Shy, artistic Emmie has been enjoying middle school with her best friend Brianna and friends Sarah and Tyler (he has been her crush since fourth grade) and now it is time for the end of year camp. Unfortunately, Sarah can’t go due to a family event, but Emmie is looking forward to buddying up with Brianna with the added pleasure of having her older sister, Trina along as a camp counsellor. Class clown Joe is not so sure he wants to go but his friend Tyler tries to persuade him. Joe thinks Tyler is spending more time with friend Anthony these days leaving Joe feeling left out but eventually, under pressure from his parents, he agrees to go. At the last-minute Brianna gets a bad cold and has to cancel leaving Emmie without a camp buddy and latecomer Joe is put in her place. In alternating points of view Emmie and Joe, forced together, navigate camp activities and social interactions, Emmie drawing on some of what she has learnt about relationships and coping mechanisms, while Joe starts to realise that using humour to deflect attention from how he is feeling, can sometimes hurt others. Gradually both challenge and support each other, developing an unlikely friendship.
This is the ninth book in the Emmie and Friends series which looks at middle school relationships as quite complex characters deal with challenging situations and issues. The fun graphics and many visual jokes and cartoons depicting feelings keep the tone light and the pace fast while communicating more than just the text. I loved the image of a human rubber-band ball on page 47, and the image of Emmie sticking out like a sore thumb on page 116. This is a book about growing pains for those early teens on the brink of more serious relationships and at the end it was good to see Emmie taking control, listening to her feelings and making decisions about how comfortable she was about having a boyfriend. This is a worthy addition to the very popular series.
Themes Friendships, Graphic novel, Middle school relationships.
Joanne Harris has returned to the character Vianne who made her story Chocolat such a well-loved tale and inspired a movie. In this beautiful story we are drawn into the world of Vianne before she creates her own chocolaterie. With the overlay of the mystical and Vianne’s wandering soul, she investigates what her life must be like without her mother. Who is she and where should she make her home? And is ‘home’ even a possibility for someone who has never been allowed to settle? Vianne though uses all her gentleness and her magic to heal everyone around her, and she finds a place to be and a reason to stay in the local bistro where she explores recipes and meaning from the pages of a dead woman’s records. Then she moves into the beginning of her journey in chocolate as an assistant in a new chocolate-making venture. As she discovers the delight of cooking and exploring flavours, her life begins to explore ways to restore and refresh those around her, but will it come at a cost to her freedom?
This is a beautiful story imbued with the redolent scent of chocolate, herbs and French cuisine and the mystery and intrigue of magical intuition. With tarot cards to read futures and people, ethereal appearances of a woman of wisdom and Vianne’s own power to read and influence people, there is a magical quality to this story. But the writing itself has that beautiful grace and mystique of a fragrant scent wafting in the breeze. Even if you know Chocolat you will be delighted to move back in time to enter the history and motivations of Vianne. This book will delight those who love to know characters inside and out, and will see the collection of the sad, grieving and desolate characters as rich expressions of humanity. This is one of the delights of the story, because the plot is slow moving and reflective, and although it takes place over a period of less than six months, it will seem to be much longer.
I loved the story and will now want to revisit Chocolat too.
Themes Family, Chocolate, Identity, Mystical fantasy/magical realism, Grief and loss.
Grumpy Darling is the charming second book in Alexandra Moody’s Darling Devils series, a clean YA contemporary romance set in ice hockey-loving towns of Sunshine Hill and Ransom, Minnesota. This book features two best friends, Paige and Grayson, as they turn their years of friendship into something more, with plenty of slow-burn tension, funny banter, and emotional moments along the way.
Paige Price is one of those characters you instantly like. She’s bright, funny, and determined to check everything off her high school bucket list before graduation - including getting her first kiss. Watching her step outside her comfort zone, figure out what she really wants, and grow more confident makes her journey feels personal and real.
Grayson Darling, her grumpy but protective best friend and the school’s hockey team’s enforcer, hides a soft side beneath his fearsome reputation. He’s been in love with Paige since childhood but has kept those feelings bottled up - until she asks him to help her find someone to kiss. His emotional struggles and gradual journey toward taking a leap of faith make him an engaging romantic lead.
