Text Publishing, 2025. ISBN: 9781923058330. Recommended.
The Edge of Everything by Miranda Luby, is a young adult novel that I personally found extremely moving. It captures the rawness of grief while still offering hope, healing and possibility of new beginnings. Published in 2025, this book follows Lucy, who is a teenage girl whose life had been turned upside down by the sudden loss of her older brother, Charlie. A year later, she is still caught in the aftermath of her loss, trying to find her way around, and find a purpose again.
Everything changes when a rare, endangered bird, a plains-wanderer, collides with her bedroom window. Lucy takes this as a sign, and she becomes determined to save it. This decision leads her to a wildlife sanctuary, where she meets Ben, a boy whose kindness and love for the animals and plants begins to pull her out of her bubble of grief. As Lucy and Ben grow closer and spend more time together at the sanctuary, she is forced to face the cracks in her friendship, her strained relationship with her parents, and her own fear of moving forward without Charlie to help guide her.
One of the strengths of this novel is its honest depiction of grief. Luby avoids presenting grief as something simple or easily overcome, because let’s be honest, it never is. Instead, she shows how messy, frustrating and deeply personal it can be, and how sometimes, there’s no way to get over grief, only grow around it. Lucy’s impulsive actions and mood swings can be difficult to read about at times, but they also feel authentic for someone her age going through a pain so large. The symbolism of the plains-wanderer bird adds even more layers to the story, reflecting Lucy’s own feelings of fragility and survival, while reminding readers that caring for something else can be the first step in caring for ourselves.
The novel touches on powerful themes such as the ongoing nature of grief, the search for meaning and connection even in randomness, and the healing power of love. By tying Lucy’s personal healing journey to the conservation of an endangered bird, the story delivers more meaning then what meets the eye.
Overall, The Edge of Everything is a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that balances sadness with moments of lightness, romance, and also more importantly hope. Miranda Luby’s story feels both authentic and comforting, leaving the readers with a message that while healing is not straightforward, it is always possible.
Themes: Grief and healing, Hope, Connection and love, Identity, Family
Winner of the Finlay Lloyd 2025 20/40 prize for fiction, Angus Gaunt’s novella enters the consciousness of a teenage girl just released from a concentration camp and enjoying for a while the freedom of walking in a forest. But those precious moments mean that she misses the gathering of survivors to board the train to take them to somewhere else. It means that her siblings, and the children she has cared for, are on their way to safety whilst she is left behind, alone, until the intrusion of an equally alone boy casting off his uniform of guard but still carrying a rifle.
It doesn’t matter which concentration camp Gaunt is writing about, it’s not a work of meticulously researched historical fiction, rather it is an intense immersion in the experience of someone who has suffered and is still suffering, struggling to find her way to that other life, that normal life that is lived somewhere else in the world. Anna is starving, her bones meet her skin, but her mind exerts itself to solve each problem, to find a plan, a way to go on. She constantly pushes through exhaustion, to take each step forward in the direction she hopes is the right one.
A comment from the 20/40 judging panel succinctly describes the Gaunt’s novella as carrying the reader on ‘a journey from victimhood to self-possession’. It is a minutely described experience that submerses the reader in Anna’s ordeal but builds confidence that she has the inner strength to succeed. It’s a beautifully focussed and descriptive story, quite different from the other prize-winning works.
The Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize offers a publishing opportunity for fiction and non-fiction prose works between 20,000 and 40,000 words. Submissions for 2026 are open 1 December 2025 – 31 January 2026.
Themes Survivor, Endurance, Resilience.
Helen Eddy
Where would you go? by Alison Lester & Jane Godwin
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761181573. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
The children of Yalingbu Yirramboi – The Royal Children's Hospital School worked with Alison Lester and Jane Godwin imagining where they would go, and this book of wonderful verses and illustrations is the result. Full of imaginative responses, the images done by the children are infectious, inviting the readers to imagine where they would go, and how they would illustrate their choice.
