Doom of the Darkwing, by talented author Cressida Cromwell, is the first action-packed instalment in the new How to Train Your Dragon School series. Readers are once again swept into the wildly imaginative world of dragons, danger and daring deeds. With Cowell’s trademark humour, adventure and heart, this new series will delight both fans of the original series, How to Train Your Dragon, and new readers alike.
The story begins where life on the Barbaric Archipelago has been anything but calm. Experiencing wild, unpredictable storms that are wreaking havoc across the islands, the tribe is in a state of unrest. Despite this, Hiccup is quite excited (even with the immense pressure to live up to the legacy of his formidable father) to be beginning his first day at the new Viking and Dragon Training School; his first lesson is “The Art of War.”
This excitement is short lived, however, when Hiccup breaks a rule during class and is awarded a devastating "egg level." Feeling the pain of disappointment, his feelings go from bad to worse when a cunning villain deceives his village. Hiccup tries desperately to warn his father, but is ignored and banned from leaving the island.
Seeing no other option than to risk the consequences, Hiccup and his loyal friend, Fishleg, decides to traverse the dangerous seas on their rickety boat - breaking the rules, braving the storm and hopefully saving the day! Will they have the power and skill to fight what they find in these dangerous waters?
The novel has a great format filled with lively black and white illustrations, adding an extra layer of magic and mystery, along with information to discover more about the dragon species from this wild Viking world. Dragon lovers will also love the Dragonese dictionary at the end; perfect for those wishing to speak to their dragon friends!
Doom of the Darkwing is a must-read for those who love dragons, fantasy, full on adventure and overcoming adversities - and also anyone who believes being different might just be your greatest strength.
Themes Dragons, Fantasy, Adventure, Vikings, Problem Solving, Heroism.
Michelle O'Connell
Thoughts from a quiet bench by Kes Gray and Nila Aye
Kes Gray, Author of the very popular Oi Frog books returns with a mindful picture book that celebrates the children who are happy to sit quietly on a bench during recess time at school, observing what is going on in the playground.
The child sits silently on the bench, listening to children chattering and playing. The child is happy to be alone but is also happy to have other children perch on the bench and sit quietly. Random thoughts and amazing questions flit through the child’s mind and will challenge the reader and listener to think:
What are thoughts made of? Where does the air stop being invisible and turn into blue sky? Can the wind blow in two different directions at once?
I found this book fascinating. It is easy to relate to the child who is thoughtful, observing the colours of socks and the lonely girl who is by herself. The idea of being able to sit tranquilly and not join in is likely to appeal to introspective children and could encourage the more boisterous child to stop and take a breath and let the imagination take over.
The illustrations add to the whimsical nature of the story. Soft colours are used to show the sky and clouds, and the diversity of characters adds to the book’s appeal.
Gray has written a unique story that comes highly recommended.
Themes Imagination, Thinking, Playgrounds.
Pat Pledger
Bear by Natalia Shaloshvili
Frances Lincoln Children's, 2025. ISBN: 9781836002604. (Age:3+)
When Bear sits on a bench in the meadow, he thinks
"I love being a bear. I love my cookie. I love my book. I love my balloon. And I love sitting on my bench all by myself."
But then Fox wants a spot on the bench, Wolf asks for a bite of cookie, Rabbit wants a turn with the book. And Elephant would really like the balloon... Bear's day is not what he expected but will he share? Or will he explode?
From the get-go, our little ones are taught to share their things, but what happens when you have given away all you have? Do you speak up and risk the wrath of those around you, accused of being selfish? Or do you learn the art of saying "no" without hurting feelings or feeling guilty? Do you really have to give away some of the things you hold dear? Are you ever allowed to just let your frustration go?
While Bear's words say one thing, his expression and the clever use of font say another, giving the reader the opportunity to consider his body language and speculate on what he is really thinking, offering yet more lessons in how to "read the room", particularly if the adult sharing the book begins a conversation about these sorts of non-verbal cues and clues.
While this is primarily aimed at the preschool child who is learning about operating in the world of family and friends, it also has implications for those a bit older as they also learn to develop respectful relationships and that it is not only okay to say no, but sometimes it is essential.
Navigating the world of relationships, especially in this time of political correctness and social politeness where there is always someone who will take offence, is tricky for the most mature of us, and so retreating to Bear's isolated world of a bench, a book and a balloon seems to be idyllic but because, as John Donne said. "No man is an island", we must learn to map and walk our path carefully. even though sometimes we want to, can and do scream AAAAAARGH! (Or words to that effect and who cares about the consequences!).
Tom Blackburn has just been released from gaol, after serving nine years as an accessory to murder. He knows to be careful, it’s too easy to end up inside again. But odds are stacked against him; on his first day out he is robbed of his wallet and the only cash he has. Of his options, a charity shelter with similar down-and-outs, or sleeping in the open, he chooses sleeping in a cemetery. There is at least fresh air, and a certain freedom.
Then it seems like his luck has changed when he is offered work and a place to stay at the cemetery. Cyril, his overseer, has done gaol time too, and is willing to give him a chance. But it is not long before Tom senses that something underhand is going on.
It’s an interesting scenario. The boy that was convicted of accessory to murder, in an act of ‘the most serious violation of a corpse’ that the judge had come across, seems to have retained some moral values. He resists the temptation to steal money from an open till, and he doesn’t want to be involved in whatever is going on in the cemetery; whilst Cyril, the man who loves his dog, is a vegetarian, and who philosophises about sustainability and the climate, seems to be the most ruthless and corrupt of all.
Brandi is master at carrying a narrative with a minimalist kind of dialogue, the kinds of words that drag out of the side of the mouth, yet it is so authentic you can hear the voices and picture the characters. The reader can’t help but be caught up in sympathy for Tom, who is naïve but also hyper-sensitive to the nuances of a situation. His phone call conversations with the girl he clings to in his memories, are transparently stuck in a timeframe that has passed him by; she has moved on.
Those who have read Brandi’s award-winning novel Wimmera (2017) will recognise the connections. And if you haven’t read that book, I’m sure that at the end of Eden you will want to seek it out.
Themes Crime, Morals, Luck.
Helen Eddy
School of monsters: Greg's spooky surprise! by Sally Rippin
Greg’s spooky surprise! is another addition to Sally Rippin’s School of Monsters series of first readers. In this one the reader finds Greg who loves the spooky season and wants to frighten everyone. But to his surprise, there are some people who don’t like being frightened, so he plans a fun house for them as well as a spooky house for those who like to be scared.
With cute, colourful illustrations by Chris Kennett, this is a fun rhyming story that adults will enjoy reading aloud to young children who love everything to do with spooky things, while emerging readers will enjoy following the instructions on the back cover: ‘Start by reading only the last word on every line and work your way up to the whole story!' There are instructions for parents to help their child to read at the end, and children will also enjoy the chance to learn how to draw Greg.
There are lots of books in the School of Monsters series which will be a boon for parents if young children find them engaging in their early attempts to learn to read. Greg’s spooky surprise! will also be a great read for Halloween.
Themes Halloween, Spooks.
Pat Pledger
My super charged ADHD brain by Dani Vee, James Layton and Ruth-Mary Smith
A joyful story, My Supercharged ADHD Brain with its exuberant illustrations, brings to life what it is like to have a different type of brain. Both Dani Vee and James Layton have been diagnosed with ADHD and the illustrator has loves with ADHD so the book resonates with authenticity.
A small girl, the narrator of the story, states that her brain is like ‘a race car, a cheetah, a rocket ship and a popcorn machine that keeps Pop Pop Popping’ unlike her friends who have bookish brains, science brains, creative brains and sporty brains. Her brain never slows down and she has lots of energy, solving problems and talking a lot.
The wonderful illustrations complement the story, making it very easy to visualise the little girl with the supercharged brain as she chronicles her feelings and actions: I lose track of time, but I am… Courageous Fun Loud Impatient And I never give up!
My Supercharged ADHD Brain is an engaging story that illustrates the strengths and challenges of having ADHD. It is sure to help readers understand what it is like to have ADHD, with it positive and often humorous approach to the topic. Meanwhile, adults may like to explore the three ways that ADHD presents from the Health Direct website.
In this poignant novel rooted in historical fiction, Jackie French explores life amid World War II in Australia and beyond. Set in 1942, just after Japan bombed Sydney Harbour a sixteen-year-old Ossie lies about his age to enlist in the fight, reluctantly leaving behind his one-eyed dog, Lucky. Left to Mrs. Plum, who already cares for dozens of soldiers’ dogs, Lucky finds a new caregiver in thirteen-year-old Kat Murphy. Together, Kat and her school friends take on the responsibility of caring for the animals and writing letters from them to keep morale high. As the war reaches its darkest moments, Ossie is taken prisoner and sent to Japan, ultimately witnessing the rise of the mushroom cloud over Nagasaki. Kat discovers an extraordinary bond with Lucky. She begins experiencing visions of Ossie’s journey and suffering, connecting their lives despite the distance.