Told through both Paige’s and Grayson’s points of view, Grumpy Darling is fast-paced, character-driven, and packed with heartfelt moments. It explores unspoken emotions, close bonds, and self-doubt with charm and wit. I’d honestly recommend this to readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, and friends-to-lovers tropes that feel both fun and emotionally real. It’s a satisfying, swoon-worthy read that left me smiling and eager for the next book.
Perfect for fans of Bal Khabra, Lynn Painter, Jenny Han, and Lauren Roberts’ Powerless.
Themes: Identity, Vulnerability, Trust, Stereotypes, First love.
Jet Set Pets by Maddy Mara, with delightful black and white illustrations by Kyla May, is a fun-filled, adventure story perfect for young readers venturing into independent reading. With a great easy to read font and layout, this novel is perfect for animal lovers, and those who enjoy adventure, humour and a bit of mystery.
With three stories packed into one book, this novel introduces readers to Violet, a lively and enthusiastic young girl who adores her three very special pets - a clever cat named Trixie, an energetic puppy called Jerome and a fluffy little chick named Zola.
Each pet has their own distinct personality, and together, with Violet, they make a quirky and lovable team. Violet also has her very own super cool jet! From the outside it looks impressive, but inside, it can transform into amazing spaces including an ice rink and a cinema. This awesome team can never say no to an invitation and always need to count down before the adventure begins.
Throughout the stories, Violet and her pets travel to exotic and exciting locations like sunny Hawaii, the snowy Swiss Alps and even a glamorous movie set. But these aren’t just sightseeing trips - each destination brings a new challenge, mystery or mission where the friends must work together to help locate what is missing. Whether it’s finding a lost item or saving the day on a movie shoot, the team brings kindness, teamwork and creativity to every situation.
Maddy Mara’s engaging storytelling and Kyla May’s expressive illustrations make this a perfect book for early readers. The easy-to-read text, short chapters and artwork will captivate the audience and keep them enthralled.
Jet Set Pets is perfect for animal lovers and adventure-seekers. It celebrates friendship, helping others and the joy of exploring new places - all with a dash of sparkle and fun. If you love cute pets, cool gadgets and the thrill of taking off into the unknown, this book is definitely for you.
So, hop aboard with the Jet Set Pets, as an adventure awaits!
Themes Animals, Friendship, Adventure, Problem Solving, Mystery, Kindness.
Michelle O'Connell
Lucky’s Star: The story of a meteorite by Mark Greenwood. Illus. by Lucia Masciullo
Talented Australian History author Mark Greenwood has once again provided younger readers and adults with an intriguing background story about the Murchison meteorite that landed in Murchison, a rural town in Victoria Australia, in 1969.
While the main character Lucky is fictional, her story of finding and keeping a small piece of the meteor is both engaging and accessible and allows children to learn about an unusual event in Australia’s past. The fascination with space and perhaps the lack of knowledge led to all sorts of theories about the pieces of the meteor that were found strewn over the countryside. For scientists though it was a vital opportunity to partake in further research and learn more about the mysteries of outer space. The full page illustrations show great detail and the double page landscape of the meteor travelling across the farms, fields and paddocks is particularly striking.
The closing pages give the reader more insight into the Murchison meteorite and provide a great deal of facts that may lead to more research and questions from children, as well as a detailed glossary that covers a wide range of space-related words and terms.
Ordinary love is actually extraordinary. It’s the love that connects two young girls in high school, is disrupted by an appalling act of rejection by a parent, and then erupts much later in life. It is a love that endures despite the hurt, and matures into a brave loyalty and true understanding.
