Review : StEvEn & Parker - Dinos Are Forever!

Fans of the immensely popular YouTube series, StEvEn and Parker, will be excited to know their favourite characters are now starring in a graphic novel of their own. 

Parker James, social media content creator, in collaboration with Toonstar, has successfully transferred all the fun and hijinks of his shows into a bright and highly visual delight for his followers.

Whether you are familiar with the YouTube series or not, the reader will fall in love with StEvEn, an eight year old, highly imaginative, dino-obsessed young boy and his ever-patient older brother Parker, who is constantly frustrated by his young brother’s (often Dino-related) antics.

Review: The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks

Starting high school is nerve-wracking enough for most kids. Different teachers. New subjects. A maze of corridors and classrooms to navigate. More homework. That’s all bad enough but when your dad insists on sending you to a school where you don’t know anyone except your aloof big sister and one weirdo from your primary school … well, that’s next level.

Enter Gracie Sparks.

The transition from being the popular and cool student who wows everyone with her electric guitar skills to being a friendless nobody does not sit well with Gracie and she’s determined to do something about it. But what?

All the other Year 7s at Middleton Grammar are already in tight friendship groups so Gracie is initially stuck with boring-girl Margot. 

Sunday Shelfie - How to Get Rid of a Princess

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome the wonderful Alison McLennan and Mel Pearce. This week we are celebrating their delightful new picture book How to Get Rid of a Princess.

Princesses are stealthy, sneaky and sly. 

And once inside the castle walls, they are tricky to remove.

But not impossible…

A hilarious and relatable tale about a mischievous little sister and her frustrated older brother who is desperate to stop her joining in his game. All he has to do is follow the steps in this easy-to-use guide!

There's just one problem: the advice may not work in every castle, and princesses might not be as bad as he thinks ...

Written by Alison McLennan

Illustrated by Mel Pearce

Published by Hardie Grant Publishing

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Review: Myra in the Middle

As the oldest child in my family, I could tell you many stories about how difficult it can be to have to ‘pave the way’ for my siblings. However, I have no idea of the trials and tribulations of being the youngest child – or the middle child for that matter.

Happily, there are books that address such matters, allowing us all a window into the experiences of others.

Up until the birth of her baby brother, seven-year-old Myra was the youngest of two, but now she is in the new position of ‘middle child’. 

It’s a bit of a nothing zone – a space where she's invisible, forgotten and not the ‘-est’ of anything. Myra’s not quite sure what her role is or where she fits anymore, only that she’s been relegated to the squashy middle seat in the car and she's been given the position of midfielder in her soccer team.

Review: When I Was Death

Debut YA novel When I Was Death by Alexis Henderson may sit within the horror genre, but it is deeply immersive and reflective — a slow burn that lingers long after the final page.

Roslyn Volk has never recovered from the mysterious death of her sister, Adeline. A year after her passing, Roslyn is still haunted by the unanswered questions surrounding her death. Consumed with grief, she barely hesitates when an enigmatic group of girls with ties to Adeline roll into town and invite her to travel with them. But the girls share a dark secret: they have all been spared from death in inexplicable ways. In exchange for their continued lives, they travel the country doing Death’s bidding.

As Roslyn becomes more entangled with the group, especially its enigmatic leader, she must confront what she is willing to sacrifice for the closure she seeks. And ultimately, she faces a chilling choice: to strike her own deal with Death and perhaps find out the truth about her sister or walk away forever.

Review: My Brother Otto

Everything changes for Quinn from the moment she is told her mum is having baby Otto. Ultrasound photos and baby talk irritate her. 

Her stepfather Alex has set up the cot in her room. Now it is hers no longer. Mum is always tired and going to appointments. All the things they use to do, they can’t do anymore. 

Quinn doesn’t want a baby brother. Experiencing the behaviour of her friend Mem’s baby brother, has her believing babies are destructive and bothersome. 

Quinn’s only interest now is her determination to win the Grade Five story competition consisting of three rounds.

When Mum goes to hospital to give birth prematurely, Quinn mulls over the changes that have occurred in her life, and the ones that will  come with Otto’s entrance into the family. 

Review: The King's Conservatorium

Garlan and his mute brother Cadell are the leading characters of an exceptional cast of players in this brilliant character-driven novel.

Cadell has a gift. 

He can find things - lost items, answers to questions, or anything else queried by his mind. 

He is extremely bright and kind.

Garlan is not only a brother, but Cadell's friend and protector.

The brothers have a wonderful method of communicating with one another, and the warmth between them is reflected in their every word and action.

While they had their parents, their life was filled with the joy of music and song. But they now have come from a place where the King’s Law restricts pleasures permitted long ago.

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: Higher Ground

A unique and stunning graphic novel, Higher Ground presents the issue of floods, the destruction caused by Nature, and the abandoned places flooding creates. 

It focuses entirely on a family - a grandmother, two children, and a rabbit, and the choices they make. 

Survival is utmost. As they move to the top of their apartment building, a shed becomes their refuge. 

The entire building is transformed into an immovable object in the flooded waters.

Their wait for help proves futile and after many days, they realise that help isn’t coming.

Review: The Night Librarian

The Night Librarian by Christoper Lincoln is one of the first graphic novels I’ve read. My own children and my class ADORE graphic novels. As for me, I’ve been reading my much-loved traditional novels and picture books. 

Enter The Night Librarian: a middle-grade adventure fantasy graphic novel. Firstly my 11-year-old son devoured the book, the cover and plot piquing his interest. Then it was my turn.

The Night Librarian follows twins, Page and Turner, who are on a mission to recover their father’s rare book which was stolen when they were trying to determine its value. 

Review: Chicken Pox

Younger siblings are like viruses. They’re tiny, and they make you sick.

This is how twelve-year old Abby, on the cusp of adolescence, feels about her four younger siblings. 

The wish she made when very young – to have a sibling to play with, turned into four obnoxious ones.

Remi Lai frequently draws on her own life experiences to create believable stories. 

This graphic novel takes a humorous and realistic look into the dramas played out in many families between siblings. 

The bold, detailed illustrations reinforce the daily dilemmas, situations so familiar, they force a smile that remains fixed till the end of the book.

Review: Saturday, Sunday

Everyone's weekend is different. What does yours look like?

Saturday, Sunday depicts one family’s weekend routine.

Rhyming text by Natalie Kate Forbes both stands alone and flows beautifully. It’s complemented by Danny Snell’s gentle, connected illustrations. 

As you follow the words and pictures, it feels like you’re right there among the family, being led along as they progress through the weekend.

Review: Twinning: BFFs (NOT); Twinning: Skipping Stars

These are The Top Secret Diaries of Twin Sisters. 

A fantastic read, they are part of a series with wonderful characters, light-hearted narratives, and a focus on multicultural - people and customs.

Ten-year-old Grace and Izzy are identical twins. But that’s where the likeness stops.

They love each other very much, but there is friendly sibling rivalry between them. 

 Sharing a bedroom is challenging.

Totally different in character, Izzy is untidy, loud, feisty, and loves hamburgers.

Grace is quiet and thoughtful. She loves to read, art, wear fashionable clothes, and eat vegetarian food.

Review: Such Charming Liars

This book by bestselling ‘Queen of Teen Crime’ author Karen McManus, is touted as an explosive new YA thriller. And yes, McManus well and truly earns the label – Such Charming Liars gives generously!

It’s told from the perspective of two teenagers, Kat and Liam, who were step-siblings for just 48 hours when they were five and their respective parents briefly married in Vegas.

This story contains all the important elements of a teen thriller: action, thrills, lust, spills, twists, power, fortune, fame. And of course, a little bit of gender-fluid snogging on the side.

With a complex storyline that will reward readers’ attention to detail (I suggest an intensive rather than extended reading period for this work), the book is pacy and well-written. 

Review: My Brother Finch

It has been three years since Wren’s brother, Finch, disappeared. 

Another girl vanished on the same day.

Finch’s disappearance changes the life of each family member, physically and emotionally.

Wren now lives in fear of everything. Her mother finds escape from her pain through work. 

Dad cries behind the bathroom door. 

Withdrawn and unable to talk about her loss and grief, Wren's group of friends back away, unable to know how to comfort her.

When Freddie, a too tall girl from a wealthy family approaches Wren in friendship, the grieving Wren hopes that this new presence will restore something in her.

Review: Into the Blue

It is always a challenge for mum to find things for Blair to occupy himself during school holidays. This time, she decides on a snorkelling event.

Blair and his cousin Drew, with a group of other children under the supervision of an instructor, go diving to explore an old shipwreck. 

Blair has done an unforgivable thing.

He has taken his elder brother Marcus’ Go-Pro to film the wreck underwater, without permission.

It is a ‘don’t touch’ item as it contains valuable footage of Marcus skating, which he intends to enter in a competition for the best outdoor video for a good amount of prize money.  

Blair loses the camera while underwater, and returns to search for it time and time again, even with Drew, but there is no sign of it.

Review: Grace the Amazing

Eleven-year-old Grace is on the cusp of adolescence. She sees herself as many things. All of them negative.

She hates school, is friendless, mocked by her classmates because she wants to be a magician, and doesn’t get along with her seven-year-old brother.

Unhappy and angry all the time, Grace is unable to see in herself, all that she is capable of with her artistic gift, nurtured by her art teacher Pamela.

Mum Coco works at the Zoo, and on weekends has her own animal show, Party Pets, with which Grace helps out.

Dad is away a lot for work, and alone, Coco is at wits end with her daughter’s inexplicable attitude.

This pushes her to seek help for Grace from a Child Psychologist.

Review: A Room for Ryel

Ryel and his dad officially become a blended family when they move into Lonnie’s house. 

Luckily, her twins Harry and Darcy, are already close friends with Ryel as they go to school together.

Sharing a room has many challenges and becomes something Ryel can’t come to terms with after having his own room for so long. 

Darcy talks and shouts in his sleep, while Harry’s breathing noises are epic, and keep Ryel awake all night. Half asleep through the day, his performance at school drops.

The only solution to the problem is the storeroom that houses the twins’ sports equipment and other stuff not currently being used.

Ryel comes up with a plan that could work.

On the 7th day of Christmas: You’re Not Ugly, Duckling!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven swans a-swimming…and You’re Not Ugly, Duckling!, written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Neil Price.

A fairytale with a twist!  

Mother Duck is shocked to discover that one of her ducklings looks a little different to the rest. 

He's large and grey, with a funny quack and an even funnier hair do! It's not just Mother Duck who has noticed - poor Ugly Duckling is bullied by the other farm animals and his siblings too!

Ugly Duckling decides to run away, but when he spots one of the farm animals in danger he rushes to the rescue. Are his actions enough to prove that you should never judge a book by its cover? 

Title: You're Not Ugly, Duckling!
Author: Steve Smallman
Illustrator: Neil Price
Publisher: QED Publishing, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 2016
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781784935337
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

Review: Granbad

Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing for the right reason.

In this funny picture book adventure, sibling protagonists introduce us to their grandad, who they affectionately call Granbad?

Why? Because Granbad likes to break the rules. He eats the wrong things. He doesn’t listen to his doctors, and he’ll do whatever it takes to save the forests and the greater gliders who live there.