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
Tag: history
The Legend of Jessie Hickman by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac
The Legend of Jessie Hickman A girl on a grey horse waving her hat. She is riding along a lake with mountains and a blue sky behind it. The mountains and ground are covered in trees and white and purple flowers. Title: The Legend of Jessie Hickman Author: Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac Genre:… Continue reading The Legend of Jessie Hickman by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac
11 Ruby Road 1950 by Charlotte Barkla
Title: 11 Ruby Road 1950 Author: Charlotte Barkla Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 176 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: The third installment in the 11 Ruby Road series, set in the post-war 1950s - perfect period fiction for middle-grade readers and for fans of the Our Australian Girl series.Since Patsy's baby… Continue reading 11 Ruby Road 1950 by Charlotte Barkla
Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective by Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar
Title: Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective Author: Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar Genre: Crime/Mystery/Historical Fiction Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 2nd April 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 368 Price: $34.99 Synopsis: A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure. Only her fine eyes can uncover the truth.Two years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Miss… Continue reading Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective by Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar
2025 Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 2 Completed
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
Alice with a Why: Return to Wonderland by Anna James
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
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025 Shortlist
The Shortlist for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for 2025 has been announced. It is the richest literary prize in Australia, and celebrates the exceptional talents of emerging and established Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians. It acknowledges the contribution that Australian literature and its reflection the nation, and its cultural and intellectual life. 2025 is… Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025 Shortlist
Book Grocer Book Bingo Completed
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
The Pull of the Moon by Pip Smith
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
The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester
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
