A review by Emma Streeton What do you call your grandpa? is beautifully illustrated. It pays tribute to the special bond between children and their …
Book reviews
Demelza and the Spectre Detectors by Holly Rivers
A review by Emma Streeton Demelza loves science – she loves it so much that she’s been known to stay up late to work on …
Nit Boy by Tristan Bancks and Heath McKenzie
A review by Emma Streeton Meet Lewis Snow. He has the worst case of nits in world history. Everyone wants him to shave his head …
The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina
A review by Emma Streeton Set in Japan the story follows Yui and Takeshi, both of whom have lost people close to them. Yui’s mother …
Hodgepodge: How To Make A Pet Monster by Lili Wilkinson
A review by Emma Streeton Artie is 11 years old. He does not believe in ghosts, or monsters. He believes in science. So when he …
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
A review by Nalini Haynes We all know people obsessed with status and wealth. Four years ago, my husband and I sat down to lunch …
Lost Soul Atlas by Zana Fraillon
A review by Nalini Haynes Forget John Dies At The End. Twig dies at the beginning. The Afterlife is a treacherous place where gods eat …
Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal by Anna Whateley
A review by Nalini Haynes Peta Lyre is 16 and has “alphabet soup” diagnoses including ADHD and is on the autism spectrum. Over a period …
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
A review by Emma Streeton When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes …
When Grace Went Away by Meredith Appleyard
A review by Emma Streeton ‘Everything had ended, and started, the day her youngest brother had died.’ But that was not when Grace went away. …
Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
A review by Emma Streeton The Jane Austen Society takes place in 1940s England. A group of vastly different people are brought together by their …
Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
A Hunger Games Novel A review by Emma Streeton Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes begins on the morning of the reaping that will kick off …
Better Luck Next Time by Kate Hilton
A review by Emma Streeton It isn’t easy being related to a feminist icon. Just ask the daughters of Lydia Hennessey, who could have it …
League of Llamas by Allesah Darlison
Book 1 – The Golden Llama; Book 2 – Llama Impossible; Book 3 – Undercover Llamas; Book 4 – Rogue Llama A review by Emma Streeton League of …
Sticks and Stones by Katherine Firkin
A review by Emma Streeton It’s winter in Melbourne and Detective Emmett Corban is starting to regret his promotion to head of the Missing Persons …