In four line stanzas, Lester introduces some of the children and their chosen place to go. So Ava dreams of her birthday, inviting all her friends to sing and dance, while Bon just wants sports land where he can kick a ball and play as many sports as he can. Candice wants to be in a place of treats, Ali wants to go into outer space, Max wants a world of books with stories that will stay with him wherever he goes. We also hear from Charlie, Zara, Pablo, Mira and Joe. The places they want to visit are amazing in their diversity, from the world of comics, to outer space, the Outback, so ‘many wild adventures, so many places to roam’, but the last line offers home as the best place to be.
The vibrant illustrations are most attractive, giving a myriad of detail for readers to decipher. Zara’s jungle, for example, has a wide range of animals, Bon’s sports land offers a diversity of sports for readers to recognise, and Ali’s view of outer space will have readers seeing lots of things they know from the world of space.
Pablo is at the fiesta, and his illustration shows a variety of the sorts of things which happen at a fiesta, celebrating many lands. And readers will love seeing all the places Mac finds his stories.
Each double page is largely made up with the illustration, done by the students with support from Jane Godwin and Alison Lester.
The verse and the illustrations help the readers to perhaps understand that these children are all in a hospital school and they may be limited in their ability to travel, but not limited in their imaginations.
This is a wonderful supporting picture book, supporting children away from home, supporting them in their endeavours to imagine, supporting the readers in their knowledge of children in different circumstances from their own, and all the time, supporting home as the best place to be.
Yalingbu Yirramboi – The Royal Children's Hospital School supports children in their learning. The staff liaise with the schools, ensuring the child keeps up with the work done at school. As many of the children are there for an extended period of time, the staff ensure they do not fall behind. Even those sent home to recuperate, but still unable to attend school, are given support from the hospital school. More can be found out about this hospital in Melbourne here.
One in a series of books helping children and grown-ups have meaningful discussions about social, emotional and mental wellbeing, It's OK to Say No is organised into questions and answers. Designed to dip in and out of and revisit relevant areas, it is a comprehensive look at asking for, giving and not giving permission. It explains what consent is and how to ask for it, how to say yes or no, how to show respect when doing things that affect others, and what to do when someone doesn't ask you for permission.
Colourful and inclusive illustrations mean that this book will make all children feel seen and it breaks content down into simple, easy to understand questions. Speech and thought bubbles also help with perspective taking and ways to express or put into words thoughts and feelings. It offers practical advice in the context of relatable situations that show children how to empower themselves, respect and understand the boundaries of others and how to recognise and act when things go wrong.
While simple, this is text-heavy and there is a lot to unpack. The meaningful scenarios make for great discussion starters or role-play starting points for a classroom or home environment. There is also a 'Notes for grown-ups' page at the back that has shown useful tips for encouraging self-respect and respect for others. Other titles in the series include How are you feeling today?, Will you be my friend? and What makes a family?
Themes Consent, Respect, Body boundaries.
Nicole Nelson
Rain on the rock by Jodi Toering. Illus. by Valerie Brumby
Rain on the Rock is a stunning celebration of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, as it details the effect upon the landscape brought by a little water. Beautifully illustrated by Valerie Brumby, drops of water cover pages from the title page, endpapers and many pages between, reminding the reader over and over about this phenomenon.
The rock stands out from its position on the plain, baking in the harsh desert sun. Animals live around its base, a few flowers and plants survive the harsh climate but when it rains, something amazing happens. The first few double pages show a parched environment, Uluru displaying its many colours, but clouds are forming. Behind the rock stunningly coloured with hues as the sun rises and sets, thunder can be heard. Lightning can be seen, small drops of rain fall, then it becomes louder and louder as the spots become steadier, building up the effects of a deluge. Birds spread their wings and dance along the branches, tadpoles appear in the streams because of the rain, frogs buried deep find their way to the surface.The rain stops but the earth smells sweet and pungent. And the water still cascades over the rock. The rain brings Uluru and Kata Tjuta bursting into life. Flowers appear, bush tucker plants arrive, and the plants and flowers around the base of the rock frame this magnificent rock.
