Category: middle grade

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Respawn (Villain #2) by Adrian Beck

Ashleigh

Title: Respawn (Villain #2) Author: Adrian Beck Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Scholastic Australia   Published: 1st November 2025 Format: Scholastic Australia Pages: 240 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: The villainous AI entity known as Z is gone for good. Or so Jay thinks. But when his best friend, Leni, locates Z's secret abandoned facility, Jay is thrust into… Continue reading Respawn (Villain #2) by Adrian Beck

adventure, Books, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, humour, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

The Official Agatha Christie After School Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children by Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres

Ashleigh

Title: The Official Agatha Christie After School Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children Author: Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres Genre: Crime, puzzle Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 28th October 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 154 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Bringing the thrilling and mysterious world of Agatha Christie to a new generation of… Continue reading The Official Agatha Christie After School Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children by Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres

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The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy

Ashleigh

Title: The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) Author: Melanie La’Brooy Genre: Fantasy Publisher: UQP Published: 30th August 2022 Format: Paperback Pages: 440 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: On Talisman Day in Arylia, every child receives an object that gives them special powers and reveals their destiny. Every child except for the Wintrish girl, Penn, that is.… Continue reading The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy

#AussieAuthors2025, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Awards, Book Industry, Books, Indigenous authors, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading

Wilderness Awards  2025

Ashleigh

The 2025 Karajia and Environment Award Winners, stories that connect kids to Country and nature have been announced. They were announced at 11am on the 11th of October on Love Your Bookshop Day, which is also the start of Nature Books Week. These awards celebrate authors and illustrators who have written and created stories to… Continue reading Wilderness Awards  2025

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Stonewitch (Hedgewitch #4) by Skye McKenna

Ashleigh

Title: Stonewitch (Hedgewitch #4) Author: Skye McKenna Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 448 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: Cassie and her coven compete in challenging games at the Covenmoot while menacing forces haunt the moors and rumours of the Stonewitch swirl through the camp. Step into the magical world of… Continue reading Stonewitch (Hedgewitch #4) by Skye McKenna

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September 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In September, I read 20 books for review, and some reviews will be appearing at later dates for various reasons. I mostly read Australian authors, and focused on children’s and young adult books. I also made progress on reading challenges, and am almost done with my last few. Most books were by women authors, and… Continue reading September 2025 Reading Round Up

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The Keeper of the Octopus by Neridah McMullin

Ashleigh

Title: The Keeper of the Octopus Author: Neridah McMullin Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism Publisher: Walker Books Australia Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 272 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Engaging, heartfelt and imaginative - magical realism from the award-winning author of Evie and RhinoSince her father sailed away, Uncle Isaac is the only family Pippy has left.… Continue reading The Keeper of the Octopus by Neridah McMullin

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The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

Ashleigh

Title: The 12 Birds of Christmas Author: Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short Genre: Christmas Publisher: Wollemi Press Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.95 Synopsis: From the award-winning author and illustrator of The Black Cockatoo With One Feather Blue comes this original rhyming read aloud about giving, community and sharing the… Continue reading The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

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Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping by Craig Silvey

Ashleigh

Title: Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping Author: Craig Silvey Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 416 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: The sequel to Runt, the phenomenal bestseller and family favourite, by award-winning author Craig Silvey. Six weeks have passed since Annie Shearer and Runt competed valiantly at the Krumpets Dog… Continue reading Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping by Craig Silvey

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The Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

Ashleigh

Title: The Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing Author: Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Genre: Language Arts, Composition and Creative Writing Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 192 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Learn how to write with the multi-award-winning Katrina Nannestad! There is so much about writing that I love… Continue reading The Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini