Australian Women Writers Challenge wrap up post

I participated in the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge again in 2020 – with a goal of 65 books, and I managed to read 141, with two of those being re-reads. As much of this year was spent in lockdown or under restrictions, I had lots of time to read. I read just over double my goal, which I usually do. I set a conservative goal because I am never sure what is going to come my way, and in 2020 I did notice international authors being pushed more. That’s why I like reading challenges like this that highlight Australian authors, and aim to read more Australian authors than overseas authors – in fact, the majority of my reading this year was Australian writers and female writers. I’m wrapping up on New Year’s Eve 2020, and starting 2021 with a good stack that I will hopefully get through in a timely manner. Many more reviews to come next year!

Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales – Walkley Book Award
Pippa’s Island: Puppy Pandemonium by Belinda Murrell
Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr
Josephine’s Garden by Stephanie Parkyn
The Soldier’s Curse by Meg and Tom Keneally (Monsarrat Series Book One)
Ella at Eden: New Girl by Laura Sieveking
A Testament of Character (Rowland Sinclair #10) by Sulari Gentill
The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan
The Killing Streets: Uncovering Australia’s First Serial Murderer by Tanya Bretherton
The River Home by Hannah Richell
The Vanishing Deep by Astrid Scholte
Withering-by-Sea (A Stella Montgomery Intrigue) by Judith Rossell
Hapless Hero Henrie by Petra James (House of Heroes)
The Republic of Birds by Jessica Miller
Esme’s Gift by Elizabeth Foster
Friday Barnes: Girl Detective by R.A. Spratt
Christmas in Paris (Miss Lily 3.5) by Jackie French
The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester
Firewatcher Chronicles: Phoenix by Kelly Gardiner
The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning
The Girl She Was by Rebecca Freeborn
Friday Barnes: Under Suspicion by R.A. Spratt
Aussie Kids: Meet Katie at the Beach by Rebecca Johnson and Lucia Masciullo
Aussie Kids: Meet Eve in the Outback by Raewyn Caisley and Karen Blair
The Year the Maps Changed by Danielle Binks
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal
Puppy Diary: The Great Toy Rescue by Yvette Poshoglian
The Octopus and I by Erin Hortle
Friday Barnes: Big Trouble by R.A. Spratt
The Inheritance of Secrets by Sonya Bates
Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire by Nat Amoore
Jane in Love by Rachel Givney
Friday Barnes: No Rules by R.A. Spratt
Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King by Kate Simpson and Jess Racklyeft
Sherlock Bones and the Natural History Mystery by Renée Treml (Nominated for the 2020 Readings Children’s Prize)
Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr
Ribbit Rabbit Robot by Victoria MacKinlay and Sofya Karmazina
Nim at Sea by Wendy Orr
Rescue on Nim’s Island
The Complete Adventures on Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr
An Alice Girl by Tanya Heaslip
Daisy Runs Wild by Caz Goodwin and Ashley King
Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal by Anna Whateley
What Zola did on Monday by Melina Marchetta and illustrated by Deb Hudson
Henrie’s Hero Hunt (House of Heroes) by Petra Hunt
The Power of Positive Pranking by Nat Amoore
Edie’s Experiments: How to Make Friends by Charlotte Barkla
Alice-Miranda at School (10^th Anniversary Edition) by Jacqueline Harvey
Alice-Miranda in the Outback by Jacqueline Harvey
Shoestring: The Boy Who Walks on Air by Julie Hunt and Dale Newman
Eloise and the Bucket of Stars by Janeen Brian
A Treacherous Country by K.M. Kruimink
Snow White and Rose Red: And Other Tales of Kind Young Women by Kate Forsyth and Lorena Carrington
Tashi: 25^th Anniversary Edition by Anna Fienberg, Barbara Fienberg and Kim Gamble
Elementals: Battle Born by Amie Kaufman
Lilies, Lies and Love (Miss Lily #4) Lilies by Jackie French
Monty’s Island: Scary Mary and the Stripey Spell by Emily Rodda and Lucinda Gifford
When Rain Turns to Snow by Jane Godwin
League of Llamas: Undercover Llama by Aleesah Darlison
League of Llamas: Rogue Llama by Aleesah Darlison
Kensy and Max: Freefall by Jacqueline Harvey
The Silk House by Kayte Nunn
The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle by Pamela Rushby and Nellé May Pierce
Alexandra-Rose and Her Icy Cold Toes by Monique Mulligan and Kate Fox (Illustrator)
Meet Mia by the Jetty by Janeen Brian and Danny Snell
Edie’s Experiments: How to Be the Best by Charlotte Barkla
Finding Eadie by Caroline Beecham
Beyond Belief by Dee White
Evie and Pog: Party Perfect by Tania McCartney
The Schoolmaster’s Daughter by Jackie French
Kitty is Not a Cat: Teddy’s Bear by Jess Black
Kitty is Not a Cat: Light’s Out by Jess Black
A Clue for Clara by Lian Tanner
What Zola did on Tuesday by Melina Marchetta
The Battle of Book Week (Yours Troolie, Alice Toolie) by Kate and Jol Temple
Monty’s Island: Beady Hold and the Yum-Yams by Emily Rodda
The Adventures of Princess Peony by Nette Hilton and Lucinda Gifford
Ella at Eden: The Secret Journal by Laura Sieveking
The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome by Katrina Nannestad
Lapse by Sarah Thornton
A Monstrous Heart by Claire McKenna
The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Provence by Katrina Nannestad
The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Lucerne by Katrina Nannestad
Billings Better Bookstore and Brasserie by Fin J Ross
The Firestar (A Maven and Reeve Mystery) by A.L. Tait
The Wolves of Greycoat Hall by Lucinda Gifford
Daughter of Victory Lights by Kerri Turner
Jinxed! The Curious Curse of Cora Bell by Rebecca McRitchie
Havoc! The Untold Magic of Cora Bell by Rebecca McRitchie
When the Ground is Hard by Malla Nunn
Aussie Kids: Meet Dooley on the Farm by Sally Odgers and Christina Booth
Aussie Kids: Meet Matilda at the Festival by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern and Tania McCartney
Feathers by Karen Hendriks and illustrated by Kim Fleming
Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai
The Firestar: A Maven and Reeve Mystery by A.L. Tait
What Zola did on Wednesday by Melina Marchetta, illustrated by Deb Hudson
Around the World Supper Club: Wherever You Go by Monique Mulligan
Kensy and Max: Full Speed by Jacqueline Harvey
Feathers by Karen Hendriks and Kim Fleming
Santa and the Sugar Glider by Alexa Moses and Anil Tortop
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst by Jaclyn Moriarty
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Timmy the Ticked-Off Pony: Bite Me by Magda Szubanski
Rainshaker by Elizabeth Mary Cummings and Cheri Hughes
The Boy, the Wolf and the Stars by Shivaun Plozza
Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon
The Ultimate Animal Alphabet Book by Jennifer Cossins
Transit of Angels by Desney King
Tashi and the Stolen Forest by Anna Fienberg, Barbara Fienberg and Kim Gamble
We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad
Fire Wombat by Jackie French and Danny Snell
We’re All in This Together by Skye Hughes and Alice Coates
Whitney and Britney: Chicken Detectives by Lucinda Gifford
Pandemic by Jackie French and Bruce Whateley
The Champagne War by Fiona McIntosh
Fossil Frenzy by Sandra Bennett
Death in Daylesford (Phryne Fisher #21) by Kerry Greenwood
Kensy and Max: Spy Games by Jacqueline Harvey
The Werewolves Who Weren’t by T.C. Shelley
Eco Rangers: Pelican in Peril by Candice Lemon-Scott
Pigs Might Fly by Emily Rodda
Eco Rangers: Microbat Mayhem by Candice Lemon-Scott
Eco Rangers: Wildfire Rescue by Candice Lemon-Scott
The Charleston Scandal by Pamela Hart
Gorkle by Penny Macoun
Searching for Charlotte: The Fascinating Story of Australia’s First Children’s Author by Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell
Thrive by Mary Borsellino
The Philosopher’s Daughters by Alison Booth
When This Bell Rings by Allison Rushby
Ella at Eden: Musical Mystery by Laura Sieveking
The Unicorn Princess by Ektaa Bali
The Angel of Waterloo by Jackie French
Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner
Little Gem by Anna Zobel (2021 Release)
The Sentinel by Jacqueline Hodder
You Were Made for Me by Jenna Guillaume
When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson
Sick Bay by Nova Weetman
The Lost Soul Atlas by Zana Fraillon
Between Us by Clare Atkins
Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee