Category: middle grade

#AussieAuthors2025, #LoveOZMG, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Jacqueline Harvey, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

The Girl and the Ghost: Family Secrets by Jacqueline Harvey

Ashleigh

Title: The Girl and the Ghost: Family Secrets Author: Jacqueline Harvey Genre: Mystery Publisher: Puffin, Penguin Australia Published: 21st October 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 368 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: A trip to Paris and Versailles, an escaped convict, an ancient underground cave network, family mysteries and . . . ghosts. Josephine Eloise Thomas is in Paris… Continue reading The Girl and the Ghost: Family Secrets by Jacqueline Harvey

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The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee

Ashleigh

Title: The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe Author: Karen Foxlee Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 18th November 2025 Format: Hardback Pages: 400 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: An inventive and playful fantasy-adventure about an abandoned girl, a friendly ogress and a terrible curse from the multi-award-winning and bestselling author of Dragon Skin and Lenny's Book of Everything. 'A… Continue reading The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee

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Book Bingo found on LinkedIn

Ashleigh

In July, I found another book bingo, and downloaded the card. It was shared by Rebecca Fung from Giulia Ralton, a library and literacy teacher. She explains the purpose behind a book bingo challenge here. Fingers crossed all these links work, and apologies if they don’t.  I’m always interested to see what reading challenges do,… Continue reading Book Bingo found on LinkedIn

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Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And just like that, another year of the Dymocks Reading Challenge is over. I managed to fill in each prompt for this one, and may have ummed and ahhed about the Gothic Ruins prompt, because I read a couple of books that seemed to fit it well. I did focus on Australian books and authors… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

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Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And that’s the third volume completed! I found the prompts in this one easy to fill. They had a good balance of being open and specific, and I had a few options for some whilst others I took a good guess at where they would fit. I chose a translated book for the Branching Out… Continue reading Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed

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October 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In October I read 18 books, covering picture books to young adult, with some poetry, mystery and time travel thrown in. It was an eclectic bunch of books this month, and most of them were Australian authors. I managed to review most, and have also been keeping on top of my review books as much… Continue reading October 2025 Reading Round Up

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This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit

Ashleigh

Title: This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People Author: Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit Genre: Poetry Publisher: NLA Publishing Published: 1st November 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 112 Price: $34.99 Synopsis: In this beautifully illustrated collection of poems, editors Judith Fell and Libby Hathorn have have gathered the voices of… Continue reading This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit

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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