#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, satire, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

February 2026 Reading Round Up

This February I read 27 books. Most were review books, and most were by women. I reviewed 23 of the books I read, and there are some other reviews coming in the next few months. I’m also getting through my reading challenges for the year, and ticking off thing as I go or as I… Continue reading February 2026 Reading Round Up

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ANZAC Biscuits (Special Edition) by Phil Cummings, illustrated by Owen Swan

Title: ANZAC Biscuits (Special Edition) Author: Phil Cummings, illustrated by Owen Swan Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st March 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Rachel's in the kitchen, warm and safe. Her father's in the trenches, cold and afraid ... When Rachel makes biscuits for her father, she adds the… Continue reading ANZAC Biscuits (Special Edition) by Phil Cummings, illustrated by Owen Swan

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Australian Women Read

In 2025, I read 210 books by Australian women, and may not have read as diversely as I wanted based on a focus for judging reading. That said, I did manage to get in as many diverse books as possible, where I could see or knew that the author was disabled, Indigenous or LGBTQIA, or… Continue reading Australian Women Read

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The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton

Title: The Binding Spell Author: Marisa Linton Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st December 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 464 Price: $22.99 Synopsis:  A debut atmospheric fantasy, think dark academia meets Mexican Gothic. Morgan hopes her nightmares are behind her. Meeting Joe Harper helps. His secrets seem as tangled as hers and their time together is… Continue reading The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton

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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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Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed

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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Locked Up! (Worst Pets Ever #1) by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove

Title: Locked Up! (Worst Pets Ever #1) Author: Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove Genre: Humour Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st November 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 128 Price: $15.99 Synopsis: Captain Fluffykins, Nickers and Brutus are the newest recruits locked up at the Worst Pets Ever Obedience School. There are so many rules! The daily schedule… Continue reading Locked Up! (Worst Pets Ever #1) by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove

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Respawn (Villain #2) by Adrian Beck

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

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September 2025 Reading Round Up

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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Naynay and the Mermaid by Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

Title: Naynay and the Mermaid Author: Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 24 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: 'With long tendrils of seagrass for hair, her body is blue green like the sea, and her tail sparkles with iridescent scales ...' Naynay and her family… Continue reading Naynay and the Mermaid by Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis