Publishers’ picks: Australian middle-grade and YA
Thursday, 2 April 2026 Books+Publishing @booksandpublishing
Australian publishers nominate the middle-grade and YA books they have high hopes for at Bologna.
| Akarnae book 1 Lynette Noni Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Titles in series: 7 Rights contact: Evie Green Rights sold: US, Canada, France, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary |
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| Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing rights manager Evie Green said, “We relaunched YA fantasy series The Medoran Chronicles in the Australian market with new covers last year. We are featuring the series in our Rights Guide and will be working hard to secure rights sales for the series at Bologna Book Fair. Pantera held the international rights until we acquired them in 2024, and we are working to reinvigorate international interest in the series, especially in light of Lynette Noni’s Shadow Reaper series releasing in June this year.”
“The Medoran Chronicles is a unique high fantasy series with fabulous world building and advanced technology, an empowered female protagonist, and with a true clean YA slow burn romance (the characters do not get together until book 5). This is a perfect introduction to YA fantasy for advanced middle-grade and younger YA readers who want an entertaining and well-developed series that focuses on action and adventure, with a touch of romance.” |
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A New Kind of Beautiful Suzy Zail Walker Books August 2026 YA Rights contact: Thomasin Chinnery |
| Zeitgeist Agency agent Thomasin Chinnery said, “Although fantasy is still trending, we are seeing that editors are also looking at contemporary, realistic stories in the YA space. Suzy Zail’s story is deeply human, a look at how a 15-year-old, diagnosed with an eye disease soon to blind her, can carve out a life that isn’t perfect, but instead is messy, raw, unfiltered and fiercely alive.” | |
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Ngurra Home Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler Illustrated by Dub Leffler August 2025 YA Rights contact: Melena Cole-Manolis |
| Following on from Black Cockatoo and Dirrarn by the same authors, “Ngurra Home follows Mia in her final year of university studying conservation and wildlife science,” said the publisher. “Originally from the Kimberley, Mia balances the pressures of her studies, part-time vet nursing, and volunteering at the local wildlife sanctuary with humour and grace. Before long, Mia is recalled home as her beloved grandfather (jawiji) falls ill. It is here that Mia joins the fight to protect her Country from a large corporation, using her knowledge and the strength of the community to stand up for what matters.” | |
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The Budgie Smugglers Ty Hartley and Mark Gravas Scholastic Press October 2026 Younger readers Rights contact: Claire Pretyman |
| Scholastic rights manager Claire Pretyman said, “This is The Hangover for kids, if The Hangover had budgies, an ice-cream truck, a forgetful gopher … and some swiping of stuff along the way! A mix of anarchic humour, loyal friendships and a mystery to be solved, we’re expecting this four-colour junior fiction series to be in high demand at Bologna. Our avian heroes, Peta and Merry, wake up after a night of chaos and have to retrace their steps to work out what happened, why they now have a rare egg that’s about to hatch and where on earth Paul is!” | |
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Mischief and Magic Robert Vescio Younger readers Rights contact: David Reiter |
| Interactive Publications CEO David Reiter said Mischief and Magic is “Robert Vescio’s first venture into short-story writing: three magical stories with fantasy dragons, witches, and danger at every turn. In ‘Ruby, Wicked’, a mischievous young witch transforms her Burmese cat into a supermodel. In ‘The Dragon’s Lair’, young Eric clanks up a mountain to steal a dragon’s tail to lift his family from poverty. In ‘The Golden Telescope’, timid Garth and bold Sally portal into a dimension of fairies, trolls and a stolen sceptre via an old telescope to uncover secrets in their great-grandfather’s spider-infested house. Vescio’s previous books have sold translation rights widely.” | |
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Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky Will Kostakis Allen & Unwin Children’s Younger readers Rights contact: Carey Schroeter |
| Allen & Unwin rights & international sales manager Carey Schroeter said, “Otis Ottley is an ordinary boy who yearns to go to the magic school in the sky. And he will stop at nothing to make it happen – its magic will help him remember something very, very important. A funny and warm middle-grade novel with a low word count for readers aged 9 to 13, Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky is about finding the magic in everyday life and comes from the much-loved, award-winning author Will Kostakis. Rights held: World ex North America.” | |
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Real Pigeons Special Agent Homey Andrew McDonald Illustrated by Ben Wood Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing April 2027 Younger readers Rights contact: Eve Green |
| Green said: “Real Pigeons is a smash-hit internationally bestselling series that has been published into 25 languages across 27 territories. Real Pigeons Special Agent Homey, a companion trilogy to the Real Pigeons series, will be an obvious acquisition for current Real Pigeons publishers but will also offer an exciting opportunity to reach new markets for both series. International publishers have consistently praised the three stories within each Real Pigeons book and the hybrid comic design, which will be maintained across the Real Pigeons Special Agent Homey spin-off. This is the perfect series for readers who love The Bad Guys and Dog Man, both of which have seen major international success.”
Publisher Marisa Pintado said, “The international success of Real Pigeons has given rise to a passionate and excitable audience that lives for the series’ irresistible humour, camaraderie and surprising mysteries. Homey is undoubtedly the fans’ favourite – and as the homing pigeon who can go places no other pigeon can, he deserves the spotlight of his own special series!” |
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Ruby’s Web Ellen van Neerven Magabala Books March 2026 Younger readers Rights contact: Melena Cole-Manolis |
| The publisher said, “Starting high school has been anything but smooth for Ruby. Not only has she become a social outcast for no apparent reason, but her cousin Amber has started pretending not to know her and she has no idea why. When Ruby becomes the subject of vicious racism and bullying on the school’s online platform, she longs more than ever to be invisible and left alone. But as events spiral out of control, online and off, she finds herself more and more in the spotlight … Ruby’s Web is a powerful story about finding your voice, seeking help, and addressing cyberbullying and victimisation.” | |
Read about the picture book and graphic novel titles Australian publishers have high hopes for at Bologna.
Category: Think Australian feature
