Black Inc Books, 2026. ISBN: 9781760645670. (Age:Young Adult) Recommended.
This YA book appears on the stage wearing a tutu, tights and a smile, and reveals the struggles of those who aspire to a professional ballet career. Being a principal dancer in a company has been the dream of Clara almost since pre-school. For Elle, ballet is a recent discovery, and she has surprised everyone around her with her natural talent combined with her hard work and willingness to learn. Ben is a successful male dancer, but he wants something more - to dance en pointe. Can they survive the pressure of the major competition that could determine the future of their adult life, or will it tear them to pieces, even while they move on their toes with grace, with a smile permanently on show despite the pain? Does the world of ballet need a spotlight on some dangerous issues that young dancers face?
Written from the perspective of Elle and Clara and an unidentified student, this allows the reader to experience the world of high-performance ballet for its youthful dancers, with their YA viewpoint (and text or social media conversations). With family pressures, grief, school demands, body image or personal identity issues and a potential romance added to the intense workout schedules this is an insight that is almost emotionally painful. Ariane Beeston has used her own understanding of dance and her psychology background to infuse this ballet-centric story with a genuine authenticity, even when it deals with abuse and the problems of expectations that are potentially damaging. Although I have never aspired to a ballet career, any teen reader who has ever had a ballet class or pursued any dance style (or even high-level sport) will connect with this story. It is a challenging emotional story and in the era of social media there are risks for the young dancers. This was a delightful reading experience and addressed some complex issues with compassion and insight.
Themes Ballet, Competition, Eating disorders, Body image, Abuse, Grief, Diversity, LGBTIQ character, Social media, Romance.
Carolyn Hull
Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
Pan Macmillan, 2026. ISBN: 9781035052738. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
I am always tempted to ger the latest Kingfisher book and was intrigued by the title Wolf Worm. If I had know it was a botfly that could burrow under human skin I might have had second thoughts! However I devoured Wolf Worm in a couple of sessions, fascinated by Sonia Wilson, who is a scientific illustrator. It is set in 1899 and Kingfisher captures the feeling of a gothic horror story - a poverty stricken but talented heroine, a gothic mansion with a creepy owner and dark things happening in the woods. Sonia has been hired to illustrate the insects in Halder’s book. When she begins, she finds beautiful pictures by Halder’s wife, that surpass anything she can draw. She is left wondering what happened to her. Strange rumours abound about blood magic in the woods and Sonia sights animals that are acting in weird ways. She is determined to keep her job but can’t resist investigating what her employer is doing in the woods late at night.
In the first section of the book Kingfisher slowly builds up the tension as she describes the life of a young woman who has no prospects, being alone in a world where there is little employment for women. Sonia is dependent on the small wage she receives, having no home or family to help her out and could have been tempted to quietly sit and draw. Instead she investigates. In the first 100 pages the reader also gains knowledge about insects and a fascinating insight into the process of illustration. But after a relatively calm introduction the horror begins. I won’t include any spoilers, but I must admit I had to skip over some sections as Sonia uncovered the mystery surrounding Halder and the woods.
Kingfisher specialises in intrepid heroines overcoming great odds and all her novels contain different backgrounds and events. Readers might like to read other novels by her: Snake-Eater is a favourite of mine, with its vivid description of gaslighting or Nettle & Bone with its exploration of domestic abuse.
Themes Horror.
Pat Pledger
Cleopatra: The girl who would be king by Jackie French
Cleopatra - the girl who would be king is a fictionalized history told by 12-year-old Cleopatra. In 58 BCE Cleopatra fled to Rome with her father Ptolemy XII when Cleopatra’s sister, Berenice, seized the Egyptian throne. Ptolemy was seeking funds from wealthy Romans to raise forces to overthrow Berenice. In this story Cleopatra believes that her father is a fool and incapable of regaining the throne. She decides that she has the brains and drive to get rid of Berenice and take the throne herself. Cleo comes up with various outlandish plans to do this and teams up with Myra a cosmeta (cosmetician). Myra works for Julia, Julius Caesar’s daughter, and her wealthy powerful husband. Cleopatra borrows things, tricks people and eventually convinces a pirate crew to help. It all becomes a rollicking, madcap adventure.
