The Lost Defenders is a roller-coaster fantasy adventure told through the eyes of Jace, a near 12-year-old. Jace has a rare gift called The Sight which gives him the ability to see monsters when others can’t. This leads to all sorts of problems for him, particularly at school. After an earthquake rocks the town of Clover Meadow he meets two other young people with the gift, Alice and Felix. Their meeting is arranged by Mr Madz, a curator at the museum, and he tells them that they have a mission. Due to their lineage, they are known as The Defenders and will be responsible for stopping the world being overrun by monsters. A prophecy says that this will occur on the night of an imminent eclipse. Although Mr Madz can’t see monsters he believes they exist and helps The Defenders, but Jace isn’t sure whether to trust Mr Madz. Before the final showdown the Defenders must face many dangerous situations. There is an interesting epilogue which sets the story up for a sequel.
Sam Summers has certainly created an exciting story with a deluge of monsters and scary situations from the outset. Most of the action takes place at night, thereby adding to the nerve-racking atmosphere. Gradually the Defenders develop good trusting friendships between each other, and they are brave and strong. The three of them have all suffered some misfortune in the past but have prevailed. This helps us empathise and admire the main characters. Jace’s voice and the dialogue are believable and sometimes humorous, which provides relief from the intensity. At times The Lost Defenders feels frantic, from portals to ancient journals and super power gadgets, but if readers can stay focussed, they will be rewarded with a satisfying, very sensory climax. I really liked Summers message to young readers that The Defenders superpowers are just an extension of their existing abilities and that “… the world doesn’t need superheroes. It needs real ones.” This story may appeal to readers who enjoyed the Percy Jackson series.
Oh, the wish that it were not a true story! This is heartbreaking and compelling in the same breath - an epic retelling of the loss of the RMS Titanic, told with a focus on Evelyn Marsden, a South Australian stewardess and the only Australian survivor. Everyone knows the harrowing tale of the unsinkable ship that proved that human skill and boasts can never ‘conquer the natural world, but in the end, when egos, arrogance and an unerring belief in invincibility align, disaster often follows’ (p525). But few know Evelyn Marsden, the steadfast survivor. Nothing about this story is easy to read because it is based on truth and accounts from those who were there (it is also 526 pages long), but its focus on Evelyn Marsden gives us a real person to follow and to feel her trauma through the harrowing hours of the Titanic’s great loss. Evelyn had demonstrated a desire to see more of the world than her hometown in Hoyleton, SA, and had a gentle, adventurous nature combined with a service heart that led her to work as a nurse/stewardess. Her work on board the Titanic was likely to be one of her last voyages before marrying her fiancé (who had miraculously escaped his own service upon the vessel), but as we read of the events that led to the iceberg’s impact you can only cry at the incredible loss of human life and marvel at the grace that any were saved.
Lisa Wilkinson has written in a style very like her husband Peter FitzSimons, with significant use of primary sources, to tell an unfolding narrative-style account, with perhaps a more female-focused flavour. The inherent melancholy of the event is also woven with individual tales of the survivors (mostly the first-class passengers’ tales were documented, so the third-class survivors’ stories are less prominent). With the wealth and privilege of power or the claims of the shipbuilders and the White Star Line echoing vainly amidst the finery of the female passengers in First Class, this is also a story of the changing times of cross-Atlantic travel and of seafaring in general. But the overwhelming shock and long-term trauma associated with the loss of the Titanic resounds like a distress call across the still waters. Wilkinson reports on the life (and death) of some of the survivors in a brief precis of their lives at the end of the narrative related to the sinking. For lovers of history or those who have been captivated by the story of the Titanic, or even those who have watched James Cameron’s movie and wondered how much of it was true, this is for you. Make sure you set aside a good chunk of time to read it (perhaps not while on an ocean cruise) and you will be surprised at how well Lisa Wilkinson allows you to inhabit this piece of human history with all its ‘griefs to bear’.
Text Publishing, 2026. ISBN: 9781923058811. (Age:Senior secondary, Adult) Highly recommended.
Flipping through the pages of Martel’s latest book reveals its unusual layout. The top half of the page is devoted to the fragments of an epic poem The Psoad, whilst the lower half comprises footnotes, comments by the narrator and snippets of his life. Harlowe Donne is a classicist, researcher of ancient Greek, and the narrative is presented like one of his papers, as he gradually decodes a heretofore undiscovered account of the Trojan War, told by Psoas, not a prince or glorious hero, not one of the elite recorded in The Iliad, but the ‘son of nobody’. His story presents the perspective of the peasant called to war, clad not in shining armour but in wood attached to linen, dirty and flea laden. While the Argive kings ‘laugh, dance, feast, and live forever’, the foot soldiers die miserable anonymous deaths.
Martel’s story of the Psoad exposes the crude reality of war. He suggests that The Iliad is the preferred account of the victors, a propaganda that hides the true motives of greed. The story of the kidnap of Helen has been presented as the justification for an armada of ships intent on destroying another empire; just as unscrupulous modern day politicians might falsely justify their wars on other nations. The chameleon is a recurrent motif, the way its eyes can gyrate separately, taking in two different perspectives. There are likely two sides to this story of war. And it is the soldiers who pay the price, starved and aching, sent into battle to kill other sons, husbands and fathers, good men who have not wronged.
Within the footnotes, there is also the story of Harlowe, the researcher, the events in his life a micro war running in parallel to the historical account he is piecing together. His marriage is falling apart, and in his passion for his work, which ironically is dedicated to his daughter, he is losing touch with the child he loves, just like those Greek soldiers who left their families behind for ten years.
I recommend Martel’s novel for students of classical Greece and Greek mythology, for the perspective it offers and the interesting questions it raises. However general readers need not have read Homer, for Martel provides details of the relevant heroes and their exploits whilst introducing his ‘son of nobody’ perspective. And despite the academic style of layout, the book is not difficult to read; it flows smoothly and readily engages the reader in all the threads of narrative. I could not put it down, and read it in one sitting. Highly recommended.
Themes Trojan War, Greek mythology, War, Propaganda, Philosophy.
Helen Eddy
Ready, Steady, Goal! by Adam Jackson & Adrian Lloyd. Illus. by John Barrett
Little Book Press, 2026. ISBN: 9781923141650. (Age:3-6) Highly recommended.
For the youngest readers just beginning to learn rules and skills in soccer, Ready, Steady, Goal! will be a very popular read. With sharp, short phrases on each page, the simple rhyming text flows consistently and is perfectly complemented by the bold, colourful images.
The sun is up. The grass is green. It's time to play – are your boots clean? We’ve got the ball. Who goes in net? Ready, steady…but not just yet!
It is time to play – one, two, three! The whistle blows. Quick pass to me!
Control the ball, with a TRAP Turn. Dribble, dribble. Tap, Tap, Tap!
Each carefully considered illustration is thoughtfully placed, whether as a full-page spread, a half-page moment, or a series of vignettes. The visual appeal is immediate, and the dynamic movement of the ball and characters as they travel across the pages creates an energetic rhythm that readers of all ages will enjoy.
This book would make a fabulous gift for a young child starting out on their soccer journey.
Billie McCadie is living a quiet life in 1964 Eastport, Maine. She works in a tiny clothing alterations shop, and borrows crime romance novels from the local library for some excitement - she's basically being bored to death. After the death of her parents, she's living with her grandparents for a time, even though she's old enough to be considered an 'old maid'. Her mother always taught her good manners, and so she lives life by these manners, until one day she receives a cryptic love letter and engagement ring - addressed to 'Gertrude'. Then she meets one of the summer visitors, a yacht-club member, the handsome Avery Webster, and starts participating in high society events - where she meets Gertrude and is the last person to see her alive... and the first to see her dead... Life then becomes a mix of cocktails, stalking, champagne secrets, more dead bodies and a whole heap of suspects and secrets.
Anna Fitzgerald Healy has written an interesting historical murder mystery with occasional footnotes (definitions on particular words, often humorous), that is evenly paced, packed with interesting characters and plenty of witty banter. Set in the 1960s, the story references events throughout the book that were big or relevant at the time, and plenty of references to fashion at the time. Perfect for readers who are keen fans of the 1960s, or those who would like to reminisce, and a good cosy mystery for those who enjoy the genre.
Stella unexpectedly becomes a short-term and fill-in carer for a puppy that potentially will become an assistance dog … but first he must be trained. With her best friend Millie, they decide that training the puppy will mesh nicely with the need for a task or topic for a school project. Stella and Millie attend an alternate school with less rigid structure than most, but a puppy at school comes with all sorts of interesting challenges, including negotiating Gwynyth’s mindfulness project. Can the friends train a puppy and cope with the things that go wrong along the way?
This is a delightful story with all the sweetness of a rolling and rollicking puppy and indicating the challenge of meeting its needs, and with all the feelings that might be felt. Millie particularly is prone to struggling with big feelings and her strategies for coping under pressure are made plain. This aspect of emotional intelligence would be good for young readers who struggle with anxiety. The ‘mean girl’ interaction with Gwyneth is handled sensitively with a measure of understanding possible. This is a book that young independent female readers aged 6-10 will love, it is written with a simple vocabulary and enough real-life connection to attract readers in this age bracket. There are sweet and naive illustrations scattered throughout the book, but less frequent than in many early chapter books.
Renowned Australian author Claire Saxby has once again written a stunning and profoundly reflective narrative non-fiction picture book that will leave a lasting impression on the wide range of readers it will definitely captivate. Combined with the striking and dramatic illustrations by Peter Cheong, Through the Darkening Sea, is a deep dive to the depths of the ocean floor where life exists far below the surface.
As the dead whale slowly falls, it passes through a myriad of sea life including ‘swarms of migrating krill, flit-and-skitter schools of silvery lightfish, threaded chains of see-through salps’, all perfectly imaged against a deep blue-black background. Each layer of ocean passed through by the whale is lyrically described and the explanation of how sea creatures' colouring changes the further from light, is creatively shared alongside the haunting visual images. As the whale settles on the ocean floor, it becomes a source of food for those that dwell there. The circle of life is once again complete when a female whale travels though tropical waters and a new calf is born.
Through the Darkening Sea is magical journey into the shadowed darkness below the ocean’s surface where even with little light, life is teeming. This is a picture book to read slowly, savouring the words and images, creating discussion and encouraging curious readers to dive into further research. A fabulous read.
The Dream Keeper is a strikingly whimsical picture book that will surprise readers with its deep meaning, incredible detail and glorious images. A young child is afraid of the dark and has trouble settling into sleep. Meanwhile a wondrous turtle travels to places carrying a small jar of illuminated dreams to those who need them. The turtle’s journey to give hope to the child afraid of shadows and darkness is not always smooth sailing but the destination is reached in the end. It is only then that the child and her toys drift gently towards slumber.
From the stunning cover and outstanding endpapers this is a book to be treasured. With minimal text, it is the compelling images in softly muted tones that tell this story of fear, courage and hope. Full page illustrations paired with panels, all rich in texture and movement, each highly detailed drawing revealing a thoughtful and imaginative narrative one section at a time.
Anna Walker has created an exceptional picture book. It is distinctive in its presentation showcasing the skills of a gifted author/illustrator as well as in the complex layers of the story behind the words and images, and how they are perceived and understood by each reader. Highly recommended.
Themes Young children, Dreams, Overcoming Fear, Courage, Self-confidence, Hope, Imagination.
Kat found success as a writer by telling the story of her parents’ own love story. Her entry into the publishing world was easy, but now after drafting her second novel everything seems to be tumbling down around her. A rewrite is necessary, but Kat is filled with dismay at her own inability to refashion her second story to make it anything but boring. Was it too much like her own life? A last-minute place on a writer’s workshop in France might be her chance to break the fear that she cannot write at all. Inside the writer’s craft and meshed with the sensuous joys of French cuisine and culture, Kat discovers more than she expected and it is not all romantic.
Written as a combination of a writing journal inspired by workshop prompts, and a bare-bones novella that seems to reveal a mystery involving the workshop hosts, the story is revealed as a combination of fiction, an investigation report disguised as fiction and an overarching mystery. The strange weaving of these things creates a muddied plot path that is sometimes a little uncomfortable in its progression. What is delightful is the French cultural landscape and the description of every meal creates moments of salivatory appeal. At times this seems a strange way to tell this unfolding mystery, and it is not always satisfying. There is romance, mystery and self-discovery all wound together in knots. Some of the techniques for creative writing are intriguing and the excerpts shared by the collection of retreat attendees can be admirable, but mostly this book feels puzzling. No one and no one’s story can really be trusted, and the narrative structure and style is slightly off-centre. Written for adults, but readers aged 16+ could find the Creative writing aspects of the story interesting.
When Jackson stands up his childhood sweetheart Sarah at their Sydney society wedding it is clear something has gone seriously wrong. All the rich and famous are there and no expense has been spared but the bride’s family connections to the Sydney underworld and the way they had always despised her relationship with Jackson has given the event an edge that preempts the non-arrival of the groom. Rumours are rife about what has happened, but Sarah discovers that Jackson and his friend Benny have left the country. What follows is a hunt where Sarah uses all her family connections and wealth to track Jackson down and seek vengeance. It seems Jackson’s talent for art might save him. A copy of a Picasso he made comes to the notice of a rich collector who has a proposition. He can be spirited away without trace if he can use his talent on a project close to collector Sebastian Lee’s heart.
We learn about Sarah and Jackson’s developing relationship and characters through timeline shifts, gradually building up a picture of Sarah’s athletic aspirations and Jackson’s developing art talent. We hear lots about the trappings of wealth and the cutthroat nature of elite sports and associated media attention but the characters didn’t develop beyond their respective talents. There is certainly enough action to satisfy the reader but at times I had to work hard to follow the timeline. The imagery was often laboured and held back the pace. When it came down to it, I didn’t care enough about the wealth, the sporting achievement (why was that at all relevant?) or the characters and the ending was very far-fetched. This one was not for me.
Fei Fei Chou is the diversity hire, the token Asian in the graduate intake to a conservative, highly prestigious, law firm. Little do they know, her real name is Evelyn and this is exactly the role she has been working towards for years. Beneath her quiet, unassuming and heavily made-up appearance, there is fiercely determined woman intent on revenge for a horrendous crime, which saw her, as a child, become the victim of the Eastern Suburbs Paedo (ESP). She was one of three young girls targeted by the still unidentified paedophile; only two of whom survived, Evelyn and Hailey. Hailey retains the only clue from her imprisonment, the memory of a box labelled ‘Paukeaho’. Loosely based on the Mr Cruel crimes in Melbourne in the 1980s, Rebecca Lim’s mystery thriller imagines the determination of a victim, now a graduate lawyer, who is focussed on discovering any trail to Paukeaho, to make the monster pay.
Rebecca Lim draws on her experience as a lawyer and exposes the challenges for a shy young Asian Australian graduate trying to take her place in a highly competitive, even toxic legal environment. But she shows that the outsider can succeed; the graduate is a seasoned survivor and proves herself capable and resilient, brave enough to venture into danger and get what she wants.
Lim’s crime novel is set in urban Australia, rather than the popular outback noir, and her investigator is a scarred Asian girl. Along the trail Lim exposes the crimes of Australian colonialism, the unprincipled mining of Pacific nations such as Nauru and Christmas Island, the exploitation of coolie labour, and the long-standing abuse of women and children. It is a unique blend of enthralling thriller and historical research, an interesting new brand of crime fiction.
The graduate is a new genre in Lim’s repertoire. Best known for the highly awarded young adult novel Tiger daughter (2021) and Two sparrowhawks in a lonely sky (2023), she is also the author of the Children of the Dragon fantasy books and a picture book Our family dragon (2023). The graduate is her first foray into adult fiction, but her sensitive non-graphic handling of the themes of rape and sexual abuse means that YA readers of crime thrillers may also appreciate this novel.
Themes Paedophilia, Revenge, Law, Crime.
Helen Eddy
In the kelp forest by Patsy Cameron & Reena Balding. Illus. by Belinda Casey
On first viewing of the glorious blue-green cover of in the kelp forest, an immediate connection is made. With embossed kelp fronds traversing both the front and back, the reader will be drawn to the striking water colour images inside paired with the quietly informative text in this stunning narrative non-fiction book. Each page is a wonder of artistic design with the both the attached and unattached kelp providing a rich source of food, habitat and safety for those that it shelters and supports.
