Principal Sniggles is very small, and very old, and not to be messed with! When she learns there is no class president in Max’s class, she instructs Mr Armstrong to ensure there are elections in his class very soon.

Max decides he’s going to run for president. But he’s not handsome or funny or sporty or smart like the other candidates. How will he convince his classmates to vote for him? He’s funny! And so this is a story about a horrible teacher, a crazy campaign, and a small annoying, duck.

Full of simple black and white illustrations and cartoons, this is the first in this hilarious series about Max – a very funny kid.

Author – Matt Stanton

Age – 7+

Teacher’s Notes here

Read more reviews of Funny Kid Books (Click on a Cover)

(2017, Harper Collins, Humour, School, Election, Class President, Being yourself, Identity, Series, Funny, Laugh out loud, Horrible Teacher)

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Chris is who Mog and his friends look to and follow. Chris is popular among them, especially to Mog. They understand each other, enjoy their banter and shared humour and hang out together after school. When Mog sees this friendship threatened by another, he’s not sure how to handle it.

Something Mog likes about Chris is his inherent goodness. This isn’t seen as weak or soft, but something that helps the group stay on an even keel. It’s not spoken of, and Chris and Mog enjoy petty crimes as much as the next kid, but they’re not mean.

When Chris slowly allows a new kid into their group – a kid who is bullied daily by the school thugs and deemed a complete loser by all; Mog isn’t happy. He decides to do something about it. His decision has an unexpected ripple effect, changing everything for them all.

Anthony McGowan’s masterful storytelling strikes again. The Fall is a YA novel of grit, peer pressure, friendship dynamics and survival within a school. Individual choices become betrayals that change lives forever. The writing is succinct, powerful, and credible. Written for Dyslexic readers, its no-holds-barred topic and authenticity will grab reluctant readers too.

A scattering of illustrations allow breaks in the text, and the larger font and line spacing also make The Fall a story to readily consume.

This is a superb addition to other stories by McGowan, with teen boys as protagonists, dealing with life and all it has to deal out to them.

Author – Anthony McGowan

Illustrator – Chris King

Reading Age – 7 / Interest Age – 13+

Dyslexic Title

Read the first Chapter here

Read more reviews of Anthony McGowan titles here

(2025, Barrington Stoke, Collins, Friendship, Betrayal, Bullies, Conflict, Crime, Growing up, Historical, Peer Pressure, Popularity, School, Dyslexic, Dyslexia, Reluctant Readers, Beck, Petty Crime, Bullying, Fighting, Gangs, Choices, Polluted Stream)

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Zac and Fletcher have been mates since daycare. Both train hard towards the draft, but they both know Zac’s name will be in the first 5 names announced when it’s their turn. They try not to focus on it, playing basketball in their downtime, but the draft is a constant shining beacon in their thoughts.

Mason is shorter than most on the field, and he’s been told for years that his height isn’t good for AFL. But he’s determined to prove them wrong, focussing on other skills required in the sport. His dad is right behind him, helping him train in the back yard, when he’s not with his team.

Dane loves the attention he gets as he grows and bulks up with all the time he spends weight training. He’s been with his girlfriend Beth since the first year of high school, but other girls are taking notice of him now. His warm smile and football status at school are a winning combination and sure to give him a place in the next AFL draft.

Beth has watched Dane’s training and games every season, but she’s beginning to wonder if Dane working towards This Season’s Draft has taken up too much of her own life?

A year in the life of six Australian teenagers all over the country, and the effect This Season’s Draft has upon their lives. And just like the football recruiters tell the players – AFL is not just when you’re wearing a team’s uniform or working hard in training. It’s so much more.

Perfect for AFL fans, and any budding athlete with dreams, doubts or thoughts in their chosen sport. 

Author – Jason Gent

Age – 13+

(2025, Allen & Unwin, Multiple Viewpoints, First Person & Third Person, Family, Real Life, Friendship, Humour, Popularity, School, Australian Sport, AFL, Aussie Rules, Australian Football League, Footy, Sport, Competition, Training, Practise, Weight Training, Verse Novel, Relationships, Anticipation)

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Life changes dramatically for Jim from that day, and he becomes Sir Henry’s constant companion. Sir Henry is constantly adding rooms to a new museum, so spends many hours there. Jim enjoys the art there, with one painting especially. Jim also enjoys reading, but his eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be.

With Christmas approaching one year, Sir Henry Cole gets an idea about how to save time with all the Christmas messages he and his wife had to send, and he designs something that will speed things up. The very first Christmas card.

But how to make this idea catch on? He decides to try the help of the most famous person in the land – Queen Victoria.

This is how Jim finds himself on a velvet cushion inside Buckingham Palace in front of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Not only is he and the card well received, a solution to his failing eyesight is right in front of him.

Stealing just the thing he needs from the palace brings him his eyesight, a very long night awake and then an unexpected Christmas present from royalty on Christmas day.

Written by much loved and Academy award winning actor Emma Thompson, Jim’s Spectacular Christmas is based on a real dog named Jim who lived with Sir Henry Cole in late 1800’s London.

Sir Henry designed the very first Christmas card in 1843. Combining these truths into a new Christmas story for children, the author has given readers a funny story within a snapshot of London in the 1800’s.

