Sandy
The Quest Diaries of Max Crack, by Jules Faber
The Quest Diaries of Max Crack bristles with energy, action and adventure. As the story opens, our young protagonist, Max Crack, has...
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
- Dec 3, 2020
- 3 min
Snake Bite, by Christie Thompson
I grabbed a copy of this young adult novel from my local library after discovering is it set in my home town (Canberra). I came to this...
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Sandy
- Nov 27, 2020
- 2 min
A Boy and a Ball, by Phil Cummings & Phil Lesnie
This book starts gently, showing a young boy kicking a ball with his older brother - but very quickly we realise the boys are in the...
13 views0 comments
Sandy
- Nov 25, 2020
- 1 min
The Naked Boy and the Crocodile, by Children from remote Indigenous communities; Andy Griffiths (ed)
This collection of 13 stories was developed during a series of writing and illustrating workshops with children from remote communities...
8 views0 comments
Sandy
- Nov 21, 2020
- 3 min
Peta Lyres’s Rating Normal, by Anna Whateley
This young adult novel is a fabulous own voices read - the highlight for me being the voice of sixteen-year-old narrator Peta, who,...
47 views0 comments
Sandy
- Nov 15, 2020
- 1 min
This Small Blue Dot, by Zeno Sworder.
This book has been creating quite a stir across the Bookstagram community and with good reason. The engaging young narrator of this...
39 views0 comments
Sandy
- Nov 7, 2020
- 2 min
Cheeky Dogs: To Lake Nash and Back: an illustrated memoir, by Dion Beasley and Johanna Bell
‘Cheeky Dogs: To Lake Nash and Back’ is an illustrated memoir by deaf artist Dion Beasley, who has beautifully captured life in a remote...
14 views0 comments
Sandy
- Nov 7, 2020
- 1 min
Mirror Me, by Rachel Sanderson
This is a book you won't be able to put down - it is a dark-edged read which throbs with tension and mystery. The reader is drawn into...
6 views0 comments
Sandy
- Nov 3, 2020
- 2 min
Vlad’s Bad Breath, by Rory H. Mather, illustrated by Jesus Lopez
This delightfully creepy picture book is Mr 3’s new bedtime favourite – he often asks for it to be read twice in one sitting! Luckily...
25 views0 comments
Sandy
- Nov 1, 2020
- 3 min
The Theory of Hummingbirds, by Michelle Kadarusman
This beautifully crafted #ownvoices novel follows the story of Alba, who is in fourth grade at school, and wants nothing more than to...
14 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 24, 2020
- 2 min
Teaser Tuesday! Snippet from my YA manuscript Exposed.
I hope you enjoy this snippet from my young adult manuscript 'Exposed.' Exposed was shortlisted for the Matilda Children's Literature...
21 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 23, 2020
- 3 min
Small Spaces, by Sarah Epstein
I’m a big fan of the psychological thriller genre, and this wonderfully spooky read will have you on the edge of your seat. I read this...
24 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 18, 2020
- 2 min
Billie B Brown & Hey Jack: The Book Buddies, by Sally Rippin, illustrated by Ari Fukuoka
Australian Reading Hour Special Edition This special edition 'Billie B Brown & Hey Jack!' book is a joy to read. We are big fans of the...
22 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 16, 2020
- 2 min
Wombat, Mudlark & other stories, by Helen Milroy
The enduring power of friendship, and being kind and helpful to others, are themes that link the eight stories in this book together. The...
20 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 16, 2020
- 1 min
Say Cheese! by Frances Watts, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
Say Cheese is another picture book that is read regularly in my household (Mr 3 chooses it as his bedtime read almost every night!) If...
11 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 16, 2020
- 1 min
Portrayals of mental health in YA fiction
I'm currently participating in an Instagram challenge which celebrates Aussie young adult fiction. There's a challenge prompt every day...
6 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 13, 2020
- 2 min
The Long Distance Playlist, by Tara Eglington
The Long Distance Playlist is a book about friendship and family and having the courage to embrace the unknown, set against a backdrop of...
10 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 10, 2020
- 2 min
Notes From the Teenage Underground by Simmone Howell
This book has remained one of my favourite young adult reads of all time, since I read it when it was published back in 2006. It has a...
20 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 10, 2020
- 2 min
Where's Lucky? by Jacqui Halpin, illustrated by Sandra Severgnini
This beautiful picture book was read every night to Mr 3 when we had it on loan from the library and he didn't want to return it! It is...
8 views0 comments
Sandy
- Oct 6, 2020
- 2 min
Teaser Tuesday! Snippet from my YA manuscript Exposed.
Here is a teaser from my young adult manuscript Exposed! It was well received on my Instagram page so I thought I'd post it here too....
26 views0 comments