Review: Danger Road

Danger Road is the current true crime podcast absorbing Mum in the car, forcing brothers Leo and Alex to listen also, as she drives them wherever they need to go.

It is a twenty-five-year-old cold case, about seventeen-year-old Corey Armstrong, who was hit and left to die just outside of town.

The podcast is nearing the end with the mystery still unsolved. 

Leo is smart, athletic, and popular. Alex is a single-friend person, with few interests outside of his art.  

Their constant bickering concerns their single mother a great deal. She suggests that they team up to see if they can find any clues about Corey’s death that may have been missed, before the last podcast. 

She hopes that doing something important together will bring  them closer to one another.

They reluctantly agree although it is a challenge for the boys to both agree to anything. 

At night they go with torches, to the tree where Corey’s memorial cross was hammered, but has now been removed. Here they find their first clue. 

Slowly and through crafty questioning and casual conversations, they uncover unknown information. 

Harry is Alex’s only friend. A highly intelligent individual, she discovers what the boys are up to, and wants to join in. Her intuitive and lateral thinking proves valuable. 

Slowly truths are uncovered. The past becomes the present as personal issues concerning their estranged father, are stirred up.  Prominent names of the town surface under the list of unanswered questions.

They find themselves wading in dangerous waters.

Can the brothers discover the truth about Corey’s death? 

Within the mix of mystery and the search for truth, is the underlying evolving relationship between the brothers, who, until the decision to investigate together, had no time for each other. 

Red herrings lead the reader astray at times, but it is exciting to follow the detailed trail of clues about what really happened to Corey so many years ago. 

Multi- talented A.I. Tait has created a riveting mystery/adventure. Although she writes in varied genres, crime is her favourite and is something at which she excels.

Title: Danger Road 
Author: A.L. Tait   
Publisher: Scholastic, $ 17.99
Publication Date: 1 July 2025
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761646270
For ages: 10+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

Review: Ningaloo: Australia

This non-fiction picture book is itself a ‘wild wonder.’

Ningaloo – Australia’s Wild Wonder looks at the extraordinary natural phenomenon of  land and sea known as Ningaloo, and celebrates both the awe-inspiring and quiet things that make this place unique.

Penned by Australia’s beloved Tim Winton and accompanied by 100s of gorgeous, hand-painted illustrations by Cindy Lane, it’s a veritable treasure trove of surprise and information.

From itty bitty blind fish that live deep in the murky depths, to massive whale sharks in the glossy blue sea, Ningaloo features more than 50 species of aquatic and terrestrial animals and plants.

Junior Review: When We Were Monsters

Jennifer Niven’s When We Were Monsters explores the dark depths of ambition and morality. 

The novel follows a group of students, selected to join an exclusive writing workshop. When secrets unravel and tensions rise, the students begin to realise nothing is as it seems.

Centred at The Moss, an isolated estate where the storytelling workshop takes place, the characters explore themes of power, manipulation and pressure. 

Meredith Graffam is an eccentric director, writer and actress and serves as the student’s mentor. Her character portrays the influence of power and highlights the imbalance she holds over the students. 

Effy Green is a central character in the novel, alongside Arlo Ellis-Noon, both ambitious participants throughout the workshop, who, along with the others, are manipulated by Graffam. 

Issac carries a legacy throughout the book, faced with the pressure to live up to his family expectations and Ness, an overlooked wallflower, struggles with belonging. Throughout the novel, the characters confront their past traumas and question what they believe is true.

Review: Promises and Other Lies

It is a year since the bush fires at Wangaroo Bay destroyed all the area, including most of the houses. 

Immie’s father, a firefighter in the Rural Fire Service, lost his life.

The decision to investigate the probability of arson, is activated by an anonymous call  to police. 

Who could the person be? 

Was it a male or female voice? 

The police are keeping silent.

When further calls are made to police, and a local podcast begins to follow the proceedings, the town becomes reactive.

Fletch is Immie’s best friend. 

His elder brother, Cooper is accused, then arrested as the arsonist. An additional charge is also considered against him for the death of Immie’s dad.

Announcement: 2025 Karajia and Environment Award Winners

Stories that connect kids to Country and nature: 2025 Karajia and Environment Award winners announced.

The Wilderness Society has announced the winners of the 2025 Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature, which celebrates authors and illustrators whose stories inspire young readers to understand, love, and care for the natural world.

Now in its 31st year, the Environment Award for Children’s Literature recognises books that nurture curiosity about the environment: from the soil below to the canopy above. The Karajia Award, launched in 2022, honours First Nations storytellers sharing stories about connections to Country, culture, and community.

“Books we read as children shape who we become,” said Wilderness Society CEO Matt Brennan. “Stories like these can spark a lifelong relationship with nature and a sense of responsibility to care for it. These awards celebrate the power of storytelling to connect us with Country and each other.” And the winners are ...

12 Curly Questions with children's author Adelle Frittitta

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I don’t hate airplane food. I often feel like I have to agree with everyone else in the world who hates it, but I actually don’t mind it at all.

2. What is your nickname?
Most people call me Del.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I just celebrated a birthday and I can officially cross off ‘dying young’ from my list! It’s likely something so tragic now that I can’t even bring myself to put it into words. Closely followed by being forced to work in an office cubicle from 9-5!

Review: The Style Secrets of Gareth McGreen

The Style Secrets of Gareth McGreen stars a stylish toad named Gareth. 