Sir Henry Cole and Prince Albert worked together on The Great Exhibition of 1851, and from there more museums opened for all the people of London to enjoy art and history.

Jim is a lively character and I did laugh out loud at his antics and the amusing illustrations by the amazing Axel Scheffler. This is nearly picture book size, but has much more text, making it a wonderful read aloud or gift for emerging readers before larger chapter books. 

Author – Emma Thompson

Illustrator – Axel Scheffler

Extended text picture book

(2022, Penguin Random House UK, Dog, Christmas, Animals, Historical, Humour, Popularity, Family, Based on truth, Art, Museum, London, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Monarchy, Buckingham Palace, Love, Sir Henry Cole)

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Leah is intimidated to begin with, her perception of Anthony being a popular boy in the school basketball team who will think himself above her. Anthony along with others in their grade, knew Leah as a high achiever and a teacher’s pet. They enter the tutoring with trepidation.

To their joint surprise, they begin to enjoy each other’s company and after time even begin to confide in one another about personal things. Anthony’s facade finally begins to crack after rarely showing his feelings. Leah’s tutoring helps him delve deeper into his emotions to help with his essay writing.

When one day they see Anthony’s team mates bullying a younger boy, they are not only forced deeper into their own past experiences with bullying, they know they must do something after a second incident.

Truths are shared, memories rear up, and friendships bend. Middle school is seldom straight forward, and Anthony and Leah must make decisions, forgive, understand and grow from it all.

Although named Always Anthony, like other books in this popular graphic novel series, there are two main characters. Leah is an equal and important part of this story about unlikely friendships, misconceptions about people around you, and bullying.

Leah has been bullied before and can relate to a younger boy’s fear and feelings as he flees from older boys. Anthony is on the basketball team with these boys and doesn’t want to rock the boat, attract the bullying or make a big deal of it. Both Anthony and Leah have to deal with the complicated feelings that rise up at seeing a younger boy bullied.

There are other things happening as Anthony and Leah work together on his English class grade. Leah’s friends become jealous, Anthony’s friends are dismissive of Leah, and then his best friend Tyler is left feeling out in the cold after an essay project.

Wrangling friendships in school can be difficult – especially when group dynamics change, but it’s all part of the growing process for us all, and this bright, engaging episode in the emmie & friends series is a fun foray into all sorts of possible connections.

I always enjoy the two distinct styles of illustration and storytelling for each character’s point of view in this series. In between the more serious themes are amusing drawings that add even more to the tale. I love them all!

Author / Illustrator – Terri Libenson

Age – 8+

Find lots of cool stuff on Terri Libenson’s Author page here

(2024, Harper Collins, School, Series, Friendship, Bullies, Courage, Growing up, Peer Pressure, Popularity, Misconceptions, Friendship Dynamics, Middle School, Intermediate School, Jewish, Baking, Cooking, Chemistry, English, Language Arts, Funny, Humour,

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In Will’s eyes they stand out like sirens on his feet, and bullies like Chris Tucker are always listening. Chris hassles Will every chance he gets, drawing laughter from his friends and anyone else close enough to hear. Will deals with it the best he can, believing he can’t do a lot about it, as Chris is older and more popular.

Will’s best mate Cameron is his lifeline, and they spend a lot of time at his warm, spacious house, gaming and eating well. When returning to his own cramped, cold flat, Will knows it’s not his dad’s fault, and like his father, tries to stay positive. There’s never much to eat, and Will makes the most of the free hot school lunches during the day, and makes do with soup and toast at home.

Another escape for Will is his drawing. He’s a talented artist, even painting walls at a local cafe and appearing in the newspaper. His art teacher believes he will go a long way with his skills, but drawings don’t fill his stomach or keep his feet dry in the rain. One day at school, when Chris is starting in on both Will and Cameron, a voice rings out in their defence. To their surprise, a girl in Chris’ year stands up to him.

Her name is Kalia and Will is incredibly impressed at how she doesn’t seem fazed at all by Chris. Maybe he will leave them be for a while? Things begin to look up a little for Will. Art class is going well and Will produces the best art than ever before, finally garnering a little respect from his classmates. Soon, Dad has news about a possible job offer, and Kalia extends more friendship.

Meeting her family brings both hope for his future and the wish his own flat was more like their home. But just when things are looking up, life changes again for him and his dad. Will feels like he will never get a break, and that his life is a slippery slope to nowhere.

‘Yes, I know that life is always changing – I used to live in a nice house with both my parents and now I’m in a tiny freezing-cold flat with my dad who can’t work because of his terrible leg injuries.’

He’s sick of being cold, worrying about money, and pretending everything is fine with whoever asks. When offered a chance to make changes, he sees no other way and takes it. His father has made the same decision.

Fitting in at school is tough for many, and even worse when you don’t look the same as your classmates. Whether it’s the wrong haircut, clothes or shoes, bullies will pounce like lions. This novel is set in the UK, but schools around the world are the same when it comes to this sort of exclusion.

After reading The Invisible by the author of this novel, I knew The Wrong Shoes would be something special. The author being a talented illustrator too, there are powerful images throughout this novel, sharing the main character’s experiences with poverty, bullying and choices made through frustration.

Family circumstances (anywhere) can change slowly or overnight, and the afterword by Tom Percival tells it straight – Child poverty is NEVER the child’s fault. So many factors affect people’s lives and children often bear the brunt.