In the middle there are two different life paths. For Emily it is marriage and two children. For Gen it is Olympic aspirations as a world class athlete. The novel moves around in time, but it is Emily’s marriage to Jack that dominates; and it is here that Rutkowski’s writing excels. She subtly builds the picture of coercive control, where Emily gradually becomes isolated from her friends as her husband bit-by-bit emotionally manipulates her into always doing what he wants. It’s a kind of unvoiced blackmail; Emily learns how his mood can turn to fuming anger if he doesn’t get his way, and she has to adapt her behaviour to stay safe. The picture-perfect husband who showers her in gifts, cooks gourmet meals, and tells her how much he loves her, can turn in a way that others don’t see, and ensures that she always complies. She becomes like ‘a mummified cat’, ‘shrunk into a former version of herself’.
When, later in life, Emily and Gen reunite, the question of honesty and integrity arises again: how to be truthful and fearless in their relationship. For Emily the path is always complicated, by her fear of Jack, her love for her children, and her love for Gen, all ties pulling in different directions.
I found this novel thoroughly absorbing. Love is explored in all its forms. There is mad passionate love for a same-sex lover, heart-tugging love for children, the deep current of love within close family, the love and support of true friends, and even the love for the pathetically needy abuser. In the end, it’s the story of two women, whose gaze never met at the same time, until finally it does.
This is one for LGBTQIA+ fantasy romance readers: a same-sex romance between a princess and a commoner. Danni, a budding concert pianist, wins a scholarship to the prestigious school that Princess Rose attends. However Rose’s image is in freefall following the overdose death of a friend at a teenage party. She seems to have coolly moved on, focussing on rehabilitating her status in the media. Despite the anger of Rose’s estranged friend Molly, Danni suspects there is more to the story, and is drawn to the beautiful princess.
The strength of Gonzales’ novel is in the depiction of teenage relationships, the ups and downs of friendship groups, the misunderstandings and antagonisms. The resolutions she describes are a model of how to better communicate and reach understanding. Rose’s humour is the typical use of teenage sarcastic wit. Fortunately, having had experience of bullying, Danni knows how to handle this, and responds in an equally lighthearted manner. At the same time, Danni has a perceptive understanding of how different people respond to trauma, and sees past Rose’s cool detachment.
The other strong point in this novel, is the handling of how and when to ‘come out’ as a gay person, and the right of every person to make their own decision about that. While one person may be open about their sexual identity, they have to respect the right of the other to choose their own time and space for this step, something that is bound to cause tension in a relationship.
In the relationship between Danni and Rose, Gonzales portrays an anxious but very respectful and careful negotiation of each step in their physical interaction; they always check in with each other. There are two other consent situations depicted. When Rose’s friend Alfie unexpectedly kisses her, this is treated as something that Rose has to work out how to handle. But when Harriet kisses Danni, misreading her cues, it is treated like this is something unforgiveable even though Harriet apologises repeatedly. I see this uneven handling of the consent situation as a failing of the novel, though it could be a useful point of thoughtful discussion with teenage readers.
Of course, you can simply read this novel as a stirring love story for the LGBTQIA+ audience: a lovely royalty and commoner fantasy, perhaps made more real in the era of Harry and Megan, and it certainly picks up on the role of social media in how such a relationship is viewed. There is a lot that is good about this book, and I’m sure that Gonzales’ fans will eagerly embrace this one.
This gorgeous rhyming picture book will be enjoyed by young and old. The magical text flows beautifully and the bright colourful illustrations are a treat for the eye.
The opening pages set the scene with the introductory verse.
High on a shelf, deep in a nook
adventure lies waiting within this old book.
Dust off the cover, open it wide…
ALPHABET MAGIC is hidden inside.
This is followed by an alphabet of magical words and appealing images that are truly delightful.
Abracadabra! Alakazoo!
Bubbily, bobbily, boffity, boo!
Clutch your cauldrons and crystal balls.
Dance with dragons down the halls.
With 2025’s CBCA Book Week theme “Book An Adventure” this is a welcome and timely publication that suits the theme perfectly and will provide a wonderful introduction to magical adventures for younger readers. Teacher's notes are available.
Fun to read and full of suggestions about your Book Week costume, Wild about Book Week is designed to enthuse and promote kids in their journey towards that special week which only comes around once a year. In this family, everyone is involved, each making suggestions as to what the children can wear for the Book Week parade, a favourite in all schools.
