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Aussie Kids Books
Book Reviews
Welcome to my blog! This blog is a celebration of Australian children's fiction - including young adult, middle grade, junior fiction, and picture books.
Read on for my reviews!
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Sandy
Sep 28, 20222 min read
Completely Normal (and other lies), by Biffy James
This is a young adult novel you won't want to put down! I was immediately invested in the protagonist, 16-year-old Stella, whose...
178 views
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Sandy
Mar 12, 20222 min read
Anything But Fine, by Tobias Madden
This story starts with a life changing incident, with ballet dancer Luca missing a step on a flight of stairs and shattering his foot,...
23 views
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Sandy
Mar 1, 20221 min read
CBCA 2022 Notables
The 2022 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable books have been announced. These are a big deal in the Australian children's...
30 views
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Sandy
Jan 25, 20222 min read
Fragments: Journeys from Isolation to Connection, by Maura Pierlot
Highschool can certainly be challenging - with that constant juggle of friendship issues, worry over studies and achievement, and search...
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Sandy
Jan 15, 20222 min read
Elsewhere Girls by Emily Gale & Nova Weetman
I love a good timeslip/body swap novel - and this one by acclaimed middlegrade authors Emily Gale and Nova Weetman is truly captivating!...
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Sandy
Jan 5, 20222 min read
Sugarcoated (Leftovers #1), by Sarah Epstein
I adored this young adult novel written by multi award-winning author Sarah Epstein (whose novel Small Spaces - a YA psychological...
16 views
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Sandy
Dec 24, 20212 min read
Courageous Queens, by Angela Buckingham, Illustrations by Debora Islas
Courageous Queens brings us ten previously untold stories of fearless, resilient and clever women throughout history who have held...
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Sandy
Dec 16, 20212 min read
YA novels set during Schoolies Week
Before the Beginning by Anna Morgan is a beautifully written story full of mystery and suspense. Four friends have gone on a trip to...
25 views
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Sandy
Dec 7, 20212 min read
The Opposite of Disappearing: Short Stories in Uncertain Times, edited by Laura Norris & R.A Stephen
I am so honoured to have my short story, Between Spaces, included in this collection of contemporary short stories for young adult...
38 views
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Sandy
Nov 9, 20212 min read
How To Repaint a Life, by Stephen Herrick
I was fully immersed in this young adult novel from the very beginning. It's a story of friendship, family, kindness, and courage. Isaac...
53 views
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Sandy
Oct 17, 20213 min read
Hometown Haunts: Flash Fiction challenge
To celebrate the upcoming release of Hometown Haunts (a collection of spooky stories for YA readers published by Wakefield Press), the...
27 views
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Sandy
Oct 1, 20212 min read
Tell Me Why, by Archie Roach
Tell Me Why is a raw, heartbreaking, yet ultimately uplifting account of singer/songwriter Archie Roach’s life. Archie was forcibly...
16 views
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Sandy
Sep 18, 20213 min read
Half My Luck by Samera Kamaleddine
This own voices book for young adults is an engaging and enjoyable read from debut author and winner of the Matilda Prize Samera...
21 views
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Sandy
Aug 14, 20213 min read
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, by Sami Bayly
So I might be a little (ok, a lot) obsessed with this beautifully designed encyclopaedia, which is a 2020 CBCA shortlisted book. There is...
43 views
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Sandy
Jun 29, 20212 min read
Henry Hamlet's Heart, by Rhiannon Wilde
This young adult novel by debut author Rhiannon Wilde broke my heart in the best possible way. I loved it from the very first page -...
27 views
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Sandy
Jun 13, 20212 min read
The Coconut Children, by Vivian Pham
Set in Sydney's southwest suburbs in the 1990s, this is a raw, beautiful and heartbreaking story of love and coming-of-age. At the...
241 views
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Sandy
Jun 1, 20212 min read
The Boy From the Mish, by Gary Lonesborough
'The Boy From the Mish' by debut author Gary Lonesborough is a beautifully articulated and heartfelt own voices story that will stay with...
36 views
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Sandy
May 20, 20212 min read
The Girl in the Sunflower Dress, by Katie Montinaro
I absolutely adored this young adult coming of age novel from debut author Katie Montinaro. I loved this book for its gripping storyline,...
22 views
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Sandy
Apr 26, 20212 min read
When We Are Invisible, by Claire Zorn
A huge thank you to UQP and @ausyabloggers for hosting a book tour of this fabulous young adult novel, and for my gifted copy in exchange...
16 views
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Sandy
Apr 10, 20212 min read
Metal Fish Falling Snow, by Cath Moore
This is a beautifully articulated #loveozya own voices story about grief, family and identity. There are so many reasons why I love this...
33 views
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