The skilful use of traditional words from Oyster Bay and Coastal Plains languages, anchors and accentuates the Country where this narrative takes place. The Patterleener (abalone or muttonfish), Neertattenner (crayfish), Payenratter (sea horse), Lowernume (sea urchin) plus other varied creatures all live and feed within the kelp forest. Throughout the book are important ecological and relevant facts gently woven into the narrative providing readers with more knowledge and understanding about the importance of kelp forests in marine ecosystems.
In the final pages there is further information about kelp plus a description of four members of the kelp family as well as a glossary. This is a beautifully written and engaging book that would be a wonderful addition to a home, school or public library.
Themes Kelp, Tasmania, First Nations People, Cultural Knowledge, Creatures, Food Chains, Ecosystem, Narrative Non-fiction.
Kathryn Beilby
What's the Weirdest Thing about Animals? by Edward Brooke-Hitching
This novel-sized non-fiction text will be a handy and humorous quick read for children who love to find out strange and interesting facts about animals from all over the world. The book begins with a clearly set out contents page highlighting six chapters with catchy titles:
This is followed by the introduction and then an engaging chapter on How To Talk to Animals Around the World. For example, cows moo but they also ngoah (Arabic) boe (Dutch) um-bo (Vietnamese) and horses neigh but they also iihihihi (Albanian) vrinsk (Danish) wiehiehie (German). There is a double page spread with numerous collective nouns such as an unkindness of ravens, a zeal of zebras, a maelstrom of salamanders.
Each chapter introduces the particular group of animals and then presents facts in bite-sized chunks differentiated by change of font. For example, elephants are not frightened by mice but they are scared of bees or penguins can’t pee but they are powerful poopers! Key words are highlighted, examples are given and black and white images are spread throughout. At the end of each chapter is quick quiz. In the final pages are space to fill in some of the weird facts learnt through reading the book.
While this book is not a glossy, large format publication with multiple colour images, it remains highly accessible and easy to browse.
Themes Animals Worldwide, Facts, Nature, Humour.
Kathryn Beilby
Princess and Unicorn: Mikka's magical surprise by Kyla May and Zanni Louise
Mikka is a young princess who really wants a pet and her birthday is approaching. The pet she does receive is magical and amazing, but the young, untrained unicorn creates some unusual, colourful and messy moments during Mikka’s birthday party. Learning to train the unicorn presents some more intriguing moments and Mikka must convince everyone around her that a magical unicorn in the palace is a positive thing.
This is a simple chapter book with some magical sparkles and action that moves quickly. Everything happens with only short passages of text on each page and chapters that move at pace. Black line illustrations are cute and would assist early readers to understand the magical mayhem that an untrained unicorn can create.
For 5-7 year olds who are beginning their independent reading journey.
Themes Unicorns, Birthdays, Pets, Magic.
Carolyn Hull
Lady's knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761069284. (Age:13+) Recommended.
Gwen lives in hiding - running her father's blacksmith shop in secret while dreaming of being a knight, and also being attracted to girls - all a dangerous mix in the small village she lives in. Lady Isobelle is almost the opposite - not really in the shadows as a Lady, always running around, talking her way out of trouble - until now, when her guardian puts her and her dowry as the prize for the winner of the Tournament of Dragonslayers. Whichever knight wins the tournament, wins her. When the two girls meet, sparks fly and a daring scheme is concocted - Lady Isobelle could win her freedom and Gwen could win glory - but losing? Could mean the end of everything... And love? It wasn't part of the plan...
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have written yet another fantastic book, full of witty banter, quick action and excellent characters. Well paced and swapping between the two lead characters points of view, the book moves swiftly and there will be enough predictability and guessing that readers will feel comfortable and on the edge of their seat. Readers will enjoy this tale set in medieval times, with an added LGBTQIA+ twist, instead of the usual lady and knight - and the nod to early feminism. Kaufman and Spooner together are always a winner, and Lady's Knight is right up there with their previous collaborations.