This novel is even more moving as main character Will shares his story direct to the reader as he’s living it. It’s real, raw and he tells it like it is. He’s a brave character, trying to protect his father’s feelings, prevent his mother’s worries and make things right from wrongs. But even he cracks, and it’s heart wrenching.

A powerful read that will make a great read aloud for years 5 – 8 (NZ) Ages 9-12 to launch important discussions about poverty.

Author / Illustrator – Tom Percival

Age – 9+

(2024, Simon & Schuster UK, Harper Collins, Bullies, School, Family, Poverty, Friendship, Prejudice, Peer Pressure, Popularity, Revenge, Cheap shoes, Cold flat, Hungry, No money, Free lunches, Choices, Rich friends, Too proud, Bully, Theft, Payback, Two homes, Injured father, Real Life)

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In previous years Sunset High was plagued with controversy including disappearances and a death, deemed an accident. But Abel knows it wasn’t an accident. It was his older brother Adam who plummeted from the roof of the hotel of the Sunset High stars, and Abel is in LA to prove it.  Teamed up with a journalist back in the UK, Abel begins to feed information and behind the scenes happenings to his UK contact, whilst hiding his true identity.

But it’s not long before he begins to regret this as he gets to know his fellow cast members. There is Lucky, who has been in the spotlight his whole life and is a pro at the celebrity world only aged in his late teens. It’s not hard for Abel to see that Lucky is still hurting with the loss of his mother. Lucky is drinking heavily and blames Omni for the accident that killed her.

The two female leads are Ryan and Ella, both dealing with their own personal dramas after being with Omni Channel for some time. They too seem to handle the roar of the crowds with ease wherever they go, whereas it’s a first for Abel. They smile and wave and give him tips on how to cope, but when away from the spotlight, reveal they struggle with it the more time passes, and their fame grows.

But they are all under contract and must do what Omni instructs. Their publicist pushes them this way and that, setting up fake dates, and anything that will keep the spotlight on the upcoming reboot of Sunset High, no matter the fallout, or damage between them.

Abel still wants to know the truth about his brother. The more he delves, the more that is revealed, and the more this teen cast get to know each other. Maybe it’s time to regain some control over their lives.

This was a fun read. More about the thrill factor than the actual show because there isn’t much acting portrayed. But the knives are constantly out and the twists kept coming. I only spotted one of these early, but it didn’t spoil the story.

Just like the public, I was constantly guessing who was with who, until the real relationships were revealed. The villain of the plot was a big wig in the Omni Corporation, at least he was until the twist at the end, suggesting there is even more to this story.

The more serious side of the story is the damage that fame can do to those in the spotlight. Their dream from young can be to be famous, but others with the power to deliver that dream can take advantage, control young stars with contracts so tight it consumes them. The fact that we as the public buy the magazines or the newspapers or follow social media for the juiciest gossip (without knowing or even caring whether it’s the truth or not), just feeds and ensures the control on these stars.

There has been more than one famous person in the past few years reveal the effect false social media has had on their lives, and the false portrayals purposefully fed to the media by people they trusted being incredibly damaging.

Something to think about, after a very entertaining read.

Author – Benjamin Dean

Age – 14+

(2024, Simon & Schuster, Famous, Fame, Celebrity, TV Stars, Teen Stars, Paparazzi, Photographers, Chased, Media Storm, Sunset High, Journalist, Curse, Breaking news, Podcasts, Lies, Secrets, Escape, Missing person, Crime, Murder, Mystery, Investigate, Learn the truth, Actors, Betrayal, Newsworthy, Manipulation, Contracts, Drinking Problem, Grief, Greed, Queer, LGBTQ+, Popularity, Revenge, Real Life)

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Maylee – a free spirit. Or this is how she likes to think of herself. She is spontaneous, disorganised, Queen of the social ladder at high school and incredibly keen to be an influencer. She and Petra are polar opposites but besties. Maylee likes to turn conversations on their head, just to get a reaction. She is constantly taking photos or looking for opportunities to do so for her followers, but also knowing she needs something different for her feed. She takes a tent for the trip but is not properly prepared otherwise as is her carefree, don’t give a care nature.

Nolan – Petra’s stepbrother who is mocked at school for his quiet, insular personality. He’d much rather be holed up in his room on his computer than anywhere else. Ever since he had a terrifying experience on another trip, he has also been mocked for his insistence he saw a bigfoot only feet in front of him. He’s certain of the sighting even though it’s widely believed he just had a nightmare, and now he’s keen to look for one at Salvation Creek. This is one of the hotspots for bigfoot according to cryptid experts, and where people have disappeared.

John – Maylee’s boyfriend. More like Petra than Maylee, John is a good student and a sensible guy, especially after an event years previous that changed him for life. Blamed for a near tragedy because of the colour of his skin made him realise what society is really like underneath. Maylee’s chaotic personality helps bring him some of the spark he lost before the event. But still, he can’t understand why he came camping as he hates the outdoor wilderness, getting away from it all vibe. He’s much happier with a vibrant city around him.

Abigail – Daughter of a man thought to be pure gun-toting hillbilly, Abigail has learnt her own wilderness skills and knows the area well. They have spent a lot of time in the outdoors. Living in a trailer park, and with her father’s anti-establishment take on life, she is used to other’s opinion of him. She ignores them as she is close to her loving, patient father as he is the only family she has. She is pleased to be invited along, but is wary.

Five teens arrive at the camping ground together, but by morning there is only four being interviewed by the police after something goes terribly wrong.

I couldn’t put this book down. Told in four viewpoints by the way of police interviews, I felt like I was there in the wilderness with the teens as their camping trip turns into a nightmare.

The interview style of storytelling allows readers to get to know each character, and I enjoyed the different ways each character perceived behaviour of others. Eg. One character thought someone was thinking something, but in fact it was the opposite.

Having one character absolutely convinced a bigfoot was nearby upped the tension, and made me wonder… could there be a creature in the wilds with them or is it something else?

A fast paced, entertaining read.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the ARC of this title.

Author – Chelsea Sedoti

Age – 12+

If you liked this novel you might like these

(2024, Sourcebooks Fire, Outdoors, Camping, Bush, Wilderness, Bigfoot, Cryptid, Mystery, Guns, Secrets, Plan, Social media, Influencer, Prejudice, Police, Interviews, Misconceptions, Thriller, Tension, Disappearances, Missing girls, Crime,  Who is guilty, Toxic friendship, Action, Popularity, Betrayal, Gripping, Real Life)

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Despite the endless hours spent providing electricity for the rich and powerful who live in the Snowglobe (a sparkling domed city), Chobahm has dreams of changing her life and her loved ones along with her.

The only people who can live in the only climate-controlled and liveable place on Earth (the Snowglobe) are actors and directors. These people provide endless 24 hour reality TV to the masses like Chobahm’s family – their only escape from a hand-to-mouth existence. They watch while working and at home, investing their lives in the characters and actors they love.

Chobahm wants to be a director, intending to apply every year until she is chosen. This is her plan before she is made an offer she can’t refuse. She is the spitting image of one of her favourite TV stars. She’s been teased about it before, never knowing her resemblance will change her and her family’s future.

Being offered a place on TV until she is given a place in director school, and having her family looked after financially is more than a dream come true.

Life inside the warm affluent Snowglobe, where she is showered with attention, beautiful clothes and all the food she can eat, is a huge change. Chobahm slowly begins to fit in, copying all the mannerisms of her favourite TV star. But the longer she stays, the more she realises that reality TV is nothing like reality itself.

This world is not only about haves and have-nots, it’s about power, murder, and most important of all, ratings. And some directors will do anything to stay at the top.

I was fascinated in the premise of this novel, and began reading uncertain of what I’d find. Just like the dystopian worlds of The Hunger Games and Divergent, Snowglobe provides a rich back-drop of world building.

Snowglobe is the only place left in the world that is climate-controlled. Outside the globe is horrifically cold – with 50 below being normal in the winter. People are still expected to go to work in these terrible conditions – mostly as power station workers.

The contrasting Snowglobe is a world of glitter, wealth, beauty, corruption, murder, reality TV and the endless pursuit of top ratings. Chobahm discovers not only the truth about the ‘real’ world of Snowglobe, but a gob-smacking intrusion into multiple families – with no thought of the fallout.

This wasn’t a face-paced read, but there were enough shocks, surprises and connections to keep me reading. The second part of this duology translated from Korean is due out 2025, and I for one will be keen to see where Chobahm goes next.

Author – Soyoung Park

Age – 12+

(2024, Betrayal, Courage, Power, Dystopian, Future, Climate Controlled, Family, Ice age, Warring times, Family, Twins, Siblings, Friendship, Doppelgangers, Lookalikes, Murder,Mystery, Ratings, Reality TV, Mystery, Secrets, Popularity, Poverty, Cold, Revenge, Science, Manipulation, Lies, Duology)

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The police think her best friend Jayden ran away. Her classmates don’t seem to even care. But Zoe knows Jayden is still alive. He has to be…

She is mad at herself for walking home alone that day. Most of the time they walk home together, at least until Jayden splits off to his street. But they’d had an argument and tension was high. If only she’d looked for him as soon as he hadn’t answered her message. If only she’d told the police earlier. Would it have helped them find Jayden?

With her classmate’s apathy, and the police investigation stalling only days since Jayden went missing, Zoe begins searching herself. She wishes she had money for a private investigator, but if Jayden’s high profile parents aren’t using one, how can she? Beginning with students around her and with the help of her obsessive friend Niamh, they begin looking for clues and piecing what they find together into possible scenarios.

But nothing makes sense. What is the 17? What is the Green Room and what was Jayden hiding from Zoe? Sure, he’s always looked for attention and longed to fit in with the popular kids, but what has he been doing behind Zoe’s back?

The more she digs, interviewing people and honing her skills as a wannabe investigative reporter, the more she realises she didn’t know her best friend at all. It’s not long before she too is in danger. Someone is trying to silence her, both with warnings and then physically. What has Jayden been a part of?

A gripping Young Adult thriller by a master storyteller, If You Tell Anyone, You’re Next, had me guessing until the heart stomping conclusion. Zoe is a determined character and friend, but the friendship she had based her life around for years isn’t what she thought it was.

She knows her missing friend Jayden so well, she has imagined conversations with him as she tries to unravel the clues she finds. She knows just how he would reply as she questions one thing after another in her investigation, but soon begins to wonder – does she really know him at all?

