Title: Sister Viv Author: Grantlee Kieza Genre: Biography/History Publisher: ABC Books Published: 3rd April 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 352 Price: $35.99 Synopsis: The inspiring story of the nursing hero who survived a wartime massacre and dedicated her life to saving others – from the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Flinders, The Remarkable Mrs Reibey, Hudson Fysh and Banjo Bangka Island, 1942: Australian Army nurse Vivian Bullwinkel was just twenty-six when Japanese soldiers marched her and her fellow nurses into the shallow waters of a remote bea ..read more

Congratulations to this year’s Stella Prize winner, Alexis Wright for her novel, Praiseworthy. Taken from the email from the Stella Prize: Stella is thrilled to announce Alexis Wright as the winner of the 2024 Stella Prize for her canon-crushing novel Praiseworthy, published by Giramondo Publishing. This is the second time Alexis Wright wins the Stella Prize. She is the first author to win the Stella Prize twice.  Beejay Silcox, 2024 Stella Prize Chair of Judges, said on behalf of the judging panel (Eleanor Jackson, Cheryl Leavy, Bram Presser and Yves Rees ..read more

In April I read 16 books, as some were a bit longer but I’m still on track to get things read. I’m catching up on my review books as well – most from the first five months have been read and reviewed, apart from ones that came after publication date, and that will be going up as soon as I can get them read. Some stats as they stand: Reading Goal: 94/150   Dymocks: 8/18             Entrée:8/8             Main:  4/10            ..read more

Title: Roarsome: Phase One Author: Joel Slack-Smith, illustrated by Rebel Challenger Genre: Humour Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st April 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 176 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: Half lion. Half werewolf. All pillow. Totally roarsome! All Walter wanted for his birthday was a limited edition, nitro-powered drone. Instead, he gets a tattered old lion-shaped pillow (that smells suspiciously like werewolf wee). Roar-kward! Now the full moon is out and Roars the lion-pillow has come to life for one night only, looking for adventure. Roars doesn’t just want some fun ..read more

Title: Tayles of the Forest (Wolves of Greycoat Hall) Author: Lucinda Gifford Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 224 Price: $16.99 Synopsis: Christmas at Greycoat Hall is time for festivities, feasting, presents – and more feasting. But why are valuables disappearing? And who is the mysterious Cerberus Schwartz? The Wolves of Greycoat Hall has been described by the Sydney Morning Herald as “an absolute winner, teeming with humour, whimsy and warmth”. This third book in the series finds Boris at back at home in Morovia – a country of fairy ..read more

Title: The Unexpected Mess of It All Author: Gabrielle Tozer Genre: Young Adult Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 352 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: A very funny and fraught ‘enemies-to-will-they-won’t-they’ romance between family friends Jamila and Billy. Jamila Dakhoul wants to escape her life. Forget everything. Forget that her only friends are strangers on the internet. Forget that she’s stuck in a caravan after a fire destroyed her family’s house. Forget that Year 12 is a brutal hellhole where bullying is an Olympic sport. Forget Billy Radcliffe ..read more

Title: Some Families Change Author: Jess Galatoa and Jenni Burrand Genre: Fiction Publisher: EK Books Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: Some Families Change tenderly guides children through various models of changing families with gentle verse and inclusive imagery. ‘You may not have thought much about it, but did you know that some families change? Some get bigger, others smaller and some completely rearrange!’ Changes in the structure of a family can be joyful, turbulent, and especially confusing for little humans. Some Families Change is a gentle a ..read more

Title: Cora, Seen and Heard Author: Zanni Louise Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Walker Books Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 304 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: Cora Lane gets tongue-tied, is often ignored and would rather hide in the library than step onto a stage. However, when her parents decide to renovate an old theatre in small-town Tasmania, Cora realises this is the perfect opportunity for her to reinvent her personality. Enter Cora 2.0, stage left. When Cora quickly slips back into her old ways and has once again made friends with the librarian rather than kids her own age ..read more

Title: A Small Collection of Happinesses: A tale of loneliness, grumpiness and one extraordinary friendship Author: Zana Fraillon Genre: Fiction Publisher: Lothian Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 182 Price: $14.99 Synopsis: An unforgettable story of friendship, hope and happiness from renowned Australian writer Zana Fraillon. Are you ready? Are you listening? Something is about to begin. When Ada arrives on the day of the Great Summer Storm, it is like the wind had picked her up and blown her in – walking stick and all – and dumped her right at the front gates of nu ..read more

Title: A Better Best Friend Author: Olivier Tallec Genre: Fiction Publisher: Gecko Press Published: 1st May 2024 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $7.99 Synopsis: A feel-good picture book about best friendship told with dry comedy and an open ending—squirrel and mushroom are best friends until another best friend (a fly) comes to play. “This morning when I was out walking, I found a best friend. At least I think so. It certainly looks a lot like it! He really has a best friend kind of face.” In this comedic picture book exploring a forever childhood question about friendship, squirrel and ..read more