Jackie French states that this story is not true, although some of it “might have been”. French and her researcher have done a really good job teaching the reader about the historical background and the real lives of Romans and Egyptians. There is a glossary and extensive author’s notes which provide plenty of interesting facts. French doesn’t shy away from the brutality slaves faced in Rome and the awful reality of what happened to unwanted babies. We also learn a lot about food, clothing and language and The Great Alexandria Library. Cleo herself is a rather annoying brat at first, constantly bragging and talking about throwing her enemies to the crocodiles. Yet she also starts to see what life is like for the poor and is quite self-effacing about her looks (apparently Cleopatra was a red head with a very prominent nose!) French creates a young Cleopatra who is destined to be a strong and influential woman leader.There are more titles coming in this Heroes in the Ancient World series which are clearly designed to make ancient history palatable for primary age readers. It will make a good read-aloud for students studying ancient history.
Themes Ancient history, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt.
Something which starts out as a possibly quotidian story of a wife and husband seeking to reconnect following a life-threatening accident for the wife and the aftermath of an affair for the husband becomes much more than that as the two of them take up a six month caretaker position on an isolated sea-ravaged island. It is a wild lonely place, just the two of them cut off from the rest of the world, logging weather reports, maintaining the lighthouse, and growing vegetables in the garden.
Elements of danger soon intrude as Miranda stumbles across strange pictographs carved into trees; she goes swimming deeper and deeper in the sea against the advice of her doctor, exploring a partially subterranean cave; and at night captures glimpses of a dark figure on the clifftops, whilst a strange sound seems to call to her, a sound unheard by her husband. Richard leads a separate life attending to the practical chores, unaware or sceptical about the otherworldly experiences of his wife.
Rite of spring could be described as a psycho-sexual allegorical tale of a woman’s reckoning with herself as ‘other’ or her true self, not just female, not just a wife, not a damaged person suffering hallucinations. Miranda becomes consumed by desire for a strange creature from the sea, who awakens a new overwhelming sexuality, not just male or female, but a multiplicity of sexual possibilities. Kneen is known for their explicit writing about intimate sexuality, as well as the non-shaming of the fat body. The character of Miranda becomes a person wholly at one with their fat body and with their non-binary sexuality.
The descriptions of sex are graphic and sensual – the back cover of the book includes review comments such as ‘the ultimate celebration of transition and of more-than-human love’, ‘dripping in tension, lust, bodies in flux’ and ‘scenes of wildly great sex’.
Kris Keen grapples with the taboo subjects which would deter other writers and brings a brave other perspective to ideas of body image and sexuality, in a way that could be reaffirming to people of diverse gender, and enlightening and mind-expanding to other readers of their books.
Not a pick for school libraries, this is a book for adult readers.
Another of Bujold’s wonderful novellas starring Learned Penric and his demon Desdemona, sees the pair faced with a dilemma. Cinar Camurat, a calvary captain who has been blinded in a battle comes to Penric with his brother, in the hope that Penric can cure him, as he did his brother-in-law. Meanwhile Iva, a secret hedge sorceress, is dying, and something must be done with her wild demon. She, however, does not want any help and Penric must puzzle out what can be done with both his problems.
As always Bujold manages to author a memorable story in few words. Those who are familiar with Penric and Desdemona will be thrilled to have this feel-good story to read and will be satisfied with its ending. As always Penric is calm and considered, as he examines the problem from all angles, and the interaction between him and Desdemona is often humorous.
Bujold does not write the series in chronological order, so it is a joy for the reader to open the book and see when the action is taking place. This time he is older with an established family background and with references to curing his brother-in-law’s blindness, readers might be tempted to go back and read some of the earlier novellas especially Penric’s Mission and Mira’s Last Dance.
Themes Fantasy, Demons, Feel good book.
Pat Pledger
Grow by Jess McGeachin
Allen & Unwin, 2026. ISBN: 9781761182389. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
The playful rhyming introduction in the beginning pages of Grow flows effortlessly into a delighful exploration of the natural world, beautifully depicted by author and illustrator Jess McGeachin.
