-
Q&A with Aussie kids’ writer Bethany Loveridge
I know I’ve said it before, but one of my favourite things about social media is making new friends with people all over the country and world that have similar interests. Today I’m excited to be chatting with one of my Instagram friends Bethany Loveridge, a fellow fan of middle grade books and aspiring author. Bethany’s Instagram account is always packed with amazing recommendations for readers 8-12 (ish) – she reads for pleasure but also for research for her own writing, and the breadth of her reading is evident from the range of books that pop up on her page. Bethany is currently working on a manuscript, which I happen…
-
Review :: The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy
I’m reading loads of kids’ fantasy books at the moment and absolutely loving them. I posted a little preview of The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy when i was reading it a few weeks ago and tonight I’m sharing my review. What is Melanie La’Brooy’s The Wintrish Girl about? On Talisman Day in the Empire of Arylia, every child receives an object that gives them special powers and reveals their destiny. Every child except for the Wintrish girl, Penn, that is. All she has ever wanted is the impossible: to own a Talisman and return to her home in Midwinter to find her true family. But Penn’s trapped – doomed…
-
Preview :: The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat by Kate Temple
I might have already said here that I really think middlegrade books (ie for readers 8 to 12, ish, sometimes called “older readers” in book shops) are having a moment right now. I feel like the Aussie middlegrade space in particular is so exciting – there are so many amazing looking titles out and coming out soon. Also, on a more personal note, it’s kind of perfect timing for me as my daughter turned 8 this year so we are enjoying a lot of these fab titles together. The latest fab Aussie middlegrade title to arrive at our place is this one – The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat,…
-
Preview :: Wylah The Koorie Warrior and My Spare Heart
The amazing books just keep coming, don’t they?! I feel like there are soooo many titles coming out at the moment, and a bunch this week that are on my ever-growing tbr. I wanted to pop in today to share a sneak peek at two new Aussie kids’ books by First Nations writers that are out this week from Allen & Unwin (who kindly sent me free copies for review) – Wylah The Koorie Warrior: Guardians by Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard, and My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas. I’m hoping to get to reading and reviewing these ones in the next week, so keep an eye out for that…
-
Preview :: A Girl Called Corpse by Reece Carter
It’s not very often that I get my hands on a book quite so far out from the publication date, and even less often do I actually read something as soon as it arrives. Reece Carter’s upcoming middlegrade fantasy debut A Girl Called Corpse, however, is coming out in October, and not only have I already got it on my shelf (massive thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending me an early copy!) but I just couldn’t resist jumping straight in. And let me tell you, friends, this book is worth the hype it’s getting. In fact, it might just be one of the best books I’ve read so far…
-
Preview :: Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong
There seem to be sooooo many amazing books coming out at the moment that, to be honest, I’m having some trouble keeping up with the reading and reviewing and sharing. Today I wanted to pop in and tell you a bit about a brand new middlegrade novel that I have been looking forward to for ooooh about a year. Sarah Armstrong’s Big Magic came out at the start of May, and is sitting right at the top of my tbr pile. Big thanks to Hardie Grant for sending me a copy! You might remember Sarah was kind enough to chat middlegrade reads with me back in the summer – you…
-
Author Chat :: Summer Reading :: Sarah Armstrong
Today it’s my pleasure to be joined by another fellow middlegrade reader, author Sarah Armstrong. Sarah was kind enough to chat with me about summer reading and also shared some of her favourite middlegrade books. Check out our chat below… Hey Sarah! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me today! First of all, I’d love to know what’s your favourite thing about summer? I love heading over to Brunswick Heads beach first thing in the morning. There’s nothing like a salty swim and some sand between the toes to start the day on the right note. I love it when it’s overcast and the sea is…
-
Author Chat :: Summer Reading :: Reece Carter
You know I love any excuse to have writers here on the blog for a chat, and since I’ve been keeping an eye out for middlegrade reads to keep my newly 8 year old busy over summer I thought it would be fun to talk to a few fellow middlegrade readers about their summer reading habits and get a few recommendations at the same time. Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Reece Carter here for a chat. Reece is a Sydney-based writer – his debut middlegrade fantasy novel will be released later this year. Check out our chat below… Hey Reece! Thanks so much for joining me on BookishBron.com…
-
BOOK STACK :: Keeping the kids entertained
Now that the excitement of Christmas is starting to settle (although, full disclosure, I like to keep it going for the full 12 days through to 6 Jan!) we’re starting to think about settling into school holidays. Like many people around the country – and the world I guess – we’re laying pretty low right now, and between mostly hanging about home and my partner and I being back ‘at’ work (from home) next week we are looking for things to keep our daughter entertained through the next few weeks that aren’t just screen based. Obviously I’m throwing books at her left right and centre, and so I thought I’d…
-
Christmassy :: Q&A :: Samone Amba
I feel like there has been some really outstanding Aussie middlegrade coming out this year, and one of the titles I have on my TBR that looks fantastic is Samone Amba’s debut novel The Good Times of Pelican Rise: Save the Joeys. This one looks like perfect school holiday reading for kids heading into or just coming out of grade 5 or 6… Grade sixers Sunday Moon and her besties Ockie, Kirra and Lottie are MAROONED in after-school care at Club Koala with the karaoke-loving grade twos and nit-infested preppies for company. It’s not exactly the way these legends thought they’d be ending their time at Pelican Rise Primary!But after…
