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 (10th 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: 25th 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
You can find reviews for these books by searching the title in the search engine!
Congrats on an epic reading year Ashleigh 🙂
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THanks Tracey – gearing up for another one!
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