Each chapter begins with the day, the time, and how many hours Jayden Jones has been missing. This builds the tension as we all know the longer someone is missing, the chances of finding them alive – shrinks.

There is a loose romantic thread woven through as Zoe ex-crush is involved and the reason she changed her mind about him revealed.

Any Karen McManus fans will love If You Tell Anyone, You’re Next – In fact, I think this murder-mystery-thriller is even better.

Author – Jack Heath

Age – 12+

(2023, Scholastic Australia, Thriller, Mystery, Clues, Investigation, Podcast, School, Missing Person, Technology, Friendship, 17, Dares, Challenges, Belonging, Popular, Peer Pressure, Fear, Action, Tension, Police, Group, Secrets, Crime, Popularity, Betrayal, Determination, Loyalty)

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Danny Day is the only person (he’s ever heard of) who gets to live every day twice. This caused many problems when he was younger because he knew what was going to happen or be said before it was spoken. He would talk of conversations with his parents they couldn’t remember. They took him a doctor who could finally help with Danny’s strange behaviour. Now he’s older, his doctor is the only other person who knows what Danny can do.

He has no control over it, but he has learnt how to use his double-days to maximum advantage.

The 1st day is a Discard Day – a day to do nothing but play his favourite video games, eat jumk food, cause trouble at school, learn for a test and make notes about the new people around him.

The 2nd turn at each day is called a Sticky Day – where everything Danny does or says… sticks. Just like any other person.

A Discard Day can be all out rebellion, but a Sticky Day has Danny being a top student, helpful at home diverting disasters with his young twin sisters, and being respectful at school.

At his new school, Danny meets and labels his classmates – bullies, popular, unpopular or the real rulers of the school. He also meets Zak, a high achiever at anything he tries, but really nice with it. Another friend is Freddie who is at the bottom of the school pecking order and a talented gamer like Danny.

Danny begins to feel different about his Discard Days, and as he gets to know the kids around him begins to change his way of doing things. Maybe Zac is right, and he can use his special skill at something spectacular. Something that involves LOTS of gaming and bringing the bullies to justice.

A unique premise cleverly wrapped up themes of friendship, defeating the bullies, and lots of video game play. There is a map of the game land inside the front cover, so you can keep track of the character’s moves, strikes and failures.

Revenge is finally sweet, and so are the three main characters who find themselves as a tight knit trio up against the rulers of their school.

Great read. If you’re a gamer, you’ll love it even more. 

What would you do if you could live every day twice?

Author – Mike Thayer

Age – 9+

(2023, Macmillan, Gaming, Gamer, New Town, New School, Twice, Double, Living every day twice, Video Games, Bullies, Cheating, Revenge, Plans, Twin sisters, Humour, Funny, High Achiever, Cheating, Bullies, Conflict, Family, Friendship, Growing Up, Popularity, Secret)

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But they weren’t always just the Cool Beans. They were part of a pod of four, but one of the beans was left behind in the coolness stakes. They just drifted apart as sometimes even good friendships do.

The fourth bean watched his pod mates and their personal cool skills. Playing the guitar. Drawing superheroes. Dunking baskets on the court. He tried to be cool, but just didn’t have it in him. In fact, he was the least cool bean in his class.

He didn’t understand it. How can some beans be cool, and some not?

Just when he thought things couldn’t be any less cool, something happens. And then again… and again!

Could it really be that being cool wasn’t all about the clothes, the sunglasses or even the skills? Could it be just a smile, or a helping hand when needed?

Maybe this uncool bean could be cool like the Cool Beans after all!

This is what good books are all about, boiled right down into the most important ingredient of stories. Empathy.

One bean can’t understand why his friends are suddenly cooler than him, and this happens on the playground all over the world. Watching his old friends become even more and more popular, he tries to emulate them in their clothes and manner.

It’s not long before he discovers why they are so cool and popular – they are also kind, helpful and having really left him behind after all. Following their lead after they help him find some much needed confidence in himself, he becomes just like them.

Author – John Jory

Illustrator – Pete Oswald

Picture Book

(2022, Harper Collins, School, Resilience, Too Cool for School, Image, Self Esteem, Friendships, Kindness, Empathy, Fitting in, Confidence, Belonging, Cool Kids, Popularity)

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But that was before the accident. There were four teenagers in the car after the party in the hills of Los Angeles, aged from 15 to 18. Only three made it out alive.

Spencer has been left with a head injury, facial stitches, a broken arm, clavicle and wrist. That means no field hockey, captain of the team or not. The head injury and PTSD from the accident threatens her with migraines, and even more in her nightmares of that night. What happened? Why were those four people in that car?

Was it as the police claimed? Alcohol, drugs, speed and careless driving? There is something that doesn’t add up to Spencer. The flashbacks, night terrors and a past relationship don’t equal the police reports, but now it is in the hands of the Court after a confession is made.

With the help of her ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Spencer tries to claw her life back. The life before the accident, before the truth about her boyfriend was revealed, to when her future was laid out neatly in front of her. But first they have to find out answers to all her questions. What really happened at that party and on the way home? Her gut tells her there is more to it, and threatening notes begin to back that up. Future plans pushed aside, nothing is as important to Spencer than finding out the truth.

The comparisons to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder are valid, with a crime, a key character searching for answers and a keen podcaster involved. But this podcaster is just after the juicy stuff, not particularly interested in the truth and ready to believe the gossip flowing freely in their private school.