Gareth is a fashion designer who designs and makes wonderful creations for animals of all kinds.

He's so famous his clients travel from afar to be dressed in his unique outfits.

One such client is an upper class possum who wants a fabulous dress to give her daughter to wear at her birthday party. 

Gareth is inspired and delivers something amazing.

Review: Hello Cocky: A Stickybeak At The Cockatoo

A funny, original rhyming book that celebrates an Australian icon with vigor, humour and a wild, bold outlook.

From treetops to rooftops, follow Australia’s most mischievous bird in this exuberant celebration of the cockatoo. 

It’s truly wonderful as a reader, to be in such capable hands.

I loved everything about this book, from the unusual format (it’s rather tall, reminiscent of a cockatoo stretching itself longways to get a good look at you or steal your chips), to the delight and playfulness of the clever language.

The rhyme is sophisticated and funny. Dangerous and angular. It’s fun to read, and there are peaks and troughs to travel with absolutely no doubt that you’re in safe hands. 

Meet The Illustrator: Tannya Harricks

Name: Tannya Harricks

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.

Textured, painterly, loose and expressive.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Natural light. Paper and pencil – where every idea begins. 

Books are essential in a creative space. I am surrounded by my art books and often listening to an audiobook while I work. 

Dogs. I have 3 dogs, so there is usually one or two lying under my feet and happy for some attention when I need to take a break.

Review: I Believe in You

Blair is unhappy, feeling blue.  She goes to Grandpa who knows about these things and knows what to do. 

A nice hot drink and warm words are prepared to explain it all away. 

Grandpa uses positive words to alleviate the negative ones that are stifling Blair’s brain; to bring a smile and remove the frown. 

A stunning double-spread expresses the darkness that envelops someone who is blue. There is no light. They feel alone. 

Dani Colvin has captured these emotions in her illustrations, by using colour to describe the characters' feelings.

Review: Evie P and Me

Evie P arrives on a Tuesday, floaty, and full of surprise. 

She brings with her a glow of happiness, an aura of mystery, an uncompromising belief in herself, and a Storm Glass Weather Predictor.

Lily is immediately mesmerised by her and hopes Evie P will be her friend.

Evie P thrills the class with the statement that she has arrived in an airship, and this is her first time in a classroom, having been sky schooled by her Air-xplorer parents. 

She loves words and uses them freely to entertain with stories told with unquenchable enthusiasm, and which for her classmates, create new ways of looking at the world. 

When the Storm Glass Weather Predictor, disappears from The Lost and Rarely Found Cupboard, a new adventure pours from her as they give

Review: Robot Time! (HotDog #18)

Anh Do's HotDog! series is extremely popular and Robot Time! is number 18.

A quick recap. HotDog is a sausage dog. His friends include a Lizzie the lizard and Kev, a cat. 

They join HotDog on adventures like rescuing a baby bird, joining the circus, auditioning to become movie stars, and playing soccer.

In Robot Time! HotDog and his friends are excited to go to the grand opening of the robot museum. 

Their imaginations run wild as they think about robots. Funny robots, cooking robots, and robots with super long arms. 

They discover the robot museum is full of robots of all shapes and sizes. 

There's a dinosaur robot, a homework bot, and even giant talking gorilla bots.

Review: Harries - The Lifegard from Bondi Beach

Known as the Lifeguard from Bondi Beach, Anthony ‘Harries’ Carroll and his twin brother, were dyslexic. 

Unable to even write their name, they were made fun of, called awful things, and bullied at school. 

This is not a pessimistic story. 

It is a story filled with messages of strength, perseverance, courage, self-confidence, kindness, and hope. 

Anthony unashamedly shares his initial fears and struggles, and how, when a child, people made him feel insignificant. 

Review: Where Shall We Go Today?

Summer holidays, a time of endless possibilities and unfettered adventures. Anything and everything are possible because holiday plans and expectations know no boundaries.

It’s precisely this spirit of joie de vivre that a closeknit group of neighbourhood kids invest on their holidays together. 

And just like the sensitively portrayed array of cultures and countries they embrace, so too do their travel aspirations take on an international flair.

Announcement: Love Your Bookshop Day 2025!

Ngiyampaa/Ngemba, Dutch and Irish artist Emma Sjaan Beukers brings the magic of bookshops to life for Love Your Bookshop Day

BookPeople, the association representing Australian booksellers, has today unveiled the official theme and artwork for this year’s national Love Your Bookshop Day(LYBD) campaign, created by artist Emma Sjaan Beukers, whose Ngiyampaa/Ngemba, Dutch and Irish heritage informs her vibrant, storytelling approach.

Following a public call-out to local illustrators across the country, the association commissioned the Naarm-based artist to bring to life the 2025 theme – Discover the magic. Discover you.

Review: The Making Of Martha Mayfield

Thank you Jo Dabrowski, for delivering us another fresh, funny, wonderful and original book. This one is about trusting yourself while not believing everything your mind thinks, and it’s an absolute gem!

‘A heartwarming and relatable story exploring change, following your instincts and finding your voice in a loud world.’ 

Fifth grader Martha Mayfield has a cooler than cool Grandma who, like other very cool women, goes by just one name. Stella. She also has a shy but crazily talented-at-dressmaking mum, and a gothic, European-soccer-loving sister.

And Martha herself? Well, Martha has good ideas. Great ideas. Tremendous ideas. But, she’s also known as the apple that didn’t fall far from the tree in that she inherited her mums shyness.