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Saltblood (Francesca de Tores, Bloomsbury)
Released May 2024
Saltblood is an engrossing, deeply felt historical novel by Melbourne poet, author and academic Francesca de Tores (with previous works published as Francesca Haig), fictionalising the life of pirate Mary... Read more
Grace the Amazing (Aleesah Darlison, Wombat Books)
Released May 2024
This tender middle-grade novel by well-established children’s author Aleesah Darlison (who wrote the popular junior series League of Llamas) explores friendship, coming to terms with death, and finding the courage... Read more
Boots (Elizabeth Pulsford, illus Krista Brennan, Wombat Books)
Released May 2024
The idea of walking in someone else’s shoes to evoke understanding and empathy is not a new concept, but Elizabeth Pulsford takes it further in her debut picture book, Boots,... Read more
Because I’m Not Myself, You See (Ariane Beeston, Black Inc.)
Released May 2024
Ariane Beeston’s debut, Because I’m Not Myself, You See, chronicles her postpartum psychosis, as a mother and clinical psychologist. The memoir weaves personal experiences with scientific evidence, and makes recommendations... Read more
Cheer Up, Blobfish! (Julie Murphy, illus Rachel Tribout, Affirm)
Released May 2024
It’s time for The Festival of the Fish and everyone is excited, but the blobfish looks sad, and none of the sea creatures can cheer him up. This fun, rhyming... Read more
Because I Love Him (Ashlee Donohue, Magabala)
Released May 2024
Because I Love Him is an intelligent and insightful reply to the question, ‘Why are you with him?'. As a society, we're beginning to realise that it's the wrong question... Read more
Ultra Violet: Down to Business (Cristy Burne, illus Rebel Challenger, Larrikin House)
Released May 2024
Ultra Violet: Down to Business is the first in a new junior graphic novel series with a hilarious—but very scientific—premise. Violet (a science genius who wears a lab coat) and... Read more
Love Across Class (Rose Butler & Eve Vincent, MUP)
Released May 2024
In Love Across Class, researchers Rose Butler and Eve Vincent seek to demystify the complex—and often obscured—role class can play in shaping romantic relationships. As class is often overlooked in social and political conversations (unlike... Read more
How to Avoid a Happy Life (Julia Lawrinson, Fremantle)
Released May 2024
How to Avoid a Happy Life is a lively memoir by Julia Lawrinson (Losing It), the author of over 15 books for young people. This memoir takes readers through a lifetime of sad and... Read more
The Kindness Project (Deborah Abela, Puffin)
Released May 2024
Nicolette is unconfident and shy and feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. However, she loves spending time with her nanna and takes comfort in her visits to her nursing... Read more
What Stars Are For (Margeaux Davis, Affirm)
Released May 2024
What Stars Are For is the first picture book by sewing pattern and soft toy designer Margeaux Davis. The emerging children’s book illustrator’s love for the natural world is informed... Read more
Country (Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson, illus Cheryl Davison, Wild Dog)
Released May 2024
Country is a celebration of earth and sky, sun, moon and stars—central to First Nations Culture. Through intricate, warm and entrancing artwork by renowned artist and Walbunja, Ngarigo woman Cheryl... Read more
Cora Seen and Heard (Zanni Louise, Walker)
Released May 2024
When Cora’s family moves to Tasmania to renovate a decrepit theatre, Cora, 12, is thrilled at the opportunity to reinvent herself as Cora 2.0: more confident, admired, and interesting. But... Read more
Suddenly Single at Sixty (Jo Peck, Text)
Released May 2024
Not long after Jo Peck’s 60th birthday, her husband drops a bombshell—he’s leaving her for a (much) younger woman. She is shocked and heartbroken that the life she’d worked towards—full... Read more
All the Beautiful Things You Love (Jonathan Seidler, Macmillan)
Released May 2024
A romantic comedy told in reverse, All the Beautiful Things You Love charts Elly and Enzo's relationship over 10 years, leading up to their divorce. But what happens to their... Read more
Ghost Cities (Siang Lu, UQP)
Released May 2024
Recently fired from his translating job at the Chinese Consulate in Sydney for lying about his translation skills and using Google Translate to do his job, Xiang Lu is a... Read more
The Land Recalls You (Kirli Saunders, illus David Cragg & Noni Cragg, Scholastic)
Released May 2024
The title of multi-awarded Gunai poet Kirli Saunders’s picture book The Land Recalls You honours the Stolen Generations and their descendants, as well as others who have been taken from Country, in a story... Read more
The Deed (Susannah Begbie, Hachette)
Released May 2024
Small-town cattle farmer Tom Edwards knows he is going to die—before he does, he pays a visit to the local solicitor to change the terms of his will. Upon his... Read more
Human? (Ziggy Ramo, Pantera)
Released May 2024
For those familiar with the sounds of Ziggy Ramo, Human?—while his debut book—is but the latest in a collection of revolutionary literary works by the artist. Human? is Ramo’s powerful... Read more
Ela! Ela! (Ella Mittas, Murdoch)
Released May 2024
Ela! Ela! means 'Come! Come!', and it’s a wonderfully fitting title for this generous, delicious and personal book of Turkish-Greek recipes, photography and essays, which documents Ella Mittas’s travels to Istanbul, Alaçatı,... Read more
