A disastrous wedding. An angry aunt. And suddenly, a trip across China. All of this because of one, slightly mispronounced, Mandarin congratulatory. Leah Zhang never meant to wish her cousin a depressing marriage and poor health, but she’s forgotten most of her Mandarin. Quickly, her parents stage an intervention: a two-week-long trip around China and its stunning cities, where Leah will get back to her roots and learn Mandarin. In enters the cynical, annoying Cyrus Sui. The boy who ruined her life. All of a sudden, the trip is taking a sharp jerk to the left, shifting from an educational trip to a bitter plot for revenge against the boy who broke her. But somewhere between quiet conversations at 3AM and split moments at breakfast, Leah feels shifting feelings, and suddenly, she’s questioning both the boy in front of her and her feelings towards him. Does she really hate him? Or were all the shared smiles they had real?
Never Thought I’d End Up Here is a romance fiction set in China. Ann Liang’s writing carefully crafts the bold story of healing wounds and hesitant hope, drawing in readers with its witty banter and poetic love. It tells the story of two individuals who are slowly finding themselves; and learning to accept the reflection they see.
Ann Liang’s writing style is compelling and unique, capturing readers with her words from the very first page. Never Thought I’d End Up Here is her latest novel, already rising in popularity. I’d recommend this book to any individual with a passion for romance fiction and a heart for banter.
Themes: China, Travel, Romance
Jahnavi B. (Student)
The only branch on the family tree by Sherryl Clark
University of Queensland Press, 2025. ISBN: 9780702268915. (Age:10+) Recommended.
Gemma and her mum are a family, her dad, not around and a ‘closed subject’. When her teacher, Mrs Wellcome, sets the class a project “Exploring Family” she makes it clear that everyone is different and this project will celebrate difference and love. Gemma’s best friend has lots of family to fill her project but Gemma decides she can make a collage filled with pictures of her with her mum, a nice surprise for her. She starts looking for photos in albums and the computer including one with her grandparents when she was very small. Her mum had told her they died, another ‘closed subject’ but then Gemma finds another photo, clearly of her grandma in front of some Olympic rings, the photo quite recent. Why would her mum lie to her? why has she denied her a nan for 11 years? How can she trust what she says? Questions too big to answer, and Gemma has a big bucket of words too big to let out, a situation dealt with sensitively by her teacher. Maybe she can find her nan on her own, and with the help of a notebook Gemma shares her plan with friend Marley and they search together on the computer. By writing down questions and what they find, Gemma starts to feel better, her family tree, represented by a simple illustration throughout the text, starts to grow. Gemma’s journey is sensitively communicated in this verse novel, a form which sounds challenging but isn’t, the blank verse has an immediacy, a stripped back essence of storytelling like song lyrics. Her journey is difficult, requiring resourcefulness and bravery, risking the destruction of the precious relationship she has with her mother. Gemma doesn’t give up, she accepts her teacher’s advice to be patient and she is rewarded for the effort. The words from Gemma’s poem on page 97 are particularly poignant
“My nan She’s like a stranger I always knew”
Family estrangement can take many forms and here Sherryl Clark has sensitively explored one example. There are kids helpline details at the end of the book.
Themes Family estrangement, Verse novel.
Sue Speck
Nora notices by Tegan Moss
Little Book Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781923141131. (Age:3-5) Recommended.
Nora Notices is a gentle, calm story that introduces a young girl called Nora who spends her time mindfully noticing all sorts of things in her everyday life. She notices how her sheets look like a grassy hill, a hedge looks like a cat licking its paws, a strong man scared of a little dog plus all sorts of other images she interacts with during her day.
Debut picture book author and iIllustrator Teagan Moss has created a thoughtful story where seeing the unusual in everyday things provides Nora with great joy. This story is also a reminder about slowing down and taking in what is surrounding us. The soft, muted illustrations perfectly complement the written story and in particular the double page image of Nora lying in the grass watching ants communication with each other is delightful.
Multiple award winning American author Stephen King, author of more than seventy books, all of them international bestsellers, needs no introduction. Known best for the mystery/horror genre, Never Flinch is King's latest publication (May 2025).
Never Flinch presents with twin narratives or perhaps I would suggest triplet (or more) for not only does King intertwine the two main narratives: the story of Kate McKay, a "won't shut up" women's rights activist and her offsider Kate as they travel on a multi-state lecture tour followed by a stalker and that of a serial killer who is intent on "killing thirteen innocents and one guilty" to atone, in his eyes, for a juries' wrongful decision to convict an innocent man and his subsequent death. There is also the story of Detective Izzy Jaynes and her friend Holly Gibney. These narratives (which twist and turn concurrently) meet and culminate in a heartstopping conclusion. Keeping the reader across these twisting narratives is the feat of a seasoned writer indeed. A sense of immediacy pervades as the foci shifts from character to character always in the present tense. Each chapter is punctuated into numbered sections with each successive section turning to a different character and scenario which acts as an authorial technique to assist the reader to understand concurrent action akin to "...in the meantime..." King skilfully weaves past and present to build knowledge of the characters.