Readers will love seeing the different seasons of the creek, its different colours, the life that lives around it, and all this is enhanced when the rain comes over its edges, forming waterfalls over its cliffs, bringing life to the desert, if only for a short while. This celebration of Uluru and Kata Tjuta is wonderful, showing the majesty of the rock as it sits in its landscape, weathered by time, water and the sun, but coming to life when the rain falls. One of Australia’s most outstanding of images, water cascading over the rock faces of this magnificent force of nature will grab the hearts of all readers.
Anangu words are used in the text supported by a glossary at the end of the book. Some of the words (eg Uluru) are well known while others may be new, but an opportunity exists to acquaint readers with old names for things in the outback, rather than the new, and with a pronunciation guide, some language may be learnt.
Themes Uluru, Rain, Seasons, Desert, Anangu.
Fran Knight
Libby’s footy adventures by Libby Birch & Robin Tatlow-Lord
Little Hare, 2025. ISBN: 9781761215445. (Age:3+) Recommended.
Libby loves playing sport. She is good at everything she tries: ducking, weaving, running, and tries a range of sports. Her best friend, Mia is excited that Friday is coming, because Friday is footy colours day and several members of the AFLW are going to be there. But this is one sport Libby feels uncomfortable about. She feels that she does not have the skills necessary for this sport. But when Mia lends her her special orange footy boots, Libby’s skills take off. She has her friends all around her encouraging her and showing her the skills she needs. Each of the ways the footy is held, thrown and kicked are shown, including some funny moments when the oddly shaped ball bounces away from the player.
At the end of the session, Libby feels much happier about her footy skills, and is congratulated by the AFLW players who noticed that Libby kept on trying. Mia tells Libby that she can keep her boots and Libby runs home to tell her parents about her terrific day. After that Libby joins a team and plays footy in the local area with her friends. As each Saturday progresses so do her skills, and she proudly kicks her first goal to win the match.
An entertaining story about one girl’s introduction to AFLW, Libby Birch stresses the need for practice and confidence as she develops her abilities in the game of football. An introduction by Libby on the first endpaper shows her stress on enjoyment and this is carried through with this story, that of enjoying yourselves with family and friends.
Bold illustrations by Robin Taylor-Lord reflect the skills and enjoyment of the game, of being involved, of being with family and friends. The illustrations are tinged with humour and show some of the skills needed for footy.
Themes Football, AFLW, Skills, Family, Humour.
Fran Knight
The hallmarked man by Robert Galbraith
Sphere, 2025. ISBN: 9781408723791. (Age:Adult)
The 8th book in the Cormoran Strike series is another huge tome of 897 pages, but once again I had to finish it to find out what happens to Strike and Robin’s relationship and to discover the outcome of the mystery that they were investigating. Cormoran Strike is asked to discover whether the body of the man found murdered in the vault of a silver shop is that of Decima Mullins’ boyfriend who has mysteriously disappeared. She is convinced that he would not have left her as he is the father of her newborn baby and believes that the police have made a mistake identifying the mutilated corpse as a convicted robber. And the silver delivered to the vault has disappeared. As Strike and Robin investigate the case, different threads appear making it more difficult to find the identity of the dead man. The silver shop specialises in Masonic silverware and is next to a Masonic Hall, and the corpse had Masonic markings on his body. Other men are missing and could be related to the silver theft and they are currently investigating other cases that absorb their work time. Robin’s boyfriend Ryan Murphy is keen to move their relationship along while Strike has developed a plan to tell her of his feelings.
The Hallmarked Man is not a straightforward crime story. It is complex and often difficult to follow. I found the mystery confusing, with many characters to remember in the silver vault case, especially as I had to keep in mind the plots of the secondary cases that the Agency was investigating. However I was glad I preserved to find all the threads neatly tied together in a satisfactory conclusion. I also found Strike and Robin’s relationship frustrating to read. Strike’s procrastination about declaring his feelings and Robin’s refusal to examine her relationship with Murphy took a sizeable portion of the book, but it was what kept me reading to the end, and no doubt will have me picking up the next book in the series.