In this book you’ll find Lots of things that grow Branching ever upward Or tangled deep below
But to grow is more than size Change happens every day Embrace the twists and turns To learn from nature’s way
This new release is a companion book to Kind written in 2022 and is just as thoughtful and gentle in its presentation.
Each genus of animals and plants on land and at sea considered in this book are set across one or two double page spreads with the four line verse surrounded by abundant white space. The glorious, clearly labelled illustrations provide the reader with a snapshot of various species presented in colourful detail. There are ferns, flowers, coral, seaweed, sponges, lichen, trees, cactus, fungi, vegetables. The shifting background colours and changing page tones reflect the mood of the text, while the eye is continually drawn to not only the individual illustrations but also the thoughtful vignettes that enrich alternate pages.
An important message of conservation is also present in the book, with a dedicated page highlighting a range of plants and animals that are vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild.
A wonderful book to treasure and share with others.
At Spell Bright Academy, Wanda is excellent at magic, but she cannot spell. So begins a very funny story about a girl at a school where spelling is a serious issue. And with this book, the inside front cover tells us the difference between homophones and homonyms, so readers will be prepared for words that have two meanings, even though spelt the same, or one word that has two or more meanings.
A look at the inside back cover shows many of the books published by Larrikin Press, which takes fun seriously, and this is no different with Wanda and her spelling problem.
We see her on Monday going on an excursion to the zoo. Wanda really likes the polar bear, and she thinks he needs a friend, so writes in her spell book a spell to make a ‘bare’. Imagine everyone’s laughter as the poor bear becomes naked and so must cover his private area with starfish and an octopus.
On Tuesday at the library she becomes aware of a very creaky door and wanting to fix it, writes in her spell book ‘creek’, and the library is inundated.
On Wednesday listening to the teacher reading fairy tales, Wanda wants to bring some to life and writes ‘fairytails’ in her spell book. A number of characters appear with extra long tails.
Thursday sees Wanda presenting her science experiment to the class. She brings in some special effects; thunder, hail and wind that wails, but she writes ‘whales’ in her spell book. And this is what she gets.
And on it goes, showing in practical terms the oddities of the English language, and the fun that can be made from those oddities. Kids will love making up their own homophobes and homonyms, using examples from the book as a guide.
Wonderful illustrations show us a range of little witches, all dressed the same with conical hats, striped jumper and mouthfuls of teeth. Each girl has an animal: bats, cats, toads and frogs. I loved searching these out, especially on assembly day when Wanda is asked to speak to the whole school, but finds that she makes a hole in the floor, upending the whole cohort. After this mayhem, the principal tells Wanda that she must do something. Wanda spends the whole weekend, practising, and finds her skills improving. She takes her friends to the beach where she offers sandwiches, and finds a funny play on the word to finish the story.
The detail on each page is riveting, and many eyes will look for nods to the witches and all the customers apportioned to them. Wordplay abounds and it is Wanda’s stickability that wins the day as she overcomes her misspellings.
The National Gallery of Victoria’s (NGV) waterwall, has fascinated generations of visitors; approaching the entrance, art student Mimi is distracted by a cat which she pauses to sketch. Realising she is late for work at the gallery she rushes in, scattering her folio of artwork as she arrives. Luckily her friend and co-worker, Nahal Kapoor is there to help out and supply a morning coffee to start their day. Embarrassingly Simon, the curator of the Master Portraits exhibition arrives just as the girls are looking at Mimi’s sketched portrait of him from the folder, but he commends her on the work. Nahal’s passion is for art history rather than the career of doctor or lawyer her family insist on and while both are working part time at the NGV they seem to spend most of their time directing visitors to the toilets and selling tickets. A sustainable career in art seems unattainable and managing work study and family commitments doesn’t leave much time for pursuing their passion for art. Seeing the cat inside the gallery, Mimi pursues it into the portraits exhibition where her attention is captured by one of the pictures. She becomes mesmerised and the painting seems to dissolve before a message on her watch breaks the spell. The cat escapes but the gallery is flooded. The cause of the flooding is a mystery, like the disappearance of artists around the world. Strange things continue to happen, Mimi meets an aspiring sculptor working as a telemarketer, whose artist father has disappeared, but then he too vanishes and it seems Simon, the curator, is somehow involved.
A common theme in the story is that artists need to create but rarely have the space or support to make their art. Having that perfect space with no need to worry about making a living would seem a perfect solution, but real art is a response to the world, artists help us see the world differently, they think outside the lines and help us understand the things we value.
This thought-provoking graphic novel is beautifully crafted, the plot moves forward without distraction but each page is a snapshot of daily life, the everyday connections people make, beautifully observed and rendered. The cat portraits are engaging and they have a nice connection to the plot. Colour is used skilfully to create mood and the use of scale and point of view keep the pages interesting. Along the way we meet artists from history and short biographies at the back of the book reflect on the struggles many famous artists have had in their lifetimes. A place to make art without constraint is a fantasy many might find attractive but be careful what you wish for, the waterwall at the NGV might be the best portal to the world of art, family and friends will keep us tethered to the world. The author’s website has more about her inspiration, her process and the waterwall which could be of interest to art students.
Themes Graphic novel, Art, Artists, Fantasy Mystery.
When I am looking for an escapist read, I know I can turn to a book by Nora Roberts, whether it be her romantic suspense, fantasy or futuristic detective books, and The final target is another of her engrossing thrillers. Arden Bowie is a young, debut author who is thrilled to be asked to sign her books at a bookstore. When Dustin Dubecki first shows up, asking for her help in his writing, she is not suspicious until he keeps appearing, finally making her life so difficult she must relocate.
Roberts has a way of writing that compels me to keep reading: her suspense is well maintained, her characters are likeable and her romance is believable. In The final target her vivid description of stalking and obsession, which takes up the first 100 pages or so, gives a clear picture of what a victim may go through. Arden’s fear is palpable, she locks her doors, puts chairs under the doorknobs and gradually becomes too afraid to go outside. Roberts also gets inside the mind of the stalker, giving the reader a frightening description of what he believes. Arden gradually gains resilience, knowing that she must make a new life for herself and begin to trust again. She finds life in a small community is good for her and her friendship with Joe who owns the local hardware store, and his grandson Gideon, who is there helping him out, are reminders that there are caring people in the world. The slow-burning romance between Gideon and her is nicely paced. And Roberts’ usual glamorisation of family and family values will appeal to many readers - who wouldn’t like to have the perfect family?
Fans of Roberts are sure to pick up The final target, happy to become thrilled with the tension in the book, while becoming very well informed about stalking and obsession.
Dark Sun Rising is the second in the Song Gate series following Lightning Tracks. Like Lightning Tracks, it was an Aurealis Awards finalist for Best Young Adult Novel.
An ancient army resurrected A kingdom on the brink of collapse A rebellion thirteen years in the making …and an heir who refuses to follow the rules (cover)
Nick has been hiding out with his friends when he is tracked down. He is torn between his desire to be a normal teen and the knowledge that something must be done to overthrow the tyrannical rule that threatens the welfare of all the country. He knows that he must return to his homeland, Korelios, and face the fact that he is the true heir to the throne. To make things more difficult, he is assisted by the Penumbra Guard, whose leader has been threatened with death by his friends. Cal, his friend and ally is facing personal dilemmas too; he is haunted by his sister’s death as well as the deaths of people in the massacre that he was part of.
The reader is immediately pulled into the suspense of Nick’s return, needing to read quickly to see if he will survive the dangerous journey to regain his inheritance. Kinsela makes it easy to finish the book in a couple of sittings, with characters that you want to get to know, moral dilemmas to think about and tense scenes that will leave you breathless.
Dark sun rising is a gripping second novel in the series, upping the stakes and expanding the world building and its conclusion will leave readers eager for the next in the series. Triggers: Some darker elements of violence and torture may make it more suitable for an older teen audience.
Seventeen-year-old Liliana is just scraping by trying to keep out of the hands of the Child Welfare system when she suddenly learns that she is the heir to a billion-dollar corporation. Her estranged grandparents send their lawyer to deal with her and she is packed off to Westwood Academy, an elite boarding school which her mother once attended. There she meets the charismatic Theo Dubois and the mysterious Maddox Moreno. As she navigates the society of the rich and famous, Liliana gradually begins to realise that the school holds deadly secrets. Why did her mother run away and stay in hiding until her death? What is the mystery behind the enigmatic Maddox? Have the mysterious deaths from the past been cleverly covered up by the school?
