome, changes her life. She makes a dangerous journey across the Wastelands and uncovers a secret that might save the world.
Tight plotting, relatable characters and a theme of the effects of climate change kept me glued to the page, as I wondered if Karridrae would be able to survive. She is a flawed character who initially relies on alcohol to deaden her feelings. This is encouraged by the leaders of the Dome as it keeps the population subdued. The time and effort it takes for Karridrae to withdraw from her addiction is still a lingering memory for me, an excellent warning of the effects of alcohol, not usually seen in this type of novel.
Action packed scenes are cleverly grouped with more thoughtful ideas about climate change, authoritarian leaders and exclusion of diversity. There are chases across the wastelands, dark tunnels to navigate, guards to fool and daring escapes to plan, all enough to keep those who like excitement and tension fully engaged.
This is the first in the Parched Lands trilogy and I look forward to the next in the series. The Dome Journals, free short stories, are available from the author’s website.
Readers who liked the theme of a seedbank might like Wild dark shore by Charlotte McConaghy while others may like to try Octavia Butler’s classic Parable of the sower.
K-Pop Demon Hunters: For the fans by Angela Song, adapter
Golden Books, 2026. ISBN: 9798217233977. (Age:7-Adult) Recommended.
Not a having seen the film and after flicking through what reads like a stageplay program, we learn it is based on the Netflix screenplay by Danya Jimenez & Hannah McMechan and Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans; and the film Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans
First, the sets of the drama are described and between them a magical barrier - the Honmoon. The Honmoon separates the human world and the demon world. Very quickly we’re introduced to the protectors of the Honmoon, the demon slayers. As main characters, we understand Zoey, Mira and Rumi are also the members of the famous K-Pop band, the Huntr/x. Minor cast members come next – Healer Han the band’s manager, Bobby, Celine and more.
Enter the bad guys with the mandatory complication. We are introduced to rival K-Pop boy band members, the charasmatic Saja Boys, who are far more successful in bewitching fans because Jinu, the lead singer, is really a Demon. He has been tasked by the Gwi-ma to destroy the Honmoon. Very quickly we are told succinctly what happens next and the fate of the human world.
Little Golden Books can only hope to be abridged versions and spark interest in their readers imaginations. One can’t be certain if this title is meant to be a souvenir story for those who have already seen the film?It certainly doesn’t pretend to be more than a book-from-a-movie title rather than the other way around.
The stylized manga illustrations didn’t resonate with at least two primary school film fans despite being of the type designed to woo with the cuteness of large eyes and skulls.Perhaps the adaptation missed the mark with them because the original film is aleady an appealing classic animated movie? Perhaps my Huntr/x teachers were simply a little older than the Little Golden Book target market?
There's no doubt this version, an official abridged storybook and a collectible item, is one which K-Pop Demon Hunters fans of all ages will enjoy inspecting over and over again. Ages 7-Adult.
Themes magic, music, bands, pop culture.
Deborah Robins
The girl on the roof: The life of a change-maker by Valerie A. Brown
Subtitled ‘the life of a change-maker’ Valerie Brown’s memoir is a fascinating account of a woman’s life forged across changing eras from the lingering Victorian-era attitudes of her childhood in the 1930s to the Internet and ChatGPT era of today. Valerie Brown is 95 years old, she walks three kilometres with friends each day, and only after the age of 90 did she stop accepting supervision of PhD candidates. She describes herself as a revolutionary, a rebel, a reactionary, and a reformer. She is a change-maker.
The most enduring image of Brown is ‘the girl on the roof’, the girl who escaped from her nanny and her family to find solitude on the roof of the grand 19th century house which was her home, to read books and to gaze down on the life carrying on below her. Her determination to be a scientist (ideas and learning) as fostered by her father had to be married with the role of decorous young woman (action and rules about behaviour) as expected by her mother. That dichotomy pervaded her life, the holding of two incompatible ideas, leading to her espousal of new pathways in science, education and health, formulating innovative holistic approaches to problem-solving and change-making.
Whilst not describing herself as a feminist, Brown nevertheless broke down many of the barriers to working women and women scientists. Her memoir is an inspiring read for budding young female scientists, or for anyone who has self-doubts in the face of societal challenges. This book would be a good one to include in school libraries.
Themes Science, Change, Women scientists, Feminism, Identity.