Through this haunting narrative, French weaves themes of loyalty, trauma, and empathy across war-torn worlds. French’s prose is understated yet emotionally potent as she honours real survivors and Japanese eyewitnesses, allowing readers to decide for themselves the moral weight behind the bombings instead of prescribing an answer. This haunting story of bravery, interconnectedness, and bereavement stays with you long after the last page. Perfect for readers who enjoy understated historical fiction with intense emotional resonance. Those who read and loved books by Peter Høeg, Markus Zusak, or Debra Adelaide would have plenty to ponder here. French's book reminds us of the human side of history and how small things such as looking after a one-eyed dog can provide hope during the most difficult of times.
Themes: World War, 1939-1945, Prisoners and prisons, Dogs, Nuclear weapons, Nagasaki (Japan)-Bombardment
The Deadly Diamond is one of two History Hunter books released by Mark Greenwood in 2025, to complete the 4-book series which started in 2024 with The dragon's treasure and The vanishing. The final two books in this series are The wonder horse and The deadly diamond, both released in June 2025. Each book is the stand-alone case file of its own unique historical topic.
The History Hunter series is fabulous for middle grade readers, especially those who love a juicy story about true events. This particular volume is also fabulous for those who relish the idea of a real-life curse!
The titular diamond of this book is the Hope Diamond, originally dug out of the earth in India in 1642. But that diamond looked quite different to the one now on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. And that diamond was not called the Hope Diamond.
This case file starts over a billion years ago, deep underneath the earth's surface. Heat and pressure combined to compress carbon atoms into a rare blue diamond weighing over 112 carats. The diamond was eventually dug up in 1642 and has been recut twice and had multiple different owners over all the passing years. It is now just over 45 carats and is still the rarest and most famous diamond ever known.
The story of the diamond itself is interesting - following its journey through the years and its changing appearance. But the most fascinating part of the story is the ill-fortune that befell almost every owner of the diamond. From the first buyer (who is said to have died on the streets of Moscow after being attacked by a pack of wolves), to King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (whose deaths by guillotine are well-documented), to another owner who died with it under her pillow - the idea of a curse adds an extra layer to the enthralling tale of this famous diamond.
The final few pages are a wealth of extra information: Hope Diamond statistics; a detailed timeline from 800 BC to present day; a list of extra resources including books and web links; a glossary; and acknowledgements.
Themes Diamonds, Mystery, History, Curses.
Kylie Grant
Creation lake by Rachel Kushner
Random House, 2024. ISBN: 9781787334380. (Age:16+) Highly recommended.
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2024, Rachel Kushner’s latest book is a fascinating mix of philosophical discussion and spy thriller, with a twist of sardonic humour. Her protagonist, Sadie Smith (a fake identity), is a spy hired by anonymous corporate interests to infiltrate a French commune run by eco-activists, with the aim of discrediting them, and implicating them in unlawful activities, and thus enabling the ongoing development of formerly agricultural land.
Sadie is a mercenary, former FBI agent who was accused of entrapment when her snare led to the conviction of a very nalve boy, all as a means to an end. This time she enters Le Moulin commune deliberately seeking to provoke conflict and violent action. In the Japanese analysis of blood traits, she is “ambitious, intelligent, and independent. But also cold, arrogant, and conniving.” 'Ruthless' would be another good descriptor. However, her cool analysis and deprecatory thoughts, plus her crafty manipulation of people and situations, provide for a lot of the humour.
The philosophical aspect of the novel is centred on the figure of Bruno Lacombe, a man in his eighties, the leading inspiration for the commune’s drive to return to nature and the peasant way of life. With his examination of the destructive impact of Homo sapiens on the planet, he asks “we are headed toward extinction in a shiny, driverless car, and the question is: How do we exit this car?” He idealises the Neanderthals as the uncorrupted, and seeks to return ever closer to their simple existence, moving from a farmhouse to a barn to a dry-stone hut, and then to the darkness of an underground cave. The commune members begin to find his views too obscure, and want to engage in a major protest action against the developers, while Sadie, the cynic, the person who cares for nobody, finds herself drawn further and further into the arguments he presents in his writings.
In a twist on the ‘escape from a cult’ trope, Sadie instead ends up on the path to finding her ‘salt’, her inner truth. But it’s a path that escalates into a farcical turn of events that explodes all around her. This is a really enjoyable novel for readers who like something that challenges their thinking, and is fun at the same time.
Themes Alternative lifestyle, Commune, Future, Philosophy, Spy.
