Review search
Koori Princess (Anita Heiss, Magabala)
Released November 2022
Anita Heiss is an award-winning author who has published across the gamut of Australian writing: from adult fiction and memoir to children’s novels, she’s seemingly done it all. Koori Princess... Read more
A Tiny Light (Alison Lester, UQP)
Released November 2022
It’s always a delight when Alison Lester, one of Australia’s most well loved picture-book creators, releases a new story. A Tiny Light is her latest offering, a charming narrative in... Read more
Willowman (Inga Simpson, Hachette)
Released November 2022
In Inga Simpson’s heartfelt new novel Willowman, a gifted young cricketer and a dedicated batmaker live their lives in parallel to one another, their love of the game binding them... Read more
Berani (Michelle Kadarusman, A&U)
Released November 2022
Berani is a powerful middle-grade story about animal activism set in Indonesia, by the Indonesian-Australian author of Music for Tigers. Weaving in two interconnected stories and three voices, including that... Read more
Diary of a Rescued Wombat (Jackie French, illus by Bruce Whatley, HarperCollins)
Released November 2022
Who says prequels are only for YA epics and fantasy novel franchises? Jackie French and Bruce Whatley have decided it’s time for us to learn the backstory of the protagonist... Read more
Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here (Heather Rose, A&U)
Released November 2022
At the age of six, Heather Rose stood under a eucalyptus tree and pledged herself to a higher power: ‘I’m ready. Tell me what to do.’ Throughout her childhood in... Read more
Art (Charmaine Papertalk Green & John Kinsella, Magabala)
Released November 2022
Art is, on the surface, two skilled poets in dialogue over the artwork of the late Nyoongar artist Shane Pickett. But it is also a political text, asking ‘who is... Read more
The Reindeer and the Submarine (Beverley McWilliams, Pantera)
Released November 2022
Having previously been awarded a notable CBCA commendation for her picture book on aviator Captain Harry Butler, Beverley McWilliams now makes a quirky and charming foray into middle-grade fiction. The... Read more
The Soulmate (Sally Hepworth, Macmillan)
Released November 2022
Sally Hepworth delivers another brilliant, page-turning domestic thriller with her eighth novel The Soulmate. Set in the idyllic coastal town of Portsea, sheltered from the hustle of city life, the... Read more
To Greenland! (Pip Smith, illus by Beau Wylie, Scholastic)
Released November 2022
To Greenland! is the joyous new picture book from Pip Smith and Beau Wylie, who last collaborated on Theodore the Unsure. This new adventure follows Ellie the elephant, who resides... Read more
Hard Labour: Wage theft in the age of inequality (Ben Schneiders, Scribe)
Released October 2022
Income inequality fell in Australia during the postwar period, and by 1979 inequality was at its lowest. Then neoliberal economics took hold, championed by leaders such as Ronald Reagan and... Read more
The Glass House (Brooke Dunnell, Fremantle Press)
Released November 2022
When Julia’s elderly father, Don, finally agrees to move out of the family home and into an aged-care facility, Julia knows she has a lot of work ahead of her.... Read more
Boundary Crossers (Meg Foster, NewSouth)
Released November 2022
In her new book Boundary Crossers, historian Meg Foster combs archives and family histories to explore questions surrounding the lesser known bushrangers of Australian history. Is there more to the story... Read more
Amazing Animal Journeys (Jennifer Cossins, Lothian)
Released November 2022
Tasmanian artist Jennifer Cossins hit world picture-book fame with 101 Collective Nouns, and has since collected a swag of CBCA and other accolades. Her newest title, the nonfiction Amazing Animal... Read more
The Lovers (Yumna Kassab, Ultimo)
Released November 2022
Yumna Kassab’s The Lovers is the folkloric tale of Jamila and Amir’s love. We don’t know many details of their relationship or what their love was like at its crescendo;... Read more
The Careless State (Mark Considine, MUP)
Released October 2022
The Careless State is a timely and forensic examination of the failures of the Australian government’s provision of social services. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed—particularly through the publicised failures in... Read more
Off to the Market (Alice Oehr, Scribble)
Released October 2022
Off to the Market is a celebration of markets and healthy, whole foods. Graphic artist Alice Oehr showcases her skills in her debut narrative nonfiction picture book, for children aged... Read more
Her Death Was Also Water (Allen C Jones, MidnightSun)
Released November 2022
Seven people, an open boat, a flood. I’m not sure if they’re supposed to be archetypes, but they’re uncomfortably familiar. The men: a widowed South-Asian mini-mart owner, a pathetic liberal... Read more
The Hats of Marvello (Amanda Graham, illus by Lavanya Naidu, HarperCollins)
Released March 2023
In a quintessential Australian country town, the biggest excitement for grade five student Olive is the upcoming school play, which she has a starring role in as the narrator. To... Read more
Dusty in the Outwilds (Rhiannon Williams, HGCP)
Released October 2022
Dusty, real name Willa Dust, might just be the most intuitive, smart and brave 12-year-old you’ll ever get caught up in an extraordinary adventure with. Dusty has always heard about... Read more