Fans of the series will be keen to read The hallmarked man and like me, won’t be able to resist the next in the series.
Look, See, Find Me written and illustrated by Sandra Severgnini, author of Dung Beetle on a Roll, is a glorious seek and find book with a difference. Brilliantly camouflaged in a variety of natural environments, a number of remarkable creatures are not so easy to spot at first glance. The colourful illustrations of each habitat are both subtle and beautifully presented, encouraging readers to search deeply for each hidden creature, clearly labelled with both its common name and scientific name. Throughout the book are questions asked in a clever rhyme that give further clues about where the various species live or what they may look like. For example, the Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) and the Denise’s pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus denise)
Among the coral where we dwell, our knobbly skin blends in well.
The front cover of this book is a visual treat with a number of camouflaged creatures carefully placed within the foliage. The front endpapers show empty magnifying glasses with the back endpapers showing each magnifying glass with a camouflaged creature that has been showcased in the book.
In the final pages is an opportunity to find out more about each creature as well as more information about camouflage plus a simple glossary. This book would be a wonderful gift for a young child and is perfect for a school or public library
Another book to add to the Christmas collection in a library, Mrs Claus celebrates all the work that Mrs Claus does to ensure that everything goes smoothly for Santa Claus as he takes out his sleigh and delivers presents.
The North Pole has a secret to each Christmas Eve's success. She's strong and smart and magic ... and she wears a bright red dress!
Travis Price’s memorable illustrations immediately bring Mrs Claus to life. She is drawn as a bright charming woman, with red lipstick and long hair, big eyes and eyelashes and small spectacles, always with a smile on her face. The jobs that she does are very important. She pins up a list on the wall to ensure that none are forgotten. They include make a naughty and nice list, clean & service the sleigh, make toys and other chores. Once Mrs Claus and elves and cute little mice think of all the cool toys to make, Mrs Claus starts her lessons in her elf school. Then she teaches the elves how to fly the sleigh, reads the letters to the North Pole and wraps all the presents. And finally, Santa and the elves prepare a special surprise for Mrs Claus on Christmas Day.
The narrative flows smoothly and would be good to read aloud while the illustrations complement the story, adding minute details like the tiny mice that children will delight in finding. The book is 'For the special people who make every Christmas magical. Especially our Mums!’ and children will be able to think about the work that their mothers and grandmothers might do to make Christmas a wonderful time.
This book could be a good contrast to the traditional Christmas stories featuring Santa Claus, giving children a glimpse of a vibrant, clever, organised and cheerful Mrs Claus. Teacher notes are available.
Themes Christmas, North Pole, Mrs Claus.
Pat Pledger
School of Monsters: Wheels and springs and moving things by Sally Rippin. Illlus. by Chris Kennett
Aiming to teach readers about all the different types of vehicles and how they can be used for jobs, this book uses lots of humour, quests and clever text to involve a range of readers. They will leave the book knowing what type of vehicles and machines can be used in a construction job, or those used by emergency workers, or how machines are used on the sea or in space exploration.
The playful text questions the reader, increasing their interest and involvement. Turning the page offers the solution to the question asked, telling the reader a bit about what the job entails, and the range of vehicles used for that job. Amongst the text and detailed illustrations can be found lots of little tasks, the answer for which can be found a the end of the book. A snakes and ladders game can be found at the end as well.
Each set of four pages talks about one of the parents or aunts or uncles and what they do. The first double page offers a text that can be read forwards or backwards, and poses the question about what that person does after giving a few clues. Turning the page, the answer is revealed in an image of the neighbourhood with that job being undertaken. The colourful detail on each page will entice young readers to look closely at what is shown. And of course, the families are not normal people, but monsters, adding another level of humour to this funny book.
