Latest Review 
Sep 18 2018
Meet me at the intersection: Short stories edited by Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina
Fremantle Press, 2018. ISBN 9781925591705
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: LGBTIQA+. Disabilities. Indigenous
Australians. Cultures. Short stories. Meet me at the intersection
is an collection of short stories by authors who write from the
heart about issues that have personal meaning to them. These authors
include those with a disability, are LGBTIQA+ or are Indigenous and
are passionate about sharing their stories written from their point
of view.
At the beginning of each story is a blurb about the author and the
inspiration for their story, which is fantastic as it gives the
reader an insight to how and why the author came to write this
particular piece.
My favourite of the short stories was 'Harry Potter and the
Disappearing Pages' by Olivia Muscat because of the Harry Potter
connection. The author says right from the beginning that the
character in the story is her and this connection seemed to
personalise it for me.
Many of the stories are raw and brutally honest. There is no filter
to what is written and they say exactly what they think. Sometimes
this can be confronting but mostly you appreciate the honesty and
frankness of the story. With some of the stories, I wondered what
the point was but in hindsight, the point is really a snippet of a
story that is waiting to be told.
The stories are quite diverse and it is refreshing to change pace at
the beginning of each new story. The stories are not long and at
times, they leave you wishing for more. Some are revelations and
others make you think about topics not normally spoken about.
I would recommend this book to 14+ readers whose interest is in
diversity amongst our population.
Gerri Mills
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Sep 18 2018
Kissed by the moon by Alison Lester
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780670076758
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Themes: Influences.
Growing up. This beautiful book has been reissued as a board book,
and will win hearts all over again with its wishes for the future of
a new born child. Alison Lester, one of... more
Sep 18 2018
The honey factory by Jurgen Tautz and Diedrich Steen
Black Inc Books, 2018. ISBN 9781760640408
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Recommended. Non-fiction. The
subtitle 'Inside the ingenious world of bees' describes exactly what
this book is about - not so much a guide to beekeeping but a
detailed exploration of what bees do and how their... more
Sep 18 2018
Ruby's worry by Tom Percival
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408892152
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Anxiety. Depression. Sharing.
Friendship. Ruby's life is carefree and happy, but one day a worry
finds her. At first it is a very small worry and can be hidden
behind her, or even ignored. But as time goes on the worry... more
Sep 18 2018
Uncle Shawn and Bill and the pajimminy-crimminy unusual adventure by A.L. Kennedy
Ill. by Gemma Correll. Walker Books Ltd, 2018. ISBN 9781406360509
(Ages: 6-9) Recommended. Themes: Friendship. Humour. Bonkers
story of friendship, llamas and total evil.
Uncle Shawn and Bill are back, and so are the llamas. In a book that
could stand alone or work as a sequel, they... more
Sep 18 2018
Funny Kid: Prank wars by Matt Stanton
Harper Collins, 2018. ISBN 9780733335990
(Ages: 8-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour. This is the third
book in the Funny Kid book series. Max, otherwise known as
'funny kid' is determined to make his class mates laugh at his
pranks and antics, at any cost. When Max's class... more
Sep 17 2018
Amazing Australian Women by Pamela Freeman and Sophie Beer
Lothian Children's Books, 2018. ISBN 9780734418456
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Women - Australia. The authors
have chosen twelve Australian women from different backgrounds and
time periods to feature in this brightly illustrated book. Some of
them will be familiar to all... more
Sep 17 2018
How I didn't straighten my hair (and other life lessons) by Angela May George
Omnibus Books, 2018. ISBN 9781742999555
(Age: Upper primary - lower secondary) Themes: bullying,
friendships, Greek culture, family. Dora is trying to find "her
thing" but, disappointingly for her Greek family, Greek dancing
isn't for her. 17 year old sister Athena, is a born dancer,... more
Sep 17 2018
Princess Swashbuckle by Hollie Hughes
Ill. by Deborah Allwright. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408862803
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Princesses, Stereotypes, Adventure,
Frogs, Family, Verse, Humour. All Princess Swashbuckle wants to do
is be a pirate queen, to sail away on a pirate ship and be the ruler
of the waves. But her... more
Sep 17 2018
Norman the Knight gets a fright! by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Ed Eaves. Bloomsbury, 2108. ISBN 9781408873991
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Knights, Dragons, Employment. When
the four children and their cat apply for the job of helping Norman
the Brave, a knight of renown, they are surprised at what he expects
them to do. Their work... more
Sep 17 2018
The afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Harper Collins Publishers, 2017. ISBN 9781460754283
(Ages: 12+) Highly recommended. A heart-warming and emotional tale
of the importance of generosity, family, love and compassion. When
Holly Chase is visited on Christmas Eve by three spirits warning her
of the imminent consequences of... more
Sep 14 2018
Finch by Penny Matthews
Walker Books, 2018, ISBN 9781760650759
(Ages: 9+) Highly recommended. Themes: Country towns, Family,
Vineyards. When Audrey and her family move to a small wine growing
community after dad lost his job in the city, everyone is put out.
Audrey and her sister miss their friends and school... more
Sep 14 2018
Backyard by Amanda Braxton-Smith
Ill. by Lizzy Newcomb. Black Dog Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925381177
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Themes: Backyards, Insects, Animals,
STEM, Discovery. What a feast can be found in one's own backyard,
simply using the skill of observation. This wonderful book impels
younger readers to do... more
Sep 14 2018
The Funny Life of Pets by James Campbell
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408889947
(Age: 8+) Recommended. A dog's nose is more than 1 000 times more
sensitive than our nose. That's why if you do a bottom burp in a
dog's face it will go cross-eyed and fall over. Imagine a sausage
dog's dilemma when it's eating sausages - the... more
Sep 14 2018
Goal Power by Meredith Costain
Ella Diaries series. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781743818060
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. "Goal Power" is another instalment in
the "Ella Diaries" series. It is a standalone read, and new readers
to the series can start with this diary themed novel. Ella tells us
about her daily... more
Sep 14 2018
Changing Gear by Scott Gardner
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760631468
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: relationships, family,
self-discovery, nature. Year 12 is over and Merrick Hilton has two
weeks to study for his final exams. He tells his amicably separated
parents he is staying at the other's place and takes off... more
Sep 13 2018
Natural born loser by Oliver Phommavanh
Penguin Books, 2018. ISBN 9780143505730
(Age: 10+ ) Highly recommended. Natural born loser is an
inspiring, funny story and promotes being yourself rather than
following the crowd. Raymond is a typical year 6 boy who loves
soccer and being with his best friend but he doesn't see... more
Sep 13 2018
Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tanya Bolden
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781681196992
(Age: 13+) Recommended. In the latter months of 1864, during the
U.S. Civil War, General Sherman of the Union led a huge army through
Georgia, freeing slaves, plundering goods and destroying property of
the vanquished. Many ex-slaves chose to... more
Sep 13 2018
Bonkers about beetles by Owen Davey
Flying Eye Books, 2018. ISBN 9781911171485
(Ages: 6-adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Beetles. Non-fiction.
What a wonderful encyclopaedic book about beetles, I read it from
cover to cover, loving every piece of information given, observing
the pictures with glee, scanning the layout... more
Sep 13 2018
Angry Cookie by Maria Karipidou
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406383089
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Anger. Friendship. Confronted by an
angry Cookie from the start, the reader will be in no doubt about the
theme of this book. We are told in no uncertain terms, not to open
the book, not to turn the page, and not to... more
Sep 13 2018
Melowy: The night of courage by Danielle Star
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781338151787
(Age 7+) Recommended. The night of courage is book 3 in the
Melowy series and will be enjoyed by any pony lover aged 5+. In
this book, readers meet the Melowies, magical ponies who are
at school together. They come from a variety of... more
Sep 13 2018
I had such friends by Meg Gatland-Veness
Pantera Press 2018. ISBN 9781925700015
(Age: Teens) Themes: Death. Grief. Suicide. Bullying. Depression.
Prejudice. Love. Loneliness and coming of age issues. Homophobia.
Sexuality. Sexual identity. Abuse. Neglect. Alcoholism. Domestic
violence. Child sexual abuse. Self-confessed loser... more
Sep 11 2018
The story of Eva Carmichael by Gary Crew
Ill. by Paul O'Sullivan. Harbour Publishing, 2018. ISBN
9781922134103
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Shipwrecks. Loch Aird.
Migration. Victoria. Subtitled, "The wreck of the Loch Aird", this
informative, sumptuously illustrated picture book will have readers
delving into the... more
Sep 11 2018
The survival game by Nicky Singer
Hodder Children's Books, 2018, ISBN 9781444944525
(Ages: 12+) Mhairi is a child displaced and desperate to return
home. The world is changing around her and she is caught in an
exodus as the people of Africa flee north, praying for a chance at
survival now Global Warming is taking its... more
Sep 11 2018
The heart of a whale by Anna Pignataro
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781743817629
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Whales. Loneliness. Melbourne author
and illustrator, Pignataro has drawn and painted since a young
child, culminating in a career of over 40 books, often nominated in
prestigious Australian book awards. Her Agatha... more
Sep 11 2018
How to Ninja: Activity book by Marcus Emerson
Diary of a 6th grade Ninja series. Allen and Unwin, 2018.
ISBN 9781760523824
(Ages: 7+) Recommended. Themes: Ninja. Adventure. Humour. For those
who have loved every edition of the funny series, Diary of a 6th
grade Ninja, then this book is sure to add to their pleasure.... more
Sep 11 2018
Dinosaur day out by Sarah Acton
Walker Books 2018. ISBN 9781760650049
(Age:4+) When the children go off to the museum with Dad for the
day, they are hoping to go to the dinosaur exhibition, but today
that gallery is closed. So Dad buys a book about dinosaurs from the
museum shop and they head off to the park instead.... more
Sep 11 2018
The Scoop by Terrence J Quinn
Simon and Schuster, 2018. ISBN 9781925640045
(Age: Senior school - Adult) Jonno Bligh, an award winning
journalist seems to have it made. However there is a problem. Jonno
has developed a habit for cocaine, which has turned a shy, socially
timid guy into a party machine.
After... more
Sep 10 2018
The Finder by Kate Hendrick
Text, 2018. ISBN 9781925603811
(Age: Adolescent) Highly recommended. This is a stunning new book
that draws the audience into the world of a young woman who is
determined to follow her dream as a 'finder', someone who will do
the research that is needed to locate those who have become... more
Sep 10 2018
Pearl the Magical Unicorn by Sally Odgers
Ill. by Adele K. Thomas. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742993133(Age: 5-7) Themes: Unicorns, Magic. With a preponderance of pink pages, borders, pictures and magical words, "Pearl the Magical Unicorn" steps up to delight young readers. With simple chapters, an easy-to-read and share story,...
moreSep 10 2018
A cardboard palace by Allayne Webster
Midnight Sun publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781925227253
(Ages: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Homelessness, Paris, Child
trafficking, Crime. A Notable Book in the CBCA 2018 awards, an
enlightening interview with Allayne Webster can be found at... more