Review search
The Boy at the Keyhole (Stephen Giles, Michael Joseph)
Released September 2018
Nine-year-old Samuel is worried about his mother who has been abroad sorting out financial affairs for 113 days. To make matters worse, Samuel is stuck in a draughty old manor... Read more
Bridge of Clay (Markus Zusak, Picador)
Released October 2018
More than a decade after The Book Thief, Markus Zusak returns with an evocative, compassionate and exquisitely composed coming-of-age story about family, love, tragedy, and forgiveness. Narrated by Matthew, the... Read more
The Butcherbird Stories (A S Patric, Transit Lounge)
Released November 2018
Most readers may associate A S Patric with his Miles Franklin-winning novel Black Rock White City, but he has previously released three collections of short fiction. His latest is quietly... Read more
The Children’s House (Alice Nelson, Knopf)
Released October 2018
The Children’s House is a lovely, lyrical and meditative novel, with a title that refers to both an actual dormitory-style communal house in Israel, and the desire—shared by many in... Read more
The Fragments (Toni Jordan, Text)
Released November 2018
In The Fragments, Toni Jordan has her characters set out to solve what truly happened to a brilliant, enigmatic author who died in a fire in New York in the... Read more
Shell (Kristina Olsson, Scribner)
Released October 2018
In this ambitious historical novel by Kristina Olsson, Australia’s decision to send conscripts to Vietnam and the forced resignation of the architect of the iconic Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon,... Read more
When I Saw the Animal (Bernard Cohen, UQP)
Released September 2018
A young man adopts a dog and unintentionally reveals the cracks in his family; a couple bicker over an undesired meal; a person slides slowly into insanity as a creature—or... Read more
Blue Lake: Finding Dudley Flats and the West Melbourne Swamp (David Sornig, Scribe)
Released September 2018
David Sornig’s Blue Lake creates a strange and layered depiction of Melbourne over time, told through the history of an overlooked place and its seemingly insignificant inhabitants. The book has... Read more
Queerstories: Reflections on Lives Well Lived from Some of Australia’s Finest LGBTQIA+ Writers (ed by Maeve Marsden, Hachette)
Released September 2018
Born from the series of LGBTQIA+ storytelling events that editor Maeve Marsden curates, Queerstories showcases personal stories from 26 Australian queer icons, including Benjamin Law, Rebecca Shaw, Nayuka Gorrie and... Read more
All the Ways to be Smart (Davina Bell, illus by Allison Colpoys, Scribble)
Released October 2018
There are many ways to be smart, and frequent collaborators Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys explore several of them in this new picture book: concrete skills such as building cubbies... Read more
Cherries (Carrie Gallasch, illus by Sara Acton, Little Hare)
Released November 2018
Cherries skilfully evokes the hazy joys of summer and the pleasure of anticipation. Two children enjoy a range of summertime activities while they wait for the cherries to ripen, from... Read more
Invisible Jerry (Adam Wallace, illus by Giuseppe Poli, EK Books)
Released November 2018
It’s hard to imagine any reader not relating to Jerry’s sense of being ‘invisible’ to those around him—he feels isolated at school and it seems nobody appreciates his worth as... Read more
Night Walk (Alison Binks, Berbay)
Released November 2018
This second picture book from Melbourne artist Alison Binks will appeal to gentle souls. In Night Walk, a young boy named Caspar enjoys a night-time adventure while camping with his... Read more
Tales from the Inner City (Shaun Tan, A&U)
Released October 2018
This extraordinary companion to Shaun Tan’s 2008 book Tales from Outer Suburbia taps into our subconscious, our ancient primitive longings, and our need for love, acceptance and understanding. In this... Read more
The Truth App: Liars Book One (Jack Heath, Scholastic)
Released September 2018
Jarli thinks his latest app could be a big hit: the Truth App can tell when someone is lying by analysing their voice. Jarli doesn’t see a problem with this... Read more
The Rift (Rachael Craw, Walker Books)
Released November 2018
Meg is on her way back to Black Water Island after a long absence. Black Water Island is the home of the Rift, a tear between our dimension and another,... Read more
Lenny’s Book of Everything (Karen Foxlee, A&U)
Released November 2018
Anticipation for Karen Foxlee’s new novel is sky-high given her recent gem A Most Magical Girl. Rest assured, Lenny’s Book of Everything will exceed all expectations. Lenny’s younger brother Davey... Read more
The World Was Whole (Fiona Wright, Giramondo)
Released October 2018
In this exquisite follow-on from her award-winning memoir-in-essays Small Acts of Disappearance, Fiona Wright continues to set the standard for the essay form in Australia. Wright’s perspective in The World... Read more
Under the Southern Cross (Frané Lessac, Walker Books)
Released October 2018
There have been many picture books about the sights of Australia but not many have touched upon its night-time attractions. Frané Lessac corrects this oversight in her gorgeously illustrated new... Read more
Monster Party (Children of Rawa Community School, with Jane Godwin and Alison Lester, Magabala)
Released October 2018
Alison Lester and Jane Godwin have proven yet again that collaborating with children can help realise joyous storytelling and delightful illustrations. Monster Party is a picture book made with the... Read more