Once upon a time, all the books in the world were manufactured at one place - the Story Factory!
The workers at the story factory know exactly what it takes to make a book: characters, a plot, vocabulary, and punctuation. All the same elements are used over and over again, and everything has a precise order. Nothing new or original is ever added to the stories. But one day the factory suddenly stops producing books, as the machinery seizes up. The workers must locate and remove the blockage, but no matter what they try - sorting the characters back into categories, resequencing the plots, adjusting emotions, vocabulary and punctuation - the machine refuses to work. And then they investigated the mixer where the ingredients were combined into new books and something amazing happens....
This is a wonderful story about the notion that while the best stories may all have the same key elements - setting, plot, character, emotions, problem, solution, conclusion - it is that magical ingredient of an individual's imagination that turns them from a book to a story. So while we might teach students about the mechanics of constructing a tale, it is that special ability to change the scaffold into a unique building by being free to create rather than constrained to conform that makes the difference.
Young readers will enjoy this story for what it is and delight in its message of allowing themselves to be taken on a journey by their imagination to who knows what destination, but older readers might also see it as an allegory for the impact of imposition whether that be everyone having to read the same books, having to learn the same things at school, having to hold the same beliefs and values as directed by the government or any other form of censorship that stifles individuality and imagination. What are the intentions and implications of such restrictions? Opportunities to investigate things like Prohibition in the US, conflict and revolutions in countries, perhaps even the tactics of the Make America Great Again movement... Just as the Story Factory becomes decentralised so it meets the needs of the people, should other things become so, too? Is there a place or a need for out-of-the-box thinking and activity? Or is there a place for centralisation and conformity? Is there a happy medium?
The one common element of stories not attended to by the factory workers is the opportunity to provide food for thought - and this one certainly does that!
Themes Books and reading, Factories.
Barbara Braxton
The haunting of Mr & Mrs Stevenson by Belinda Lyons-Lee
“Louis, you have the soul of a poet”: these are the words that appear in her automated writing when a spirit inhabits the person of Lady Jane Shelley at the seance that Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife Fanny attend in the Shelley home. Why these words seem horrific to both Louis and Fanny becomes one of the mysteries that unravel in Lyons-Lee’s latest novel set in the 19th century about the inspiration for his book ‘The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. Readers of Stevenson’s book will find this historical fiction account enthralling.
It begins with a haunted wardrobe, the wardrobe that frightened the impressionable Louis as a young boy, as he listened to the scary tales of his nurse Cummy. It’s a wardrobe that was crafted a century earlier by a notorious Scottish criminal, Deacon Brodie, and it’s posited that perhaps the wardrobe has absorbed the essence of its maker. He was a wealthy and respectable cabinet-maker who led a double life, stealing from his clients and murdering anyone who got in his way.
Augmented by the fevers and visions that are a side-effect of the ergotine drug that Stevenson takes for his tuberculosis, Louis becomes obsessed with the idea of the duality of man, an obsession that leads him to explore the dark underbelly of Edinburgh city as the location for his novel.
There is another duplicitous figure in his life, his ‘good friend’ Eugene Chantrelle, a manipulative figure that Fanny immediately mistrusted when she first made the acquaintance of Louis and his friends, when as an American woman fleeing her husband, she arrived in the artistic community of Grez in France. In their early romantic friendship, she continually warned Louis about Eugene’s behaviour, his callousness and his cloaked abusiveness to both her and his young wife Elizabeth.
All of these elements combine to create a dark mystery in their lives, a mystery that finds expression in the writings of both Louis and Fanny. Fanny is the narrator of Lyons-Lee’s novel, a unique figure of the times, as an adventurous revolver-carrying American woman, Louis’ “Wild Woman of the West’, ten years older than him, who with her three children has tried to separate from her husband three times, who supports herself with her published writing, and who dares to paint ‘en plein air’.
Lyons-Lee has combined thorough research of the times; the drugs, the scientific thinking, phrenology, spiritualism, status of women; and has crafted a gothic mystery of her own, one which fills in the background to Stevenson’s life and work, and is compelling reading for its own sake.
Themes Robert Louis Stevenson, Deception, Serial killer, Murder, Spiritualism, Crime.
Helen Eddy
This Bird: Noticing our Urban Birds by Astrid Hicks with Holly Parsons
If you are on the lookout for a non-fiction bird book for a young reader, then this fabulous new release from CSIRO Publishing is the one. Written by Astred Hicks in collaboration with bird scientist Dr Holly Parsons, this is a must have for any budding ornithologists or twitchers. Filled with fascinating facts and striking illustrations presented on colourful glossy pages, this is a one-stop-shop for information about birds that exist in our Australian urban spaces.