Rhyming stanzas are easy to emulate, and kids can predict the rhyming word, and cause ripples of laughter from the listeners. Each page offers a different view of a costume that is easy to make, encouraging the audience to make suggestions themselves, or to make additions to what is presented. Dad and Mum both help, Mum offering a rainbow unicorn, the child, a pirate ship. The girl suggests painting her oncie to be a dinosaur, while Dad designs a monster with one eye. Each of the costumes suggested are made from material found at home; cardboard, scraps of appear and material, paint and old clothes. The suggestions come thick and fast: a mermaid, a giant whale, an octopus, a fairy, and a bear. Nan offers her woolly coat so the girl can be a sheep. Dad suggests a robot made from several cardboard boxes, Grandpa offers a singing chicken, and Granny red shoes and a house. Suggestions keep up for the whole book, so the problem at the end of the day is how to reduce the suggestions to one good one. Lots of kids will have lots of ideas here, and join in the fun of making their own costume from what is handy. The whole family is involved and they all go the the Book Week parade in their favourite costume.
Lots of bright, breezy illustrations make up this happy book, full of text and images to help kids are up their minds.
Themes Book Week, Parades, Costumes, Family, Imagination.
Fran Knight
Grandmas in grand cars by Mick Elliott
Walker Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781760655068. (Age:3+)
Not so long ago it was common to find advertisements for cars that proclaimed "one little old lady driver" insinuating that the vehicle had been well-looked after, never exceeded the speed limit and only driven to church on Sunday.
But one glance at Grandmas in grand cars puts the lie to that as the real truth about grandmas in their cars has been revealed. Not for them the classic little putt-putt - these grandmothers drive an array of cars that would be the envy of Oscar Piastri or Broc Feeney!
Minimal text and vibrant illustrations bring out all the joy and fun that these grandmas have in their flash cars, but for all that, there is one special grandma and one special car.
Little ones will delight in sharing stories about their own grandmas' cars - but they will really appreciate the finale!
Themes Grandmothers, Cars.
Barbara Braxton
Sonny & Tess by Nova Weetman
University of Queensland Press, 2025. ISBN: 9780702268427. (Age:11-14) Highly recommended.
Sonny and Tess is a delightful teenage coming-of-age story filled with the early delight of first romance, the embarrassment and frisson of finding someone you like, and the changing relationships in the teen years. Sonny and Tess are also finding their place in their family, and not without some pain. Everything Nova Weetman writes is a delight, and this is another example of her ability to nuance issues related to teenage life. I loved all the characters and their gentle and tentative steps to finding themselves and their place, and their first love. This is possibly one of Nova Weetman’s lightest books and its gentleness and care in addressing teen cares and concerns is exemplary.
This story is told through the voices of each of the main characters. Their connection through the setting of the local fish and chip shop carries the aroma of cooked oil and the ordinary things of life. Both Tess and Sonny have family concerns - Tess is trying to be heard and to find independence from ‘caring’ for her younger twin brothers, while Sonny has ‘absent’ parents and must live with his uncle and aunt. Teens who read this book will see ‘ordinary’ kids and will recognise the minor dilemmas of growing up. This will be a book enjoyed by readers aged 11-14.
Themes Teen romance, Family, Coming-of-age drama, Friendship.
Carolyn Hull
Ming and Maria explore the Universe by Jackie French
Acclaimed Australian author Jackie French needs no introduction. Readers know that they are in capable, responsible and experienced hands when they pick up a book by French. Somehow one feels that this writer is capable as there is no contrivance, no scrabbling for the right phrase- just a relaxed control of plot, language, setting and character. French is no novice. Testament to that is the sheer volume of her titles which range across all genres. Ming and Maria explore the universe is the last in The girls who changed the world series which is a return to her much loved historical fiction genre. As a teacher/librarian in a former life, I recommended French's books when students were studying a period of history and needed it to be brought alive. The girls who changed the world series aims to retrieve women who achieved much in the past and whose achievements went unrecognised.