Liliana is an astute character, able to analyse the motives of those surrounding her. She decides to try for the Optima, pitting herself again Theo, but this raises some hackles among the students. As she becomes more familiar with the school culture, she cannot resist researching the past and drawing threads together. Her inquisitive nature brings her friends and her friends into danger, culminating in a murder, with Maddox as the main suspect.
Fans of The inheritance games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes will delight in A deadly inheritance with its similar themes of poor girl becoming a billionaire and two fascinating boys interested in her. The academic background will appeal to many, while lovers of mysteries will be intrigued by the power of secret societies and will delight in trying to work out who is the villain in the story. Like Someone is always watching, it could appeal to reluctant readers as it moves along at a fast pace, is very suspenseful and the main characters are engaging. Note: The publisher rates this as 14+ but I would recommend it for an older teen audience.
Themes Thriller, Murder, Inheritance.
Pat Pledger
Animal Force by Cerise Madsen. Illus. by Sally Heinrich
Active and outdoorsy eleven year old twins Leo and Kelly are marking their birthday with a family camping trip on Ember Island. What was supposed to be a fun and joyful family time has been overshadowed by the news that the twins were adopted from overseas as toddlers. Since learning of this, the twins have begun experiencing unsettling dreams, or perhaps memories, of cold and unfamiliar environments. Outgoing and feisty Kelly is determined to find out more but Leo prefers to leave things as they are.
Once on the island, the twins are dismayed to discover that school bullies Kane and Felix are also camping nearby and trouble begins almost immediately. Showing no respect for the natural environment or the people around them, the boys’ reckless behaviour triggers a series of dangerous incidents in the otherwise pristine natural setting. It falls to Leo, Kelly, their cousin Amos, alongside new friends Wallum and Sousa, to recognise the mounting risks and work together to protect the island from the damage caused by Kane and Felix’s complete disregard for others.
It is while the group are solving many of the problems caused by the bullies, they discover they have a magical ability to take on the persona of particular endangered animals. This unique skill is central to the story and helps to rectify the grave danger faced by the island’s ecosystem. Leo and Kelly’s Grannie also has this magical connection, shares what she knows with the children and is instrumental in helping them to protect the island.
Animal Force is a fascinating story with a clever, fast moving plot and a magnificent sense of place. Its main protagonists are strong, thoughtful and brave, drawing readers into their world. Throughout the narrative, South Australian illustrator Sally Heinrich enriches the engaging story with beautifully rendered creatures, each one clearly labelled and full of character.
The final pages offer further reading material, pairing each character with their animal counterpart and related facts, key word signs, an introduction to the Ramsar Wetlands and links to reputable wildlife organisations.
Being a fan of mystery/thrillers means I was keen to pick up Someone is always watching, one of the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2024 and I immediately was pulled into this exciting psychological thriller.
Blythe Warren is stunned when her usually mild-mannered friend Gabrielle begins to become aggressive, believing that she is always being watched. When Gabrielle is found covered in blood near the body of their school principal, his death is ruled as a suicide. Blythe, who was found unconscious in the restroom nearby, begins to have sinister flashbacks. Can she trust her memories? Why are her school friends having nightmares? She has fallen out with her best friend Tucker and his sister Tanya, but they begin to believe that something is going on in the medical technology company that their parents work for. Who can they trust?
The central theme of unreliable memories and reality makes a tense background to the story. Gabrielle is convinced that someone is always watching her and the many surveillance cameras around the school make it believable for the reader and her friends, who are also left wondering if Gabrielle has paranoia. The recurrent nightmares also indicate that their memories may be false. Their closed community means that they don’t often get a chance to see the real world, which could make it easy for the medical corporation to manipulate memories with drugs and suggestions. As Blythe and her friends become embroiled in searching out the truth, danger lurks from an unexpected source.
Fans of the mystery/thriller genre will find Someone is always watching difficult to put down and will be thankful that Blythe has a coterie of friends to help solve the mysteries that their memories have thrown up.
