I loved the cover of Birthmarked as soon as I saw it - and in this case - you can judge a book by its cover! Gaia lives in a future world scarred by the climate changes caused by the previous peoples. A world where your future is decided by whether you live inside the walls of the enclave or … Continue reading Birthmarked | Caragh O’Brien
This is a worthy book. 'In The Sea There Are Crocodiles' is the true … Continue reading In The Sea There Are Crocodiles: The True Story of Enaiatollah Akbari | Fabio Geda
EJ12 was a pleasant surprise. I was expected to be bored or underwhelmed. Starting with the third book in a series isn't always the best way to get into it. But the easy style and quick re-caps of the important information made this very accessible. The codes, pictures and diagrams were carefully placed in the chapter so … Continue reading EJ 12 In the Dark | Susanna McFarlane
How much historical fiction is too much historical fiction? Jackie French's novels for primary aged readers embrace the history, they revel in the history, the roll around in the mud like pigs in love with history...but she does it so well.And it's not just HIStory - Jackie rights the imbalances of most historical records by … Continue reading A Waltz For Matilda | Jackie French
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, so I was prepared to like Fallen Grace from the word go. And I did.Grace is a very likeable character and you want her to do well. The fact that the author lays down very obvious signs along the way so that you know she will eventually … Continue reading Fallen Grace | Mary Hooper
After finishing The Hunger Games I thought we would have nothing to fill the gap for a while...but then along comes this little gem. I Am Number Four has alien conspiracy, teen angst, road trips and a crazy, devastating battle to conclude the book....but not the series! Who is Pittacus Lore? Check out the weblink … Continue reading I Am Number Four | Pittacus Lore
It's hard not to love Oliver Jeffers' quirky stories and delightful illustrations. Up and Down is a happy return to his well-loved stories about a little boy and his friend penguin. This time it is penguin that drives the story forward - he wants to fly. Together they explore how best to do this. As … Continue reading Up and Down | Oliver Jeffers
I'm still not sure about this one. The beginning didn't grab me, but I kept going to see what the disaster was going to be. I love a good disaster/apocalyptic story and the disaster that occurs in Alone: Chasers is pretty catastrophic and dramatic. However the pace throughout was very slow and I struggled to engage … Continue reading Alone #1 Chasers | James Phelan
Over the June long weekend I decided to read the Morris Gleitzman holocaust trilogy 'Once', 'Then' and 'Now'. The first two books in the series were moving, frightening and elegant. The tension gradually built up as the Nazi's arrived, changing everyone's lives. Gleitzman carefully, inevitably prepared us for the heart-breaking conclusion of 'Then'. I was … Continue reading Once, Then and Now | Morris Gleitzman
'Marrying Ameera' was my first foray into Muslim chick-lit. It was easy to read, well-written and nicely paced. Ameera is someone you like and you care about what happens to her. The book has 2 distinct halves - Ameera's life in Australia, at school with her friends, discovering boys and trying to manage her fathers traditional expectations for her … Continue reading Marrying Ameera | Rosanne Hawke
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