In Ming and Maria explore the universe, Ming Qong is once again travelling through time to meet girls who have changed the world - in this case to Nantucket to meet Maria Reynolds, the first professional woman astronomer in America who published, taught and inspired in the field of astronomy. Herstory, the sister of History, has been overseeing/ conducting Ming's adventures throughout the series but in this last book, she promises to reveal to Ming something of her long-lost mother. The story is chiefly set in Nantucket. Ming has time-travelled there from Port Hedland via a contemporary boarding school in Perth Australia. Skilfully, French has Ming flung abruptly, half-drowned, straight out of the ocean on the date of January 27th,1836, to be rescued and absorbed into an early Quaker community on the island of Nantucket. Her rescuers believe her to have been stolen by pirates who ranged in those days across all oceans, including American and Australian shores -a semi-plausible conclusion. Ming meets Maria Reynolds, as a young girl at the age when she was teaching in the local school. While Ming is learning from Maria she is also engaged in searching for her real mother.
The storyline unfolds with plenty of action and interest in the capable hands of French. The reader can be assured that French has paid attention to the correctness of all necessary detail of place and time. Speech patterns, vocabulary, food, utensils, clothing, racial and religious attitudes etc. have all been scrupulously studied so that the reader is not perturbed or misguided by any random tiny aspect that may be jarringly misplaced in time. Readers should be grateful that French calls herself "pernickety" about historical accuracy.
Refreshingly, French does not join the current author trend of labouring didactically and heavy handedly on the missing "herstory" from "history". Rather, she introduces the idea of "ourstory". Themes including the whaling industry, racism, religious freedom and sexism are likewise dealt with in a matter-of-fact, "part of the story" kind of way.
At the end of the story, in the Author's notes, French writes that Ming and Maria explore the universe "... is entirely fiction, except where it isn't." She goes on to detail facts about Nantucket in 1836, about Maria Mitchell's life, her work and excerpts from her diary. She also includes Maria's favourite poem which was an adaptation of Psalm 19 of the King James Bible, recipes for Fluffy Bannock and Scallop Chowder and further information on what happened in Maria Mitchell's life beyond the time-frame of the novel.
The reader, whether they are a young historian, researcher, reader for pleasure or all of the above is in very good hands with Jackie French's Ming and Maria explore the universe. The girls who changed the world, as a series, conceived by the HarperCollins Team and Jackie French's publisher, (who asked French to write a series about girls who changed the world) is recommended reading for ages 10+.
Themes Women who have changed the world, Astronomy, Whaling industry, History, Herstory...Our story, religious persecution, racism.
Imagine if you preferred to be playing any sport in the world on a Saturday afternoon instead of having to stop indoors to practise your reading. Especially with a kid you have nothing in common with. Or, on the other hand, you enjoy reading but you've been assigned the task of helping someone with theirs, someone with whom you have nothing in common and who wants to be anywhere else instead.
And then, suddenly, one of the characters leaps from the pages of the book and you are dragged into it and a wild adventure..
That's the situation for Basil Beedon and Terry Clegg, who are neighbours but the street they live in is the only thing they have in common. But since Basil's dad and Terry's nan got talking and it transpires that Terry will be kicked off the football team if his schoolwork doesn't improve. Basil has been assigned to helping him with his reading. Every. Single. Saturday.
Because boys of that age who don't like reading prefer a bit of action and gore, Basil chooses some of the original versions of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, but neither is prepared for what happens next...
Last time, they found themselves plunged into the fairytale world, where everyone was losing the plot. This time, words - well, chickens - are disappearing! Realising their fairytale friends are in danger of being sucked into oblivion by plot holes, the boys don't hesitate before diving back into the Grimm world to warn them. It's up to Basil and Terry to find out what's going on and how to stop the plot holes from destroying everything, including their way home.
Once again, the author has crafted a fractured fairytale that not only engages Basil and Terry, but also the independent reader who is just discovering the fantasy adventure genre, and still prefers to keep a fingerhold on what they know before immersing themselves in a completely unfamiliar world with unfamiliar characters, situations and magic. With its clever wordplay and humour, and narrated by Basil as the reluctant tutor so the reader feels an integral part of the adventure because they have access to Basil's thoughts, feelings, actions and responses, with appropriate promotion this is a series that may well capture both the quest for adventure and the fun of reading as it did for Terry.