The frog's first song by Jazz Money. Illus. by Jason Phu
University of Queensland Press, 2025. ISBN: 9780702268977. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
This debut picture book is resplendent in simplicity. Jazz Money, a Wiradjuri poet and artist, has created a masterful tale that holds the illusion of quietness but delivers a wonderfully poignant message. Taking inspiration from Chinese parables and First Nations creation stories, The Frog's First Song begins with a world of black (an underground well), 'a little bit muddled and confused' where everyone is alone and everything is quiet. The very first song (a croak from a frog) is a surprise to all, but as with most things in life, it's with one little thing that almost everything begins.
The change from white lines on pitch black is dramatically disrupted as the singing frog becomes bright green. 'This is the sound that changed the darkness'. More and more frogs join in, their joy contagious and their song one of 'friendship and family, and with it the frogs feel brave'. They travel further up than anyone else ever has, into the light at the top of the well, until they emerge onto the ground in the light of the moon. 'The frogs sing their wonder and excitement into this new world' and moon and frogs alike take delight in each other and their respective beauty. The allegory is clearly spelled out on the final page; that even in dark times coming together to sing, dance or tell stories makes the world a brighter place.
Don't be fooled by the unassuming front cover. This is storytelling at its finest, with illustrations that sing. It's also a lovely message, easily accessible to children, that uniting with others for joyful experiences is a vital part of the human experience that we shouldn't feel guilty about, despite the sometimes dark world we inhabit. The text has a large potential audience, whom will connect with its themes on differing levels. There is also a Chinese parable (obviously a major inspiration) titled The Frog at the Bottom of the Well that would make an excellent companion text.
Themes Parables/Creation Stories, Community and Belonging, Courage.
Jane Caro has begun Lyrebird with a unique premise – a young PHD student hearing a woman begging for her life. An ornithology student Jessica Weston had been bird watching and recording birds and their calls in the remote Barrington Tops when she realised that it was a lyrebird imitating a terrified woman. She reports this to the police, giving them video of the lyrebird, but no body was found by the new detective, Megan Blaxland, and no women were reported missing so the case was dismissed. Now, twenty years later a body has been uncovered and the case reopened. Megan is called back from retirement to head the investigation and reunites with Jessica.
This is a twisty gripping police procedural, and I found it difficult to work out who was the killer. As well as outlining how Megan sets about solving the case, Caro cleverly threads dark themes throughout the book of sex trafficking, motherhood and the problems of bringing up children, overcoming grief and climate change. All of this is set against the background of a deadly bushfire raging near Maitland and in the Barrington Tops. Will Megan be able to solve the case and bring the victims the justice that they deserve? Has the killer been watching Jessica and her daughter?
Once started, I couldn’t put Lyrebird down. The idea of a lyrebird being a witness to a murder was compelling and original, the danger of bushfires was vividly described and the suspense kept me reading to the stunning conclusion. I will certainly be seeking out Mother by Jane Caro, while eagerly waiting for another cleverly crafted crime book by this author.
Themes Murder, Sex trafficking, Lyrebirds, Bushfires, Detectives.
Pat Pledger
Dead scary: ghost guitar by T J Doom
Penguin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761352874. (Age:9+ Middle School) Highly Recommended for this genre.
Ghost Guitar is the debut title in the new “Dead Scary” series written by the author’s persona: TJ Doom. Well Mr Doom, your debut proves that self-praise is justified. I predict Dead Scary to be the new Goosebumps if indeed another series aspires to become equally ubiquitous. The action and tension is seriously next level as we witness Jake and Zoe perform jaw dropping stunts to escape the escalating supernatural encounters.
Jake can’t afford a decent guitar to actualize his dream of founding a rock band so he is building a guitar out of old parts, much like ‘Frankenstein’s monster’. So far Zoe has refused his pleas to be the first to join his band on keyboards. Imagine his surprise to find a rare Fender Telecaster guitar, while serving a detention to clean and stocktake the music room attic.