A budding romance forms as the mystery builds. Main characters are threatened. Plans for the future fall apart. All this increases the tension of this YA thriller. Just as all is thought lost and a teen faces prison, a throwaway comment clicks everything into place.

Author – Melissa de la Cruz
Age – 12+

(2023, MacMillan, Mystery, Thriller, School, Lies, Relationship, Betrayal, Truth, Friendship, Crush, Accident, Party, Death, Injury, Service Dog, Future Plans, Preferential Treatment, Police, Crime, Murder, Revenge)

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Zadie’s little brother Teddy is treated much better by their mother and sometimes Zadie resents this, even though she loves Teddy with all her heart. He has been her best friend in fact, as Zadie is shy and quiet in class, keeping her head down.

That is until Sparrow joins their class. Sparrow isn’t her real name, but is what she prefers to be called. She has moved in next door to Zadie and they soon become good friends. Sparrow is confident, and is quickly popular at school, gradually drawing Zadie out of her shell.

Life is still tough at home under the gaze of her criticising mother, and Zadie wishes her father could help more in the shop. Even since he returned from WWII, he has retreated into himself, often spending days in bed, not speaking or interacting with his children. Zadie figures Mama is doing the best she can.

There is a way to escape her troubles. Zadie escapes into her writing, filling exercise books with her stories. She often shares them with little brother Teddy and one day they discover that her writing is something truly special.

More than anything, Zadie wants a dog. Her mother however hates dogs and scorns Zadie’s dream. Zadie pours her wishes into a story about a dog called Jupiter. On a sudden mercy dash for a neighbour, Jupiter becomes real and Zadie cannot believe her luck. Teddy calls her writing a super power, but they have a problem. Mama will never let her keep Jupiter. Where should they hide him?

Again, Sparrow is Zadie’s saviour. Little does Zadie know, that Sparrow’s father had his own experiences in the war. Not only does Jupiter’s haven vanish, Zadie and Sparrow’s friendship is threatened too.

It’s only when a terrible tragedy is averted that Ma’s hurtful memories are finally spilled, Zadie’s father finds a sounding board, and her dreams finally come true.

Character Zadie Ma is a fourth generation Chinese girl living in Melbourne Australia in the 1950’s. This novel takes the reader back in time when not every one had a car, let alone a television. Men are still suffering from their experiences in WWII, and their families are left dealing with the fallout.

Desiring a dog is a universal theme, and the key thread that weaves among themes of family secrets, painful memories, bullying, and racism. Writing and the power of story is also an important theme, folding in a little magic too.

This middle grade novel is also a study of human nature and how we become who we are. There is kindness among characters and neglect from human to animal. There is hope between siblings and courage when thrown into possible peril. Illustrations are peppered through this novel including a graphic novel section.

I’m not surprised at all the listings of possible awards waiting in the wings for this novel from the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022-23.

Author / Illustrator – Gabrielle Wang

Age – 8+

Learn more about this wonderful middle-grade read here

SHORTLISTED FOR THE PATRICIA WRIGHTSON PRIZE FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE 2023

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 NSW PREMIER’S LITERARY AWARDS.

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA AWARD

(2022, Penguin Aust, Dog, Animal, Dreams, Wishes, Writing, Stories, Chinese, Australia, Post War Melbourne, Family, Milk Bar, Dairy, Shop, Neighbours, Friendships, Shellshock, Racism, Prejudice, Asian, School Bully, Confidence, Popularity, Bravery, Historical)

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Her first class proves interesting. A few students are heckling the teacher, who in turn gets more and more wound up, eventually blowing a fuse and ordering them to in-school suspension. Quinn gets caught up in this before she knows what happened.

She gets to know Janet, Cole, Matt and Ronnie who are super confident and always looking for an opportunity, or setting one up, for content on Cole’s YouTube channel.

Cole has only just returned to school. He was a key figure in a terrible tragedy in the town, then labelled an arsonist as well. He might not be popular with the adults but he is gazed upon by students as if he were a local rock star.

Quinn’s not sure about the invitation to a party in the cornfields one night. It’s apparently an annual event, organised by Janet and crew, and she shouldn’t miss it. She’s surprised to find she’s enjoying herself, dancing to music she hadn’t expected in a small rural town, in the middle of nowhere.

At least until the clown arrived.

Teenagers are running, screaming, …falling, and this is just the beginning of a night of pure terror.

If you’re a fan of slasher horror, this book is for you. The gory but gripping action is at least half the story, and it gradually reveals the killers and their motivation for the slaughter. Revenge.

The premise isn’t new – new girl in town, makes unlikely friends, cute guy next door – but the revenge plot is simmering already beneath the surface of this small town. Quinn walks right into the middle of it.

My heart was pumping just as Quinn’s is as she does all she can to survive. The action is full on, malevolent tension rising on every page. Just when you think she’s getting a breather …something else comes at her.

Entertaining Young Adult Horror.

Author – Adam Cesare

Age – 14+

(Strong Language, Violence)

(2023, Harper Collins, Horror, Family, Crime, Murder, Clowns, Cornfields, Small town, New girl, Final year, Popularity, YouTube, Content, Videos, Pranks, Revenge, Secret, School, Violence, Slasher, Guns, Weapons)

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But her dreams are not to be, as any potential friends just laughed at her old fashioned smelly clothes and quickly dub her Mad-Mad-Maddy.