There is a large cast of characters in Never Flinch. Deftly, King manages to flesh them all out - complete with their personalities, actions, motivations and back stories. The characters all have a creative compulsion to some degree; they have obsessions. We see a study of damaged individuals and the harm that they do. We see their wrong-footed thoughts, the cracked filters through which they view the world. We see the traumatised psyche of the protagonists and while the tension builds and the game of cat and mouse evolves, King gets the reader thinking...who are these characters/ What might they do? While one character obsesses over a single victim, the other (who has a greater inner monologue) observes himself dispassionately as he clocks up victims. As a study in what leads villains to behave in this way, Never Flinch is sad, disturbing and upsetting. Horrific childhood abuse, grief and loss has led to the deteroriation of both characters into maladjusted killers.
Breadcrumb clues are scattered, red herrings appear, there's a certain amount of withholding and gradual revelation and definitely a killer twist. The visceral violence and the random way that the serial killer selects his victims is chilling. The Buck-eye City Police Department's ace detective is always a step behind. The identity of this killer comes as a shock and surprise. The other killer is definitely socially withdrawn and known by a crazy religious sect to be so; the other functions within society - very well (at least in the workplace). Escalation of violence occurs as the plot picks up pace towards the climactic end.
The tension holds throughout. All characters are subjected to a high level of stress, whether they are the hunted or the hunter. All characters need to hold their nerve - hence the title Never Flinch.
Never Flinch is dark and violent both psychologically and physically. As the Daily Mail says, Stephen King is ..."One of the greatest storytellers...master at revealing the horrors that lurk beneath...ordinary life."
Themes Revenge, Women's rights activists, Addiction, Serial killing, Religious vigilantism, Detectives, Grief and loss.
Operation Hurricane by Paul Grace is a powerful account of Britain’s first atomic test in Australia. Grace unpacks the logistics of the mission, from transporting plutonium in steel boxes welded shut to RAAF patrols sweeping the skies to the bomb being lowered into a warship. But beneath the technical feat lies the sobering reality of the environmental damage and the harm suffered by Indigenous communities exposed to radioactive fallout with little understanding or protection.
A major thread running through Operation Hurricane is Britain’s imperial arrogance and Australia’s political compliance. Grace emphasises Britain’s assumption that Australia would serve as its nuclear testing ground with minimal consultation or concern for long-term consequences. He highlights how PM Menzies approved the operation without parliamentary discussion, thereby framing Australia as the associate in an extremely dangerous experiment. He also draws the reader’s attention to the physical and biological scars left behind by the experiment, bringing to light how fallout drifted far beyond the blast zone, irradiating islands and seeping into the mainland, how servicemen were unaware of the dangers, and how Aboriginal communities living closest to the land suffered the most, yet remained invisible in planning.
Although Operation Hurricane is a historical account, Grace brings it to life through the voices of those who lived it. Drawing on his grandfather’s experience in the RAAF, he offers a personal lens, adding depth and emotional weight to the story. The inclusion of testimonies from servicemen like Vince Douglas, who witnessed the detonation firsthand, makes the narrative gripping and real. Meanwhile, the decision-makers, both British and Australian, are portrayed with detachment, highlighting the distance between those giving orders and those facing the consequences. Most notably, the near-absence of Indigenous voices becomes a haunting omission that underscores how these communities were sidelined both in history and in reality.
Operation Hurricane is a wake-up call. Grace manages to take something technical and historically dense and make it genuinely compelling to his readers. His writing is accessible without dumbing anything down, and the way he weaves personal stories into broader political critique is incredibly effective. Readers are made to find themselves frustrated, rightly so, by the recklessness of the operation and the way Australia was treated as a nuclear testing ground without question. The book raises some hard questions: Who gets to write history and who gets forgotten? And what do we owe those who were affected?
Themes: Atomic bomb testing.
Jyotsna B. (Student)
Rakali of the Riverbank by Stephanie Owen Reeder. Illus. by Rachel Gregg
Rakali are one of two native Australian rats and have different names used by Indigenous people throughout Australia. The term rakali comes from the Ngarrindjeri people of the Murray River area of South Australia. The rakali is also known as the golden-bellied water mouse or native water rat and is only one of two amphibious mammals in Australia. The other being the well-known platypus.
This engaging narrative non-fiction book tells the story of Rakali as he travels and patrols his riverbank home over one night. The reader learns about Rakali’s eating habits and prey, his natural habitat, the predators he must be mindful of, and his family of young pups. The story is clearly told and the appealing softly toned, full page illustrations perfectly complement the text. The emphasis throughout on new and key words adds another layer of learning to the story.
The final pages provide so much more interesting information about the rakali, the name chosen by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency in 1995. There is a detailed diagram with explicitly labelled features as well as a map of the rakali’s habitat. A valuable glossary is included along with the conservation status of the rakali.
Once again CSIRO Publishing has published another fabulous story to provide younger readers with an opportunity to enjoy learning about our amazing Australian wildlife. An excellent book for all school libraries and classrooms. Teacher notes are available.
Themes Australian Native Animals, Mammals, Habitats, Ecosystems, Family, Predators.
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.
