Category: middle grade

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2025 Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 2 Completed

Ashleigh

Volume two is complete! There was one prompt that required some research, and that was dark academia, as the books I was expecting to have for this prompt hadn’t arrived. So, when I found Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent on an Instagram post of dark academia books, I slotted it in there. I could… Continue reading 2025 Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 2 Completed

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Alice with a Why: Return to Wonderland by Anna James

Ashleigh

Title: Alice with a Why: Return to Wonderland Author: Anna James Genre: Fantasy Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 18th June 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 256 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Return to Wonderland in this extraordinary reimagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by one of our most brilliant storytellers England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives… Continue reading Alice with a Why: Return to Wonderland by Anna James

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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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Stories from Magic Beach by Alison Lester and Robert Connolly with eleven world-class animators

Ashleigh

Title: Stories from Magic Beach Author: Alison Lester and Robert Connolly with eleven world-class animators Genre: Non-Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 1st April 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 96 Price: $29.99 Synopsis: Inspired by Alison Lester's much-loved classic, this is the book of the film by Paper Planes creator Robert Connolly, featuring the work of eleven world-class… Continue reading Stories from Magic Beach by Alison Lester and Robert Connolly with eleven world-class animators

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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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Find Me on the Coast by Jess McGeachin

Ashleigh

Title: Find Me on the Coast Author: Jess McGeachin Genre: Natural History Publisher: Hachette/Lothian Published: 30th July 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 40 Price: $29.99 Synopsis: 'Let's walk down a winding path to where the sand meets the sea' Embark on journey around our world's coasts in this beautifully illustrated book by award-winning author/illustrator Jess McGeachin.… Continue reading Find Me on the Coast by Jess McGeachin