October, October. October is an unusual name for a little girl but then October is an unusual little girl.
She and her father live in a tiny house deep in the woods and they live WILD, without any of the modern conveniences most people take for granted, growing their own food or harvesting it from natural sources and completely in tune with their environment. This essentially organic existence was not one that October’s mother could cope with and she has been gone since her daughter was tiny. As the years roll along her mother tries to contact October but the little girl is firmly resistant to all overtures. The year October turns eleven everything changes. Listen, Layla. This is our second meeting with exuberant and passionate Layla, teenaged Sudanese-Australian girl living in Brisbane.
Layla has much in common with any other teen but perhaps more accentuated in some respects as she straddles the expectations of two very different cultures. Her first year as a scholarship student at her new school, and her passion for inventing has culminated in her secured position with the Grand Designs Tourismo team. The team has won entry in the international competition to take place in Germany and not only that, but Layla has been selected to be Australia’s representative on the associated Special International Invention Tour – life doesn’t get any better for this girl who loves her science and engineering!
But as we know, life doesn’t always go according to plan. The start of the summer holidays, so full of exciting promise, suddenly crashes into a family crisis. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez. Don’t Read the Comments – Eric Smith. Harper Collins Australia January 2020 ISBN: 9781489295705ISBN 10: 1489295704Imprint: HQ Young Adult – USList Price: 19.99 AUD.
Frankly in Love by David Yoon. Toffee – Sarah Crossan. Jul21 Bloomsbury June 2019 Exquisitely, compellingly poignant and haunting, I was so happy that I took this to the hairdresser’s yesterday.
It meant I could read it one sitting without feeling guilty about neglected house chores! I am not who I say I am. Allison has never known her mother who died within hours of giving birth. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Are You Seeing Me? by Darren Groth. “Are You Seeing Me?
Is written powerfully with both the heart and the head, and neither gives an inch. No Ballet Shoes in Syria - Nosy Crow. Winner of the Books Are My Bag Readers Award Aya is eleven years old and has just arrived in Britain with her mum and baby brother, seeking asylum from war in Syria.
When Aya stumbles across a local ballet class, the formidable dance teacher spots her exceptional talent and believes that Aya has the potential to earn a prestigious ballet scholarship. But at the same time, Aya and her family must fight to be allowed to remain in the country, to make a home for themselves and to find Aya’s father – separated from the rest of the family during the journey from Syria. With beautiful, captivating writing, wonderfully authentic ballet detail, and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling – filled with warmth, hope and humanity.
“Wise and kind and unputdownable.” – Hilary McKay, Costa Book Prize-winning author of The Skylarks’ War. With Lots of Love from Georgia - Brigid Lowry - 9781741143102. Money can't buy you love, but sometimes you find one when you think you need the other.
Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt: 9780147516770. Before you go...
Check Out The Bestselling Books of All Time See the List Free ground shipping on orders over $20 “A richly embroidered cast of characters, a thoughtful exploration of how real friends treat one another, and the true meaning of family all combine to make this a thoroughly satisfying coming-of-age tale. Nona and Me by Clare Atkins. ‘A powerful coming-of-age story … Atkins writes with clear-eyed sensitivity, and although I longed to hear Nona’s voice, its absence is deliberate and effective.
Raymie Nightingale. Candlewick Press, 2016 ages 10 and up ISBN 978-0763681173 Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her.
And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie's picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who’s determined to sabotage the contest.
But as the competition approaches, loneliness, loss, and unanswerable questions draw the three girls into an unlikely friendship—and challenge each of them to come to the rescue in unexpected ways. The Other Side of Summer by Emily Gale. “Summer Jackman is prickly, sad, funny - and absolutely loveable. This pitch-perfect story is full of hope and magic. Exquisite and unforgettable.” Fiona Wood, award-winning author of WILDLIFE “A beautifully rendered portrayal of grief, family and leaving things behind, The Other Side of Summer is a welcome addition to the shelves of Australian middle fiction.
Emily Gale’s book gives her audience the respect they deserve—recognising that younger teens need a place in literature where they too can explore the parts of their life that are challenging or sad. Bec Kavanagh, Books + Publishing “The natural Australian bush setting allows the author’s imagery to shine, particularly in contrast to the icy cold of London. Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan. Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlisted for the Children's Book Award 2016: Books for Older Readers A story about sad endings.A story about happy beginnings.A story to make you realise who is special.
This is the blurb on the back jacket of Apple and Rain and it sums up the book just perfectly. Apple lives with her Nana since her mother ran away to America eleven years before. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Get a FREE e-book by joining our mailing list today! Plus, receive recommendations for your next Book Club read. A Reading Group Guide to. No and Me: Delphine de Vigan: Bloomsbury Children's Books. The Family with Two Front Doors - Anna Ciddor - 9781925266641. Delightful in detail and warmth, Ciddor’s book of the Rabinovitch family opens a door into a family living in Poland in the 1920’s. It is easy to be drawn into this large family which brims with life and every day rhythms and activities.
With engaging characters, readers will chuckle to draw similarities in sibling and familial relations within their own circle of loved ones. How to Grow a Family Tree :HarperCollins Australia. About the Book From the author of P is for Pearl comes a heart-warming book about family, friendship and what home can mean. Stella may only be seventeen, but having read every self-help book she can find means she knows a thing or two about helping people.
She sure wasn't expecting to be the one in need of help, though. Thanks to her father's gambling addiction, Stella and her family now find themselves living at Fairyland Caravan Park. And hiding this truth from her friends is hard enough without dealing with another secret. As Stella deals with the chaos of her family, she must also confront the secrets and past of her 'other' family. From the author of P is for Pearl comes a heart-warming book about family, friendship and what home can mean. 'This engaging novel for young adults doesn't sugar-coat the difficult sides of life but it has substantial stretches of hope and beauty.