Now in her final year of Springville High School, nothing has changed. She is still existing on the fringes, after years of being forbidden by her father to attend any camps, summer programs, sports teams, or anything outside of school hours. Anything, including grabbing a pizza with friends, having a milkshake, going to the movies or wearing what all the other ‘normal’ teens did.

The biggest no-no of all is to get her hair wet.

Why? Because when wet, her hair transforms into something else, revealing who she really is. On her strict, devout white father’s orders, Maddy has claimed to be white her entire school life, when in fact her mother was black. Was – because Maddy’s mum died in childbirth.

When the truth is out, the bullying she has endured her whole life steps up a thousand-fold, through a group of popular kids and social media. When it hits national media channels, racism is called out on and the deep south high school goes into damage control.

Despite vehemently denying it, this small town’s roots are still simmering in racism, and Maddy’s bullying by a few stirs up a brew of hate, racism and revenge. But Maddy is sick of cowering in the corner, and she’s been practising something at home. Something she can use to fight back all those who have oppressed her.

When yet another dream is shattered for Maddy, the final straw snaps – and so does Maddy.

This town must pay, especially those who laughed at her one time too many…

Absolutely riveting! Broken up into interviews of eye witnesses of a night of carnage, experts on supernatural powers, and those who knew the girl who wreaked havoc on a small deep-south town one prom night.

Add several points of view characters, and The Weight of Blood is a thrilling page turner.

The reader gets to know a quiet, shy girl named Maddy Washington and her horrible home life – controlled by her devout ashamed white father. We meet Kendrick Scott, a black up-and-coming football star, his family, and his girlfriend Wendy, with her own secrets.

This novel is about parental and societal expectations, bullying, religious fanaticism, secrets, dreams and even love. But when hate and racism refuse to be taken to task, supernatural revenge spews forth with deadly precision.

With each new novel by this author, I am an even bigger fan of her powerful writing.

Stunning storytelling. 

Author – Tiffany D Jackson

Age – 15+

More reviews of Tiffany D Jackson YA Novels here

(2022, Harper Collins, Podcast, Radio show, Murder, Horror, Biracial, Racism, Bullying, Thriller, Retelling, Crime, Supernatural, Powers, High School, Senior Ball, Senior Prom, Prom night, American Football, Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Popularity, Riveting, Control, Secret, Hiding, Religion)

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They are birthday invitations to a classmate’s party. Everyone knows Eve has the best parties and Amanda has never been excluded in the past.

Getting with her besties Lu and Mai, they wonder why Amanda is the only one in their Year three class who has been left out?

They decide to learn why and Operation Invitation is launched.

The 1st in a series for Year 3 and up (7+), Amanda Commander is about a trio of girls with Amanda their unofficial leader.

Lu, Mai and Amanda have their own club called The Dolphin Squad. In between sharing a classroom, other friends, and baking and artwork after school, they also encounter popularity and friendship problems, among other everyday challenges.

This first episode portrays a problem of exclusion and making others happy only in exchange for some sort of pay off.

Being kind for no reason is the resulting lesson, without being heavy handed. The girls come to this realisation themselves, together as friends.

Chocka with expressive illustrations, emerging readers will gobble these junior chapter books up!

Author – Coral Vass

Illustrator – Heidi Cooper Smith

Age – 7+

Read more in the series (Click on a Cover)

(2022, Exisle Publishing, Club House, Baking, Art, Creativty, Painting, Colours, Positive Affirmations, Friendship, School, Popularity, Growing up, Series)

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Kate is beginning to feel overwhelmed, taking The Silver Arrow around the world and back again, trying to fix what humankind has wrecked by levelling forests, spraying pesticides or generally warming up the planet. And now Uncle Herbert has gone missing!

Things in the real world aren’t much better for Kate. Becoming a conductor for the special railroad has changed her, and now at high school (Intermediate in NZ) her friend base has shrunk. Watching her younger brother Tom’s confidence and ability to make friends is frustrating. Her attempt to do so by auditioning for the school play implodes and she’s still stinging from the embarrassment.

Back on the railway, still wondering where Uncle Herbert has gone, they have a close shave with another GSIR train. It’s gold, and flashy and when she catches it, she discovers who the conductor is. He’s not only someone from school, he is breaking the rules of the railway!

Kate boils over with all that she is dealing with. This golden train is called The Golden Swift, and it seems as if it is undoing all her hard work. But is it? Maybe there is another way?

I loved the blend of magic, animals, and climate change in episode one in this duology – The Silver Arrow. If only there was such a solution to help steady the wobbling climate systems of our planet, to ensure we don’t lose any more of our amazing animal species, both big and small.

In this sequel The Golden Swift digs a little deeper, exploring the frustration and beginnings of despair of one girl who cannot imagine where and how any balance can actually be restored. Another young mind seems to have the answer, going back even further in history to when things changed.

Action, mystery and a fast-paced problem to try and tackle. This episode highlights that unfortunately there is no magic bullet – but we mustn’t give up.

Enjoyable and thought provoking read for all young readers.

