Books, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Harry Potter, Reading

Unsung Heroes: The House Elves of Harry Potter

There are many heroes in Harry Potter: James and Lily Potter, whose selfless sacrifice leaves their son an orphan, but is never forgotten throughout the series, Sirius, Harry’s godfather, who gives up twelve years of his life in the notorious wizarding prison, Azkaban, when former friend, Peter Pettigrew blasts away a street full of Muggles… Continue reading Unsung Heroes: The House Elves of Harry Potter

Books, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Harry Potter, Reading

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling: 20 Years Old

Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Author: JK Rowling Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Bloomsbury Published: 26th of June 1997 (first published) – 2017 marks 20 years Format: Paperback Pages: 223 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle,… Continue reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling: 20 Years Old

Books, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Harry Potter, Publishers, Reading

It’s almost here…the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

In just one month, on the 26th of June, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will turn twenty. In June 1997, the world was introduced to a skinny, bespectacled boy with wild black hair and green eyes that reminded everyone of his mother, and an orphan, living with vile relatives –Vernon, Petunia and… Continue reading It’s almost here…the 20th Anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

#LoveOzYA, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Books, challenges, Children's Literature, Reading, Reviews, short stories

Singing My Sister Down And Other Stories by Margo Lanagan

Title: Singing My Sister Down and Other Short Stories Author: Margo Lanagan Genre: Fiction, Short Stories Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 26th January. 2017 Format: Paperback Pages: 208 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: An outstanding collection of thirteen short stories from the internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning author of Sea Hearts and Tender Morsels. 'We all went down to the tar-pit,… Continue reading Singing My Sister Down And Other Stories by Margo Lanagan

#LoveOzYA, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Fairytales, Fantasy, Festivals, history, literary fiction, Lynette Noni, Medoran Chronicles, Publishers, Reading, Writing

2017 Sydney Writer’s Festival

The Sydney Writer’s Festival is held annually across various precincts of Sydney, with many ticketed and free events across the five days of the festival. This year, the dates are the 22nd to the 28th of May. Each year, the Sydney Writer’s Festival presents over 300 events, with audiences of over 100,000 people over the… Continue reading 2017 Sydney Writer’s Festival

#LoveOzYA, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Books, challenges, Children's Literature, history, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

The Blue Cat by Ursula Dubosarsky

Title: The Blue Cat Author: Ursula Dubosarsky Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 29th March 2017 Format: Paperback Pages: 176 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: From the multi-award-winning author of The Red Shoe comes a haunting story about a boy who can't - or won't - speak about his past in war-torn Europe, and… Continue reading The Blue Cat by Ursula Dubosarsky

Books, Children's Literature, Covers, Fantasy, Harry Potter, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling (Newt Scamdander)

Title: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Author: JK Rowling writing as Newt Scamander Genre: Fantasy, Fiction Publisher: Bloomsbury Published: 14th March, 2017 Format: Hardcover Pages: 144 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: A brand new edition of this essential companion to the Harry Potter stories, with a new foreword from JK Rowling and an irresistible new… Continue reading Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling (Newt Scamdander)

Books, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Carnivalesque by Neil Jordan

Title: Carnivalesque Author: Neil Jordan Genre: Magical Realism, Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Bloomsbury Published: 1st April 2017 Format: Paperback Pages: 288 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: It looked like any other carnival, but of course it wasn't…   It had its own little backstreets, its alleyways of hanging bulbs and ghost trains and Punch and Judy stands …… Continue reading Carnivalesque by Neil Jordan

Books, Children's Literature, Reading, Reviews, Verse novels, Young Adult

We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan

Title: We Come Apart Authors: Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan Genre: YA, Children’s literature, poetry Publisher: Bloomsbury Published: 1st March, 2017 Format: Paperback Pages: 336 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: YA rising stars Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan join forces to break readers' hearts in this contemporary story of star-cross'd lovers. Jess would never have looked twice… Continue reading We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan

#LoveOzYA, Australian literature, Books, Children's Literature, Fairytales, Fantasy, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Frogkisser! by Garth Nix

Title: Frogkisser! Author: Garth Nix Genre: Fantasy, YA Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 22nd February, 2017 Format: Paperback Pages: 336 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: A rollicking fantasy-adventure by the master of children's speculative fiction. Talking dogs. Mischievous wizards. An evil stepstepfather. Loads and loads of toads. Such is the life of a Frogkisser. Princess Anya needs… Continue reading Frogkisser! by Garth Nix