A review by Nalini Haynes School Rules Are Optional is a whodunnit for primary schoolers. Jesse McCann’s jumper is missing. Later they find the corpse. …
Women
House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess
A review by Nalini Haynes Emilia hides a destructive power. If found out, authorities will torture her until she dies. Lucian was a soldier who …
Deadly Education: Lesson One of the Scholomance by Naomi Novik
A review by Nalini Haynes Bram Stoker’s Scholomance provides a deadly education in the magical world existing alongside the ordinary non-magical world in this tale …
The Boy, the Wolf and the Stars by Shivaun Plozza
A review by Nalini Haynes Bo is the titular Boy of the Boy, the Wolf and the Stars. He lives in the forest with his …
Santa and the Sugar Glider by Alexa Moses and Anil Tortop
A review by Emma Streeton It’s Christmas Eve, and Snap the sugar glider is practicing his moves. He wants to be the greatest flyer in …
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dangerous Animals by Sami Bayly
A review by Nalini Haynes The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dangerous Animals is a nonfiction book about (surprise!) dangerous animals. Every double-page layout focuses on one …
Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend
A review by Nalini Haynes Morrigan Crow turns thirteen and still shows more maturity than many adults in her quest to study Wunder, the source …
Godmothers by Monical McInerney
A review by Nalini Haynes Eliza Miller grew up an only child. Her only family was her mother and two godmothers. Jeannie, Eliza’s mum, moved …
Tindims of Rubbish Island by Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry
A review by Emma Streeton The tiny Tindims do a very important job. They are keen recyclers, who turn what is thrown away by the …
Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend
A review by Nalini Haynes In the first Nevermoor book, Morrigan Crow is smuggled into Nevermoor to enter the Wundrous Society trials. We see Nevermoor …
Naomi Novik
In this podcast, Nalini talks to Naomi Novik, the much-awarded fantasy and speculative fiction author who also co-founded a FanFic organisation. Naomi Novik was born …
What Zola did on Wednesday by Melina Marchetta
A review by Nalini Haynes The What Zola did series is an adorable series about a primary school aged Italian Australian girl going about her …
Sad Mum Lady by Ashe Davenport
A review by Nalini Haynes Ashe Davenport is the titular sad mum lady. She has childhood trauma coming to the fore while struggling with post-natal …
Cobra Queen by Tara Moss
A review by Annabelle Lee The Cobra Queen is the fourth book in the Pandora English series by Australian author Tara Moss. Pandora has recently …
Self Help for Babies Series: Sleep 101 and Whine Guide by Beck and Matt Stanton
A review by Emma Streeton You know babies don’t come with a manual. Well, now they do, in this self-help for babies (parents?) series. When …