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All the Beautiful Things – Katrina Nannestad
Harper Collins October 2024 RRP: $22.99 It goes without saying that Katrina Nannestad’s books are going to fly off the shelves. She just produces one amazing narrative after another. When I was asked to write notes for this new one, I was naturally delighted. I found the book not only completely engrossing but quite emotional…
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Marion and the Forty Thieves – Sarah Luke
NLA July 2024 I grew up in Sydney and I was a kid with a thirst for history, particularly of my home town. I loved my excursions to the Rocks and being taken into the city on outings with my father, also a history tragic. Yet I knew nothing of the reformatories set up for…
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Jack’s Island – Norman Jorgensen
Fremantle Press January 2024 ISBN: 9781760992958 RRP: $17.99 Since its initial publication in 2008, Norman Jorgensen’s award-winning historical novel has proven not only an enduring popular choice for many class novel studies, but as a first-rate adventure constantly in circulation among readers from around Year 5 to Year 8. Based on stories from his own father,…
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Hitler’s Daughter 25th Anniversary – Jackie French
Harper Collins Australia July 2024 When I took this out of the parcel I was aghast – at the fact of it being 25 years since I first read this, one of Jackie’s most loved MG books. I sent her a message saying so and she replied that she found it hard to believe as…
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Pankration – Dyan Blacklock
Allen & Unwin ISBN:9781864482959 Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $17.99 I was never a big fan of the Olympics but became completely disenchanted following the selection of Beijing as a host, for so many reasons- and now, for just as many the fact that Brisbane will host them and cause endless misery to so many…
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Ming & Ada Spark the Digital Age – Jackie French
Harper Collins Australia June 2024 What a pleasure it was to read the fourth in this wonderful series early this year, and to, once again, be privileged to create the teaching notes to support Jackie’s work. With her customary diligence, she has dug deep into research to deliver to readers a more personal and engaging…
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The Riding Gallery – Sally Murphy. Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek
Walker Books Australia July 2024 ISBN13:9781760657345 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Yes, I said not so long ago that I’m not a huge fan of verse novels, and there are only a few exceptions. Sally Murphy’s are one of those rare anomalies. Each one is so utterly absorbing, with such beautiful narrative flow that I…
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One by One They Disappear – Mike Lucas
Penguin Australia May 2024 Honestly, before you put this on your shelves for your kiddos, you need to read it first. Because once they get their hands on it and the word spreads, you will never get a look in! I was hooked from the very start and this is a whole package; supernatural, folktales,…
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