Children and Young Adults
Young Adult Fiction
L.D. Lapinski, Logan Hanning
At school, Elliot gets bullied for being 'different to other girls' whereas at the skate park, everyone welcomes Elliot - presuming they're male - but neither label feels right. As Eliot's love of skateboarding and friendships grow, their worlds collide at a sports expo where the school netball team and skate crew are competing. Can Elliot find the courage to share what they've learned about non-binary identity? Will best friend Jess or the skateboarding crew accept Elliot for who they are? And what about Ryan, the skater who Elliot has been feeling increasingly close to?
Elle McNicholl
Eighteen-year-old Allegra Brooks has skyrocketed to fame after starring in a hit television show, and she's the overnight success that everyone's talking about. They just don't know she's autistic. Now, all she wants is a normal teenage summer. Her destination for escape is the remote Lake Pristine and its annual Book Festival, organized by the dedicated but unfriendly senior bookseller, Jonah Thorne. In small towns like Lake Pristine, misunderstandings abound, and before long the two are drawn into high-profile hostility that's a far cry from the drama-free holiday Allegra was craving. Thank goodness for her saving grace: the increasingly personal emails she's been sharing with a charming and anonymous bookseller who is definitely not Jonah Thorne.
Children's Fiction
The Boy in the Tree
Lisa Thompson
Troublemaker Noah reveals hidden depths as he teams up with goodie-two-shoes Grace to save a majestic local oak tree in this uplifting tale from bestselling author Lisa Thompson.
This book is Dyslexia Friendly
Michael Morpurgo
Britain. 1815. After years of loss and sacrifice, the end of the war with Napoleon is approaching. Cobweb knows nothing of the war - he loves being a young puppy and playing with his owner, Bethan, exploring the countryside and chasing rabbits. But when he is taken away from Bethan and sold, Cobweb must learn to become a drover's dog - herding sheep and cattle for hundreds of miles on the long, treacherous journey to London. And after the Napoleonic wars finally come to an end with the Battle of Waterloo, Cobweb meets an unexpected stranger with an incredible tale to tell on his journey home.
Nathanael Lessore
Existor is the most popular guy in school. Fred is the loser with no friends. And nobody knows they're the same person. Online, Fred goes by Existor@stmarks. His alter ego is the best gamer around - constantly on a winning streak, with tonnes of followers, and the confidence to go with it. But offline, Fred's life is miserable. His dad's always working, his mum's struggling, and at school, everyone looks straight through him. Until Existor's notoriety spreads to his school, and Fred sees an opportunity: everyone listens to what Existor has to say, so why not use that? Soon, Fred is coming up with outlandish rumours about his classmates, and everyone's lapping it up. His bullies are shunned, and people are finally taking notice of him. But it's a slippery slope and Fred struggles to keep track of all the stuff he's posted as his lies start to wreak unexpected havoc.
Eve Ainsworth
Ellie battles feelings of anxiety about school that she can't explain in this sensitively told tale from acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth.
Children's Non-Fiction
Scott Evans
The brain is the boss of your body. But it's more than anatomy. Primary school teacher, neurodivergent spokesperson and reading for pleasure expert Scott Evans, with the help of a neuroscientist, shows how neurodiversity, mental heaylth and training your brain are what makes you you - and you are amazing!
Jen Campbell
Growing up disabled can be an isolating experience. As much as you might be surrounded by loving and well-meaning friends and family, chances are no one close to you is going through this alongside you - until now! From navigating sports at school, to facing the confusion of getting given free stuff all the time, to juggling hospital trips alongside your social life, this anthology of firsthand experiences of childhood disability will be a welcome companion for disabled children. For non-disabled children it provides a welcome own-voice perspective and will help build empathy and understanding.
Picture Books
Darren Chetty | Sandhya Prabhat
Moving to a new neighbourhood comes with many challenges, especially when it comes to making new friends. Will they play how I want to play? the young narrator wonders. Will they hug me when I'm sad, or give me space? So many questions! But in the end, the only plausible thing to do is to dive in and give it a try.
Picture Books for Older Readers
Patricia McCormick, Mevan Bebakar
For generations, Mevan and her family lived in their beloved Kurdistan. But when they are forced to flee by the Iraqi government, Mevan must leave everything behind. Her family travels from country to country in search of safety; and with each stop, Mevan feels more and more alone. Until - a stranger's gift changes everything