Perhaps offer the first one to a reluctant reader to 'test-drive' to see if this new addition and any subsequent titles should be added to the collection. Maybe even set a challenge to discover the original titles that feature in the stories, provide access to them so they can read the originals rather than the more common sanitised versions for young children, and see where it goes, and what learning emerges that goes beyond the stories. Who were Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm and why did they write such grisly stories? After all, the CBCA Book Week theme is Book an Adventure...
In May, 1980 six Arabs from Iran stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and took 26 hostages; Iranians, journalists, secretaries, a policeman who was deployed at the embassy, and visitors. They were held for 6 days, the trained negotiators prevaricating, aiming to wear them down, trying to head to a resolution. But the forces involved were preparing for the worst. The London Police terrorist squad was called in, SAS readied for action, a dog squad, specialist listening devices used, roads blocked, people were cleared from the nearby apartment houses, the Ethiopian Embassy next door sequestered. Extraordinarily Royal Albert Hall af ew doors away was presenting Tchaikovsky’s fifth, cannon fire and all. The discussions about its possible cancellation must have been surreal. And Margaret Thatcher was the PM,her second in command, William Whitelaw, both hawkish in theirpolitics.
Ben Macintyre’s incredible research is laid out in a way that impels the reader to absorb every detail. He projects us into the minds of the terrorists and we have a close up of their reasons for doing this. We see that they have been recruited and groomed, their handler flying out the same day, sponsored by Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s dictator, their demands unattainable. They are there to die. But they do not know this. They believe they are bringing world attention to the plight of the minority population of Arabs in Iran.
We also see into the minds of the hostages. Policeman Lock is part of a contingent which guards embassies, the only police in Britain who wears a a gun, but once the siege has started, he is unable to use it against the firepower of machineguns and grenades. He goes to extraordinary lengths to stop the gunmen seeing it on his belt. One of the hostages understands some of the different languages and is able to translate. Meanwhile the police are drilling into the walls enabling them to hear what is going on.The Metropolitan Police are initially involved but as the day progresses the British Army is brought with their remarkable unit, SAS, now arming themselves ready for action. The bullish prime minster is ready to set the team loose. The scene is set for a bloody end.
A marvellous addition to the story of hostage taking around the world, this breathtaking account takes readers behind the scene and into the mindsof all involved. I listened to this via Audible, and found it impossible to put down, finding myself alternatively gasping, sometimes having tears in my eyes,and then laughing with Macintyre’s amazing writing. He points out the absurdities with a wry sense of humour, but never undermining everyone’s bravery and achievements. This siege changedt hings. SAS, usually a secretive branch of the army was exposed, on the spot TV coverage was used for the first time, cutting into the finalists of the World Snooker championship with the remarkable segue, we leave one Embassy (a cigarette company sponsoring the snooker finals) to an embassy in siege.
Talented Australian authors Helen Edwards and Kate Gordon have combined their incredible writing talents to share an extraordinary story about two young girls and a fantastical circus. Emme and Ivy are both weighed down by a terrible sense of loss and run away separately to escape their despair and feelings of hopelessness. Meeting quite by accident as they find themselves captured by an astonishing array of ‘actual, imagined and extinct creatures’, the two girls initially struggle to understand what has happened to them and where they actually are.
Ring mistress Seraphina harbors a heartbreaking secret and her bitterness and controlling personality leads the girls and the quirky, unique collection of creatures into the possibility of an unfortunate ending. With help from some of the partly vanishing creatures, Emme and Ivy share a complex journey to discover their chosen talents in order to save both themselves and the disappearing circus.
This story has many twists and turns within the main narrative and Emme and Ivy have alternate chapters in which to allow the reader to build an understanding of their background story. The text is rich in imagery and descriptive language with each character, real or unreal, having their own special role and story to tell.
The Disappearing Circus is an absorbing and entertaining read with friendship, belief in oneself and hope shining through.