Beginning with a contents page and introduction, the authors then lead readers to a double page spread where there is important information and key symbols about the type of food eaten by birds: using the scientific names such as nectarivore and piscivore, and the varied birds found within the pages of the book. This is followed by two clearly labelled diagrams of the parts of a bird’s body as well as a useful size comparison chart.
The chapters are clearly defined by coloured writing on a white cloud shape with identifying symbols placed strategically amongst the text, which is accessible and well-spaced on the page. There is a map of Australia showing where each particular bird’s habitat may be and extra interesting facts. In the final pages is the glossary, a list of Australian habitats and an index of species.
This beautifully presented book will be wonderful addition to all libraries: home, school or public.
Wiggle, Wobble, Walk! by Mike Dumbleton. Illus. by Sarah Boese
Little Book Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781923141285. (Age:Birth - 4) Highly recommended.
Wiggle, Wobble, Walk! is a charming board book to share with babies and toddlers. Four very appealing babies gently flow through the stages of growth and movement from the early waving of legs, to sitting up, crawling, standing, walking, exploring and finally running.
Author Mike Dumbleton has skilfully used rhyming words to show the many features of moving - including bending, wiggling, slithering as well as toppled, explore, climb and run. The diverse images of the lively, active babies and toddlers are beautifully drawn by illustrator Sarah Boese in soft pastel colours. Each character has a delightfully expressive face that visibly shows their joy in moving.
A wonderful book to read and enjoy with the littlest of readers.
Penguin Random House, 2025. ISBN: 9780241681121. (Age:13+) Recommended.
Blaze, born to a family that commands flames, has been hidden away following the mighty storm she summoned unwittingly at her birth. The devastating death and destruction have rendered her a disgrace in the eyes of many. Feared and shunned for her anomalous abilities, she longs to travel far, far away from it all. Her plans will, however, have to wait for she has been chosen to compete for the crown in the Choosing Rite. What will follow when the people realise that the Stormweaver’s dreaded powers have turned feeble? And what happens when Blaze meets the only other person in her world to have caused as massive a destruction as her?
Set in a fantasy world where the elements obey one’s wishes, Heir of Storms is perfect for young adults hung-over from Powerless and the Hunger Games. With a feisty heroine, bitter rivalries, and unexpected romances, Murray’s first in the Storm Weaver trilogy delivers a gripping blend of magic, politics, and emotional depth that will leave you breathless. The only drawback is that some of the characters were not explored enough. A little more insight into characters like Flint, Blaze’s brother, would have increased the story’s appeal. However, it is possible that this may have been reserved for the second book.
This book is a solid 4.5 out of 5 and definitely recommended for readers aged 13 and above.
Themes: Fire, Magic Twins, Sorcery.
Jyothika B. (Student)
Tom Clancy: Line of demarcation by M.P. Woodward
Little, Brown Book Group, 2025. ISBN: 9781408732755. (Age:16+ - Adult) Recommended for those who love action-adventure.
In the style of the original Tom Clancy’s works this is an incredible tale involving Jack Ryan Jr, a successful business operative, who is on the cusp of sealing an oil contract deal with the Guyanese government. But as the region has been impacted by the evil and corruption of those in the drug trade and there has been significant infiltration of other foreign powers from Russia and Venezuela, at the last minute Jack’s business interests are plagued by major obstacles. An American Coast Guard cutter, (providing logistical assistance for the newly built oil platforms in Guyana), also encounters opposition and America can’t turn a blind eye but is only able to help in a ‘dark’ capacity, utilising the incredible skills of a small group of brave operatives. In extremely risky conditions Jack’s own life is under threat, but he is not the only one! And Guyana is also on the cusp of major change as corruption and a potential coup threaten all attempts at overcoming the problems of their region. An exciting politically-charged, dangerous adventure into the darker side of power and espionage.
For those who love action and adventure, this is a compelling story. Mature readers would love the intrigue and complexity of the story set in the South American environment. Each chapter is relatively short as it deals with different aspects of the complex operation. But always the intelligence and bravery of Jack Ryan Jr, and the small band of American operatives working in impossible circumstances, drive the interest. This story is for readers aged 16+ and for those who love dramatic action with violence and political conspiracy. Although not written by the late Tom Clancy, it has all the hallmarks and style features of his work.
Themes Guyana, Corruption, Drug barons, Espionage, Oil wealth, US Military, National sovereignty.