Themes Psychological thriller, Memory, Medical corporations, Mental health.
Pat Pledger
Ninja Bunnies vs the big bad fox by Jake Hopkins. Illus. by Alex Patrick
Ninja Bunnies vs the Big Bad Fox, by Jake Hopkins is a fast-paced, action-packed, entertaining adventure that will appeal to young readers ready to move into short chapter novels. Combining exciting storytelling with distinctive monochromatic orange illustrations, by Alex Patrick, this is a novel that is fun and easy to read, and difficult to put down.
The story opens with a prologue introducing four skilled Ninja Bunnies who are training in their secret rabbit burrow. Their impressive ninja moves and dedication to its mastery immediately capture the audiences’ attention and sets the stage for the adventure.
Readers are then introduced to Clover and her twin brother Sage. Clover is bold, while Sage is more cautious. Setting out to collect blackberries for their class picnic, Sage hears suspicious noises in the woods. Clover dismisses his concerns, convinced he is imagining things. Unfortunately, Sage is right, and before they know it, the twins are cornered by a gang of weasels working for the terrifying Big Bad Fox; who has plans to make the young rabbits his next meal.
Attempting to defend themselves, their fighting spirit catches the attention of the Ninja Bunnies, who swoop in to save the day. Impressed by their natural courage, Clover and Sage are invited to join the ninja training camp. However, becoming a ninja is far more challenging than either bunny expected. The twins discover that successful ninja skills require patience, persistence and hard work; and small victories only come after plenty of mistakes and frustration.
However, on deciding ninja life is not for them, they are quickly required to put their newly learned skills to the ultimate test. The Big Bad Fox and his weasel sidekicks are back, targeting a class of young bunnies in Dandelion Woods once again. Can Clover and Sage use their training to save their friends, or will The Fox finally take control of the woods?
With plenty of suspense, adventure, teamwork and action, Ninja Bunnies vs the Big Bad Fox is a delightful beginning to a promising new series that young readers will eagerly enjoy.
Penguin Random House, 2026. ISBN: 9781761355431. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
I am not usually a fan of retellings of classics but decided to try Beth is dead, based on the much-loved Little Women by Louisa Alcott, because it had been chosen to be a Reese Witherspoon pick. I had enjoyed others on her list like Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Fullmuth, Firekeeper's daughter by Angeline Boulley and Fable by Adrienne Young, finding some new authors to follow. And I was not disappointed - after finishing Beth is dead, I am looking forward to the next book by Bernet.
When Beth March is found lying in the snow after a New Year Eve’s party, her sisters, Jo, Meg and Amy are determined to find her killer. There are plenty of suspects. Her body is found behind their friend Laurie’s house. Where was her boyfriend? Did John Brooke drop her home? Had she uncovered secrets about Meg’s friend Sally and the artist who was mentoring Amy? And was jealousy a motive?
It is refreshing to imagine what the March family would be like if they were portrayed in a modern setting, and Katie Bernet successfully brings the classic into today‘s world. The reader sees the March sisters under siege because their father had written a book about them that has gone viral, fans appalled that in the story Beth, shy and in the background, dies. Different groups on social media have their favourite sisters, and the publicity is difficult to live down. Jo defends her father’s writing while the other sisters are upset at how their characters are shown. When graffiti appears on their house, their father decides to leave, and the family feels abandoned. Meanwhile the reader finds out about each sister’s thoughts and actions as chapters from each, entitled Then and Now, give insight into what led up to Beth’s murder and what has motivated each of them.
I loved the current issues that were introduced into the story: underage drinking, manipulation, stalking, plagiarism, class and wealth difference and the influence of social media. The mystery was handled well, with many red herrings being introduced as one by one the suspects were investigated. I didn’t guess the identity of the murderer until close to the end of the book, always a plus.
I have not read Little Women for many years and I suspect that readers who love the classic may be disconcerted by the characters’ actions in Beth is dead, while lovers of mysteries are certain to be enthralled. Book club questions from the publisher also open interesting ideas for discussion.
Themes Murder, Sisters, Retelling of Little Women.
