The Dog That Dumped on My Doona by Barry Jonsberg
1 June, 2008
The gross factor is well and truly engaged from the opening sentence.

Leaf by Stephen Michael King
31 March, 2008
This book will attract browsers to pick it up and dip inside, with its lettuce-green cover and plumpish small landscape shape. It is almost wordless, telling a story in a sequence of zestful pictures with just a few of the action words beloved of cartoonists: boing, snip, whoosh

Jinxed by Jill McDougall
30 March, 2008
Jinx is in trouble and not because of the jokes she tells. She needs money fast. A rogue totem tennis ball has broken the next-door neighbour’s python tank.

In Ecstasy by Kate McCaffrey
29 March, 2008
What a confronting, brutally frank, poignant novel, written by Kate McCaffrey, author of the successful novel, Destroying Avalon. In Ecstasy illustrates how easily, teens can turn to the insidious world of drug addiction, date rape and alcoholism, and why, for many, drugs are the solution, not the problem.

Lamplighter (Monster Blood Tattoo, Book Two) by D M Cornish
28 March, 2008
Joy of joys, a sequel that lives up to the first novel! Cornish’s second novel of the series about his oddly named hero Rossamünd Bookchild continues with ever more harrowing adventures.

How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
27 March, 2008
The opening scenes are of city skyscrapers and a lone bird flying towards a glass tower in the clouds. For adult readers these images will evoke 9/11 New York. Then, in cartoon-style vignettes we see grey crowds of city folk walking past the wounded bird which has hit the building and plummeted to the footpath.

Going for Broke by Meg McKinlay
25 March, 2008
Nathan Foley is tired of getting ‘encouragement’ awards. He’s going to try anything to get some recognition. He’s ‘going for broke’ even if it kills him. This entry into Walker Books ‘Lightning Strikes’ series for less confident readers finds Nathan trying everything to be recognised as someone exceptional.

Taking the Chequered Flag by Michael Panckridge and Pam Harvey
24 March, 2008
Taking the Chequered Flag by Michael Panckridge and Pam Harvey is the fourth book the pair have written together. Panckridge has also writte numerous other novels, including the popular ‘Legends’ series

Mahtab’s Story by Libby Gleeson
23 March, 2008
Libby Gleeson’s latest novel sees her on familiar ground, writing a gripping story about an issue that is too often ignored by writers for young people. Although she is a strong and confident writer, Gleeson never allows her voice to overshadow that of her protagonist, the 12-year-old girl from Afghanistan, whose spirit wins her a place in the heart of the reader.

The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness by Colin Thompson
23 March, 2008
Award-winning author and illustrator Colin Thompson is well known for his sometimes dark, yet poignant stories about life and the world around us. His characters are often all too real as they grasp with the big issues of the real world in search of a brief glimpse of happiness

The Australia Book by Eve Pownall
23 March, 2008
As many teachers, readers and booksellers will be aware, there are very few complete books of Australian history for primary school-aged children available, which is what makes Eve Pownell’s The Australia Book unique even by today’s standards.

Milad: The Voyage to Ophir by Nazam Anhar
21 March, 2008
Nazam Anhar’s first novel is a historical adventure set in the ancient Near East. Milad is a young Phoenician farm boy who longs for adventure. He is sent to sea by his family to earn an income during a drought.

Sucked In by John Parker
20 March, 2008
Sucked In is a rather ordinary example of the short fiction intended for boys of 10 to12 years. All the standard elements of fiction aimed at this audience are here—humour based around bodily functions, slapstick comedy, the tried and true horror plot device and finally, the surprise ending.

The Sacrifice by Bruce Mutard
19 March, 2008
The Sacrifice is set against the backdrop of pre-War II Melbourne. It follows the life of Robert Wells, a principled man, who is trying very hard to maintain the lifestyle he is used to.

The Number One Aussie Counting Book by Heath McKenzie
17 March, 2008
Counting books, like alphabet books, have always served as showcases for the talents of illustrators. McKenzie has produced The Aussie A to Z and achieved outstanding sales with The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas.

A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French
16 March, 2008
Jackie French believes that good, historical writing really needs to come from source documents: things written at the time that give the feeling of the world as it was then, not just the facts.

Queasy Rider by James Roy
16 March, 2008
In the weeds by the side of the railway tracks Nobby and Thicky find an old bike. Although both of them already have bikes Thicky seems to think the wreck has potential. He has no idea what they can make out of it but makes it wound convincing enough to get Nobby to drag it back to his house.

The Stone Crown by Malcolm Walker
12 March, 2008
The Stone Crown by Malcolm Walker makes an intriguing use of Arthurian legends to frame a modern adventure fantasy. Emlyn and Max teal a wooden figure of a mounted knight from an ancient burial site, not only setting in motion their own adventure but also awakening an ancient curse that has dogged both of their lives.

Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks
12 March, 2008
Genius Squad is Catherine Jinks’ second novel featuring Cadel Piggot, the now-reformed title character of Evil Genius. Following the events of that story, Cadel is in foster care in the suburbs, bored, frustrated and bullied, as his complex legal situation is resolved.

The Brain Full of Holes by Martin Chatterton
12 March, 2008
The Brain Full of Holes by Martin Chatterton is an enjoyable absurdist adventure. Picking up the story after the events of The Brain Finds A Leg, Sheldon and The Brain are now living in Switzerland and some very unswiss oddities are occurring.

At Seventeen by Celeste Walters
12 March, 2008
Celeste Walters has built a reputation for writing novels that challenge our perceptions and understanding of teenage life and the effect institutions have on our society. In her new novel At Seventeen we see the world through the eyes of Catherine as she enters boarding school for her final two years while her parents move to Spain.

White Crane: Samurai Kids Book 1 by Sandy Fussell
12 March, 2008
White Crane is the first book in a new series, ‘Samurai Kids’, by Sandy Fussell. In it, we are introduced to a unique school (ryu) for young samurai.

Nathan Nuttboard Upstaged by Anthony Eaton
12 March, 2008
Nathan Nuttboard, surfer, loyal friend, and likeable lad returns for a third time in his new book Nathan Nuttboard: Upstaged from celebrated author Anthony Eaton. When Sally-Anne Anderson, the most popular girl in Year Seven, dumps Nathan in front of his mates he’s confused.

Escape by Sea by L S Lawrence
12 March, 2008
Escape by Sea is the new historical novel from L S Lawrence, author of Eagle of the East. Sara lives in Carthage, a city of the northern coast of Africa, and an enemy of the newly rising power, Rome.

Audrey of the Outback by Christine Harris
12 March, 2008
Audrey lives in the sandy scrubby outback, with her mother, two brothers, and an imaginary friend named Stumpy. Her dad is away most of the time, riding camels and selling dingo scalps to the government.