Jake can’t resist a test strum or two, but he summons up a whole rock band of teenage ghosts- Ricky and the Blue Jeans – all of whom tragically perished on stage 50yrs ago before finishing their last set at the school concert. They’re stuck in a kind of purgatory and need to move on. Jake agrees to help readily. As difficult as it is to arrange the requirements of the new performance in order to release their souls, Jake has inadvertently allowed a malevolent demon to follow through the open portal. The phantom is determined to stop Jake from helping Ricky's band. Jake is 'Dead Scared' but of course unlike Doom’s readers, Jake is a true hero!
This is a well-written episodic narrative and exemplar of children’s horror, capably complemented in the same genre by a scary red cover and several monochrome comic style illustrations by Nahum Ziersch. We hope the creative partnership endures as TJ Doom forewarns in the epilogue....“more dead scary books coming soon”.
158p
Themes Horror, Action, Rock & Roll, School, Ghost Story.
Barney Gumnut the cute little kolas with his friends Hoppity (kangaroo), Robert (wombat), Wilfred (budgie), Edith (echidna) and Charles (cockatoo) are very excited because it is Christmas Eve. Edith asks Barney ‘what does Christmas actually mean?’ and each of the friends have a different answer; celebrating with friends, giving and receiving presents, swimming playing games, eating pavlova and wearing paper hats. Charles declares that ‘Christmas means creating special things to share!’ so the friends each make something special. Robert made mince pies, Barney made cards, Wilfred collected gumnuts, Hoppity made a little nativity scene and a gingerbread house and Edith and Charles made Christmas decorations. They wrapped presents, decorated the tree and then went camping finally having a Christmas feast with their ‘bestest friends.’
Children will easily relate to the many familiar things that are meaningful for the animals and are likely to find something that they have experienced themselves when celebrating a holiday such as Christmas. The delight in giving and receiving presents, in making something to share and gathering for a wonderful meal is beautifully illustrated in soft watercolours. The lovely endpapers show Australian flora including gumnuts and each illustration has minute details for a young child to pore over.
A Barney Gumnut Christmas is a gentle exploration of the importance of friendship and sharing. It would make a perfect bedtime story and a lovely way to explore some of the traditions surrounding the festive season.
Sidney is a Little Penguin who lives in big Sydney Harbour. From the day he hatched he was curious, and his mama and dada spent their time trying to keep him out of trouble and safe as he explores his small world around him. But there comes a time when even Little Penguins have to grow up and be independent, and keep themselves safe. For Sidney, this is tricky because he is still as curious as ever and one day he decides to follow the ferry to see where it is going... . While he can't keep up with the ferry, there is much to explore until a storm hits and he is buffeted and churned up by the waves, carried far from home and all that is familiar. Is this his last adventure ever?
Based on a true story, this is a charming tale about treading the fine line between being naturally curious and foolhardy - perhaps "curiosity killed the cat" could underpin it, although this one does have a happy ending.
Just as little ones will enjoy it as a standalone story, sharing what they know about Sydney and penguins, older students might like to investigate how what starts as a fleeting human interest story becomes the kernel for building something as engaging as this. How has the author taken an article in a newspaper and built such an appealing story? Working backwards, what questions might she have asked? What research might she have done? How has she blended fact and fiction? Having put some flesh on the kernel, how has she built a character by considering feelings, emotions and motives? What are the why, when, who and how that got that anonymous little penguin into that drain in Haberfield? And those who prefer to illustrate than write could ask the same questions about Lis Anelli's illustrations. What did she need to know to bring Whiting's words and character to life, particularly as illustrators usually get the manuscript after the words are written. What techniques, colours and media did she use to make Sidney so realistic? Such speculations deepen students' understandings about story-crafting so they improve their own and this is the perfect example of how connections are made. Activity sheets are available.
For me, the best storybooks are those that lead readers (and reviewers) down rabbit-holes by being entertaining as well as educational - and this is certainly one of those.
