About the Award Norma K. Hemming in costume in 1956. The Norma K. Hemming Award marks excellence in the exploration of themes of race, gender, sexuality, class …
People of Color
Joe Cinque’s Consolation by Helen Garner
A review by Nalini Haynes Joe Cinque’s Consolation is the true story of Helen Garner’s investigation of Joe Cinque’s murder, the trials she attended and …
Anguli Ma: a gothic tale by Chi Vu
A review by Nalini Haynes Set in 1980s Melbourne, Anguli Ma: a gothic tale focuses on the lives of Vietnamese boat people, at least some …
Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan
A review by Nalini Haynes I love and adore Shaun Tan’s work. If I had the opportunity, I’d save and frame his napkin and envelope …
Freya Robertson: Sunstone and diversity
A guest blog by Freya Robertson My epic fantasy, Sunstone, is the second in The Elemental Wars series. Like book one, Heartwood, it covers themes …
Jim C Hines series on Equity
Jim C Hines, a fantasy author renowned for his Striking a pose blog, is running a series of guest blogs on equity. Evil Albino Trope is …
Black Sun Light My Way by Jo Spurrier
A review by Nalini Haynes ★★★★★ five out of five stars Black Sun Light My Way is book 2 in the Children of the Black …
Wealthy liberal yet to realise she’s part of the problem
Chloe Angyal of The Guardian boasts about her Upper West Side apartment in New York where Yuppies meet on a Friday night for wine and cheese. …
Champion by Marie Lu
A review by Nalini Haynes Champion concludes the Legend trilogy. I’ve previously reviewed Legend and Prodigy; I recommend reading these reviews first. June Iparis and …
Wishbird by Gabrielle Wang
A review by Nalini Haynes The Wishbird is a gorgeous change of pace, a lovely children’s fantasy with an oriental setting. Boy was abandoned as …
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
A review by Rebecca Muir Throne of the Crescent Moon is the debut novel for Saladin Ahmed. It is set in the Crescent Moon Kingdoms, also …
From Up On Poppy Hill by Studio Ghibli
a review by Nalini Haynes Umi Matsuzaki lives on Poppy Hill in her grandmother’s boarding house. Umi works hard caring for her younger brother and sister …
Earth Girl by Janet Edwards
a review by Rebecca Muir Earth Girl is the debut novel for Janet Edwards, and it is a great first book. It is set in 2789, …
Prodigy by Marie Lu
a review by Nalini Haynes Prodigy is the second instalment in a trilogy that will be complete later this year. I recently reviewed Legend, the …
Legend by Marie Lu
a review by Nalini Haynes Legend, a dystopian YA novel with a far future setting, is a world where climate change and earthquakes changed the …