Author – Lev Grossman

Illustrator – Tracy Nishimura Bishop

Age – 9+

(2022, Bloomsbury, Sequel, Series, Train, Animals, Environment, Habitat, Growing up, Popularity, School, Show, Play, Audition, Overcome, Steadfast, Belief, Climate Change, Diversity, Siblings, Uncle, Rescue, Missing, Kidnap, Fantasy, Secret)

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The five of them know each other by face or name, but are mostly unconnected at school. This detention will implode their lives, all suddenly under suspicion for murder.

The only other student in the detention is Simon Kelleher. No-one likes Simon. He unashamedly runs an app and content that blames and shames anyone he can at Bayview High. Many have fallen under his radar over the years. Some have contemplated suicide when he outs their particular secret. One even tried to do it.

Addie is a pretty blond, always hanging off a top jock’s arm, and doing anything he says. Blake is super popular and Addie along with it. Her mum is always telling her to dress pretty to catch a boy who is going places and Blake is part of the plan.

Cooper is also ruled by a pushy parent. His father wants him to be in the Baseball big leagues. Cooper’s pitching arm is gold, attracting scouts from all over the country.

Nate is the school bad boy – rumours following him wherever he goes. Some of the rumours are true though. He does sell drugs. But it’s the only way to keep a roof over his and his alcoholic father’s head.

Bronwyn is heading to the school’s top spot – valedictorian. She and Nate knew each other years ago, but they haven’t spoken since.

So how did they end up in detention together? This is quickly the last thing on their mind as Simon falls to the floor clutching at his throat, trying to breathe. A mad scrabble to try and save him turns confusion to chaos.

Now the police want to know what really happened in that detention room. Simon was friend to no-one and enemy No. 1 to many. Did the four other students in that room have a motive to kill him? You betcha they did. Suddenly, the only friends these four have are each other, and the police aren’t listening to them – keen for a conviction. These four know that they have to solve Simon’s murder if their lives are ever to go back to some kind of normal.

The first book by this author and still hugely popular, it has even been made into a Netflix series (which is different than the book).

Karen McManus has been dubbed queen of high school murder mysteries, and One of Us is Lying launched her to those accolades. High school is tough at the best of times, but having a secret you wish no one on earth to know – even your closest friends, makes you constantly uneasy and in this case a target for a slighted student with his attention-seeking tell-all app.

Each secret is wheedled out during the novel as each character’s viewpoint is shared. When the truth is finally revealed, you will be just as shocked as the characters are. Revenge always runs deep, but at Bayview High, it’s a long time coming before all is exposed.

Author – Karen McManus

Age -14+

Read more reviews of thrilling Karen McManus novels (Click on a Cover)

(2017, Penguin, Murder, Crime, Series, School, Romance, Popularity, Secret, Mystery, Family, Betrayal, Siblings, Sister, Drugs, Alcohol, Neglect, Gay, LGBTQ+, Baseball, Sports Scouts, Parental Pressure, Cheating, Relationships, Lawyers, Poverty, Detention, TikTok)

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When Cassie first tells Fitz about the noise she can hear, he’s not sure what to say. But that happens a lot with Fitz. He can never come up with the right thing to say at the right time – especially when he’s around Cassie. She’s different to anyone he knows. She seems so serious all the time, never smiling, but that is part of her mystique and quirkyness.

She asks him to meet her in the dark in the park between their houses. It’s the first time he’s ever touched her, even if it is only fingertips as they lie on the grass, arms outstretched – listening. Cassie describes the sound she can hear – a low hum deep below them, like… the Earth itself is breathing.

And then she’s gone. Fitz is worried, wracked with guilt he didn’t listen harder, or didn’t agree with her. As the hours pass and the police interview him again and again, the pieces of the last few weeks come together like a spilled jigsaw put back in place.

Suddenly he knows. He knows where she is and why she is there. Fitz knows he has to go and get her, and tell her everything that was too hard to say before.

This might be deemed a quick read by some, and written for reluctant or dyslexic readers by the amazing publisher Barrington Stoke, but there is a lot going on. Being a huge fan of anything Marcus Sedgwick writes, I snatched this book up as soon as I set eyes on it, and yes, it was a fantastic read.

Okay, it is set recently, just after a lockdown in Scotland, and the key theme is Climate Change, which many people say they’re tired of. It is also about first love and the awkwardness of it. It’s about the power plays in a teen band and popularity at school having a say in that. There are two households in contrast – one on a budget and despite a mum who left, still full of love. Another is wealthy, climate concerned but in constant and damaging turmoil.

Wrath also introduces something I’d never heard of (scuse the pun) Schumann Resonance, which is a type of energy field constantly resonating around the Earth. This author has used this scientific phenomenon in this story in a fascinating way, in turn isolating one of the characters, and driving the plot.

The title Wrath has many reasons, the story many layers. What is key to all though is the phrase we have heard a lot : turning point. This doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.

Absolutely loved it.

Author – Marcus Sedgwick

Dyslexic Read – Reading Age 8 / Interest age 12+

Long listed for the Yoto Carnegie Medal 2023

Read the first chapter here

(2022, Schumann Resonance, Science, Climate Change, Band, Music, New sound, Earth, Verbal abuse, Tension, Escape, School, Scotland, Dyslexic, Reluctant, Lockdown effects, First love, Guilt, Missing Girl, Disappearance, Connections, Turning Points, Making changes ourselves, Betrayal, Environment, Mystery)

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