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Max (Marc Martin, Viking)
Released April 2014
This picture book tells an emotional story about the relationship between a cheeky seagull called Max and a fish-and-chip shop-owner called Bob. Max has become a friend to Bob, who... Read more
Dreamers (Ezekiel Kwaymullina, illus by Sally Morgan, Fremantle Press)
Released May 2014
This companion book to My Country, which comes from the same mother-and-son team, is full of swirling movement and vibrant colour. ‘We are the dream and the dreamers,’ begins the... Read more
Bleakboy and Hunter Stand Out in the Rain (Steven Herrick, UQP)
Released April 2014
Jesse talks to a picture of Jesus on his wall to think things through; Hunter bullies younger kids at school. Jesse would do just about anything to help the starving... Read more
A House for Donfinkle (Choechoe Brereton, illus by Wayne Harris, Walker Books)
Released May 2014
Is this Grand Designs for the younger set? Donfinkle Vonkrinkle is building his dream house and all goes well until a Flooble starts to criticise, a Mooble makes a suggestion,... Read more
Here in the Garden (Briony Stewart)
Released April 2014
Here in the Garden is a gentle picture book about the loss of a loved one. It begins with the wind blowing through the falling leaves and a forlorn boy... Read more
Under the Rose Bush (Jane Fry, illus by Sandi Harrold, Green Olive Press)
Released April 2014
Told through the eyes of a young girl called Zoe, Under the Rose Bush is a story about the strong relationship between Zoe and her grandmother, and the sorrow they... Read more
Darcy Moon and the Deep-Fried Frogs (Catherine Carvell, illus by Michael Scott Parkinson, Fremantle Press)
Released March 2014
Darcy Moon has her own problems to deal with—her ‘embarrassing weirdo’ parents, fitting in at school and having enough money to buy Skippity Chips—without having to save the environment as... Read more
‘Maxx Rumble: Soccer’ series (Michael Wagner, illus by Terry Denton, Walker Books)
Released May 2014
Having crunched, rattled and smashed their way through several sporting seasons with their series ‘Maxx Rumble: Footy’ and ‘Maxx Rumble: Cricket’, Michael Wagner and Terry Denton apply their healthy sense... Read more
Night Vision (Ella West, A&U)
Released April 2014
Viola lives in a different world from other 15-year-olds: due to a condition she was born with, she will die if she goes out into the sun, so she lives... Read more
Rivertime (Trace Balla, A&U)
Released April 2014
This book is laid out in cartoon strips, which takes a while to get used to if you’re not familiar with reading in this format. But the narrative flows as... Read more
Two Selkie Stories from Scotland (retold by Kate Forsyth, illus by Fiona McDonald, Christmas Press)
Released May 2014
Christmas Press was born in 2013 from a desire to keep alive the tradition of sharing stories from around the world in beautiful book form. It’s a timely wish, with... Read more
Two Wolves (Tristan Bancks, Random House)
Released March 2014
Ben Silver wants to be a detective when he grows up, solving crimes and sending criminals to jail. One day after school the police come to his house looking for... Read more
Aleksander Altmann A10567 (Suzy Zail, Walker Books)
Released May 2014
Aleksander Altmann is 14 years old and hasn’t heard his name called in six weeks—he’s now known as A10567, the prisoner number branded on his arm. A Jewish boy imprisoned... Read more
Calypso Summer (Jared Thomas, Magabala)
Released April 2014
His name is Kyle, but everyone calls him Calypso. In high school he grew dreadlocks, started listening to reggae and took to the ganja with a vengeance. Calypso isn’t Jamaican... Read more
Dead Dog in the Still of the Night (Archie Fusillo, Ford Street)
Released May 2014
Primo is coming up to the end of Year 12 and his life is falling apart. His girlfriend is leaving him, his father is stuck in a nursing home, his... Read more
Pandora Jones: Admission (Barry Jonsberg, A&U)
Released May 2014
Pandora Jones has survived the apocalypse, caused by a deadly virus that has wiped out most of humanity. She wakes, confused, in a hospital on a hill. Like others ‘lucky’... Read more
The Haunting of Lily Frost (Nova Weetman, UQP)
Released May 2014
For 15-year-old Lily Frost, the only thing worse than moving to a small country town and leaving behind her best friend Ruby is the alarming discovery that her new home—an... Read more
Tree Palace (Craig Sherborne, Text)
Released April 2014
Set in the Wimmera Mallee in Victoria’s north-west, award-winning author Craig Sherborne’s second novel Tree Palace is about a group of street smart survivors living on society’s fringe. They are... Read more
Telling True Stories: The Power and the Pitfalls of Writing Narrative Non-fiction (Matthew Ricketson, A&U)
Released April 2014
Matthew Ricketson (Writing Feature Stories, 2004) is professor of journalism at the University of Canberra and has worked as a journalist at the Age, the Australian and Time Australia. Writing... Read more
Deep Field (Tom Bamforth, Hardie Grant)
Released March 2014
Tom Bamforth is an Australian professional humanitarian aid worker who has worked in many of the world’s most challenging locations, including Sudan, Pakistan and Afghanistan, involved in humanitarian catastrophes caused... Read more
