Being Jimmy Baxter by 
A cleverly crafted, powerful and engaging read, this book expertly juxtaposes the protagonist Jimmy’s perception of life with the understanding offered by its adult characters. Like many child carers, Jimmy is old beyond his years, his narratorial voice is evocative of rural Australia. The plot provides Jimmy and the reader with the opportunity to learn and grow. His strength of character, vulnerability, love and determination empower him and simultaneously enable the reader to find joy and hope even in the darkest of experiences. This text delicately integrates and balances humour in a way that engages the reader without compromising its authenticity. An arresting read that sensitively addresses challenging themes, including, domestic violence, mental health, life on the run and death, in a hope filled way. - website
A cleverly crafted, powerful and engaging read, this book expertly juxtaposes the protagonist Jimmy’s perception of life with the understanding offered by its adult characters. Like many child carers, Jimmy is old beyond his years, his narratorial voice is evocative of rural Australia. The plot provides Jimmy and the reader with the opportunity to learn and grow. His strength of character, vulnerability, love and determination empower him and simultaneously enable the reader to find joy and hope even in the darkest of experiences. This text delicately integrates and balances humour in a way that engages the reader without compromising its authenticity. An arresting read that sensitively addresses challenging themes, including, domestic violence, mental health, life on the run and death, in a hope filled way.
Scar Town by 
Tristan Bancks is an Australian children's and teen's author, with a background in filmmaking and acting. As an actor, he is known for his role as Tug O'Neale on Home and Away between 1992 and 1994
This book tells a classic story in a thrilling and accessible way for readers aged 10-14. It commands the reader’s attention from its enthralling beginning, throughout an action-packed plot development and a dramatic conclusion. The setting of the drowned town is evocatively described, creating a foreboding mood that enhances the plot of the novel. The young protagonists are well-developed and have authentic responses to events, while the flaws of the adult characters are realistic, allowing readers to explore and extend their thinking about difficult relationships and situations. The mystery and thriller conventions are expertly balanced with Will’s character development as he navigates loss, criminal activity, corruption, and loyalty to family and friends.
Huda Was Here by
H. Hayek is the second-youngest of seven children, born to Lebanese-Australian parents. She was born in Adelaide, grew up in Perth and now lives in Melbourne. She struggled with reading and writing through her earliest years at school, but knew from the time she was a little girl that she wanted to work with words - goodreads
A layered and engaging novel that captivates the reader from its intriguing prologue through to its positive, heartwarming conclusion. Centred on Lebanese Australians, Akeal and his younger sister Huda, it is a fast-paced, stand-alone sequel, told from the perspective of Akeal, through clearly labelled dual narratives. Huda’s strong-willed determination respectively combines with Akeal’s sensitive loyalty to deliver wondrous episodes of suspense, humour and misbehaviour, revealing their love for each other and for their family. This novel creatively and simultaneously explores multicultural Australia, family life, corruption, community, hardship and determination in the context of living as part of a minority group. Humour pervades this delightful story, lifting it to deliver a relatable, skilfully crafted, age-appropriate and engaging mystery adventure.
Scout and the Rescue Dogs by 
Dianne Wolfer is an Australian children's author who lives on the south coast of Western Australia. Her latest title, ‘Munjed Al Muderis - From Refugee to Surgical Inventor’ is Book Three of Aussie STEM Stars by Wild Dingo Press.
Realistically set during the 2019/20 bushfires, this book journeys with Scout and her dad as they deliver donations of dog food to animal shelters throughout south-eastern Australia. The bushfires and the geographical details related to their travels are accurately presented. Grieving the loss of her mum, sparked by their travels, the people they meet and a school friendship project, Scout develops a website to connect shelter dogs with truck drivers needing company. Responsible internet use, described throughout the text is commendable and age appropriate. Including creative design features, this fictional narrative is heart-warming and uplifting, dealing sensitively with topics of parental loss, environmental threat, bullying and separation balanced by optimism and the love Scout shares with her father and with animals.
Real Pigeons Flap Out by 
ANDREW McDONALD is a writer from Melbourne, Australia. He lives with a lovely lady, a bouncy son and enjoys baking his own bread (which he eats down to the last breadcrumb - sorry pigeons!). Visit Andrew at mrandrewmcdonald.com.- google books
This book blends the best features of graphic novels and conventional narrative and has multiple entry points, making it one of the most accessible novels for younger readers. It is very well put together with strong characterisation, backed by hilarious illustrations. The design is less constrained than that of a graphic novel, and the language shows a similar quality approach. The action keeps coming, even though it appears the real pigeons are just flapping about and fighting crime. Disguised as lighthearted and silly fun, this book offers deep themes such as sticking together, good /evil, and selflessness. The illustrations are cleverly crafted and integrated with the text adding much meaning and context to the plot.
The Sideways orbit of Evie Hart by 
amera Kamaleddine is a Sydney-based children's and youth librarian. For many years before that she was a journalist, writing for magazines about everything from friendship dramas and school bullies to body confidence. Her debut young adult novel Half My Luck was published after it won the Matilda Prize in 2020- Google books
This book expertly intertwines Evie’s study of space with the plot of the novel, enabling Evie to learn more about herself as she learns about Earth and the universe. Fond of rules and prone to anxiety, she is challenged by changing friendship dynamics, changing circumstances of her family and transition to high school set against the background of the everchanging night sky. Evie has a strong voice and secondary characters are well-realised, with their voices, hopes and fears challenging Evie and the reader to think deeply about themselves and others. With a visually inviting cover featuring Evie amongst the planets, this is a quality book that will appeal to many readers in the Younger Reader category.