Anna James, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, classics, Cressida Cowell, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

Non-Australian Women read

In 2025, I read 25 books by women who weren’t from Australia. These authors were, based on what I was able to get, what I was sent for review, or what I had on my shelves, European, British, and at least one from New Zealand, and a few from the USA. Some of these were… Continue reading Non-Australian Women read

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Wish You Dead by Rebecca Westcott

Title: Wish You Dead Author: Rebecca Westcott Genre: YA Mystery Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st January 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 368 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: Mean Girls meets manifestation and murder ... A contemporary teen thriller with a sapphic romance, perfect for fans of Heathers, Sue Wallman and Holly Jackson.Sixteen-year-old Morgana Merrick is all about control.… Continue reading Wish You Dead by Rebecca Westcott

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Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish

 One final challenge I took part in this year was the Readings book bingo. I managed to tick every prompt apart from the cookbook prompt off, which probably had more to do with time than anything else. 2024 Prize Winner:  A Gift from the Birds by Caroline Stills (Text Prize 2024) A debut author: Earth… Continue reading Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish

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Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi

Title: Dawn of the Dragons Author: Mari Mancusi Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st December 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 320 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: The dragons are coming ... are you prepared? This thrilling, dystopian adventure story is perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Impossible Creatures. Lucas isn't having the best summer. While… Continue reading Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi

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Book Bingo found on LinkedIn

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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October 2025 Reading Round Up

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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August 2025 Reading Round Up

In August, I read 25 books and reviewed most of them. Literary judging duties are over, so I was able to do everything I could to stay on top of my reading and reviewing. And was able to read a few books that I hadn’t agreed to review. This was nice, and I am enjoying… Continue reading August 2025 Reading Round Up

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Koala Fairies by Anna Pignataro

Title: Koala Fairies Author: Anna Pignataro Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st September 2025 Format: Hardback Pages: 24 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: In a faraway place, where the bush meets the sea, live two little friends in the eucalypt tree ... Say hello to adorable Koala Fairy friends, Cookie and Clover. Together, they look after… Continue reading Koala Fairies by Anna Pignataro

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July 2025 Reading Round Up

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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Secret Keeper by Di Walker

Title: Secret Keeper Author: Di Walker Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st June 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 240 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Change was coming. Possibly sooner than any of the friends were prepared for. Nell and Eden have been best friends forever. But now they are at the end of Year 6 and on… Continue reading Secret Keeper by Di Walker