Category: history

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, check in post, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Celebrating 80 Years of the CBCA

Ashleigh

CBCA Book Week artwork by Jess McGeachin (c) 2025 For 80 years, the Children’s Book Council of Australia has been promoting quality Australian children’s books for young readers of all ages. Every year since 1946, the CBCA has presented The Book of the Year Awards to promote Australian books that had a high literary and… Continue reading Celebrating 80 Years of the CBCA

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The Nerd Daily Reading Challenge Completed

Ashleigh

It’s taken me around 8 months, but I have completed another reading challenge for 2025. I embarked on The Nerd Daily Reading Challenge again, and enjoyed the prompts because they were broad enough to interpret for any book that I had on my shelf. There were some that were specific, and a few that I… Continue reading The Nerd Daily Reading Challenge Completed

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Book Grocer Book Bingo Completed

Ashleigh

In 2025, one of the book bingo challenges came from a bookshop I follow online called The Book Grocer. I moved a few things around, and made some changes to use some books that I felt were better suited to the prompts. This was one of my reading challenges for the year, and I am… Continue reading Book Grocer Book Bingo Completed

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A House Divided by Clare Hallifax

Ashleigh

Title: A House Divided Author: Clare Hallifax Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Walker Books Australia Published: 1st August 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 288 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: In a crisis, take a stand ... A coming-of-age story, set against the Dismissal of the government in 1975 as battle lines are drawn, democracy is on the edge, and all… Continue reading A House Divided by Clare Hallifax

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July 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In July, I read 22 books, and am keeping on track with maintaining reading mostly Australian authors, and reading as diversely as I can between what I have already and what I am being sent for review. I’m also focused on certain styles and genres, so there might be some that are, say, translated, that… Continue reading July 2025 Reading Round Up

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The Pull of the Moon by Pip Smith

Ashleigh

Title: The Pull of the Moon Author: Pip Smith Genre: Contemporary Publisher: UWA Publishing Published: 2nd June 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 280 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Coralie threw the life jackets one by one, as hard as she could, and watched them catch on the wind and blow into the sea. Coralie is thirteen years old… Continue reading The Pull of the Moon by Pip Smith

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The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester

Ashleigh

Title: The Mademoiselle Alliance Author: Natasha Lester Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 26th March 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 408 Price: $34.99 Synopsis: How did a young Parisienne mother, celebrated for her beauty and glamour, come to lead the largest spy network in France? A powerful, heartbreaking historical novel by the New York Times bestselling author. Morocco,… Continue reading The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester

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Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

Ashleigh

Title: Briar Book of the Dead Author: A.G. Slatter Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Titan Books Published: 13th February 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 400 Price: $27.99 Synopsis: Ellie Briar is the first non-witch to be born into her family for generations. The Briar family of witches run the town of Silverton, caring for its inhabitants with… Continue reading Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

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Looking Out and Beyond by Toby Hammerschlag

Ashleigh

Title: Looking Out and Beyond Author: Toby Hammerschlag Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Woodslane Press Published: 1st November 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 2652 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: The novel is historical fiction set in the early 1950s during the dark Apartheid era, in a small rural town in South Africa, with flashbacks to the battle fields of… Continue reading Looking Out and Beyond by Toby Hammerschlag

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#KT Book Bingo 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

Another #KTBookBingo completed! This was a tricky one at first, and one I thought would take me much longer to complete. But some books just worked so well in each category, and at times I had multiple choices. I got there in the end though, and can now focus on the rest of my reading… Continue reading #KT Book Bingo 2025 Completed