Dumped in the River Charon, hunted by an accursed river creature and betrayed by the wicked Matron Pluckrose, Tensy Farlow is in mortal danger. She has no parents. Worse still, she has no guardian angel. When she is thrown into the Home for Mislaid Children – a gloomy orphanage where ravens attack, Watchers hover over your bed, and even the angels cannot be trusted – it seems that all hope is lost. Yet could it be that a plucky, flame-haired orphan with a mysterious past is precisely what this dark world needs? 'deliciously menacing, deliciously funny . . . a glorious read' AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLERS' ASSOCIATION
Funny, exhilarating and a little bit scary; a bewitching blend of Norse mythology and urban fantasy. Since moving to Australia with their father, Angus Jack and his sister, Martha, have moved house constantly. They end up living next door to a peculiar old lady called Reafen, who is a second-hand dealer. To Angus and Martha, Reafen seems harmless enough. But who is she really and where did she get all the weird stuff in her shop? Without his knowledge, Reafen draws Angus into her world; into ancient feuds, Wild Magick and bitter rivalries - into the secret dealings of Vikings and goblins and all those who have lived in the Old Realm. Funny, exhilarating and a little bit scary; a bewitching blend of Norse mythology and urban fantasy from the award-winning author of TENSY FARLOW AND THE HOME FOR MISLAID CHILDREN. Ages: 8-11 years
Romy Bright is going to rock the Harvest Festival and become a hardcore muso. But right now she's stuck babysitting, minding the flower shop and watching out for her erratic mum. At least Romy can rely on James. He's her best friend and when they're playing music together, nothing else matters. That is, until Matt arrives in Crystal Bay . . . Who cares if Matt's off limits? Romy's determined to win his heart. Even if she has to become someone else to do it. Even if she has to turn her back real love. . . Think family, friends and fashion, romance, tears and laughter. That's Crystal Bay!
Sport! That's all Karen's family can think about. But Karen hates sport. There are so many other things she would rather do. Then one day Karen's parents make her an offer that's too good to refuse . . . She's ready for sport, but is sport ready for her?
A stalwart orphan sets out on a spine-tingling adventure in this wildly imaginative and darkly funny Victorian middle grade novel. High on a cliff above the gloomy Victorian town of Withering-by-Sea stands the Hotel Majestic. Inside the walls of the damp, dull hotel, eleven-year-old orphan Stella Montgomery leads a miserable life with her three dreadful aunts. Stella dreams of adventuring on the Amazon—or anyplace, really, as long as it isn’t this dreary town where nothing ever happens. Then one night Stella sees something she shouldn’t have. Soon she finds herself on the run from terrifying Professor Stark and his gang of thugs. But how can one young girl outwit an evil magician, much less rescue his poor, mistreated assistant? With the help of a mysterious maestro, his musical cats, and a lively girl named Gert, Stella Montgomery sets out to do the impossible.
A heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting tale of two towns: Melbourne, Australia and Villers-Bretonneux, France, during World War One. New paperback edition. Henri lives in the French village of Villers-Bretonneux. Billy lives in Melbourne, Australia. These two little boys, who live thousands of miles away from each other, share one story that unites Villers-Bretonneux and Melbourne in history. A moving and inspiring story of World War One.
The compelling story of the Italian composer Bellini's rise to fame, and his forbidden love, Maddalena. A picture book about the young musician, Bellini, and the tragic love story behind his ascension to fame and glory. Bellini is a young music student in Naples. He gives singing lessons to the beautiful Maddelena and they form a strong bond. A bond similar to a pair of love birds. When Maddelena's family forbid them to marry, they are forced to only write to each of their love and trust. When Bellini leaves Naples to compose his famous operas, their love is put to the ultimate test.
A story of transportation and life in a new world from Australia's Children's Laureate At the tender age of eight, chimney sweep Tom Appleby is convicted of stealing and sentenced to deportation to Botany Bay. As one of the members of the First Fleet, he arrives in a country that seemingly has little to offer - or little that the English are used to, anyway. Luckily, not long after tom's arrival in the colony, the fair and kind Sergeant Stanley decides to take on tom as a servant. Together Tom, Sergeant Stanley and his son, Rob, build a house, set up an orchard and a vegetable garden for themselves - and thrive, unlike many others in the new colony. Jackie French weaves Tom's story in with the story of the development of Australia. She tells of a colony that, despite its natural abundance, cannot offer what the colonists want - familiarity. While the people's health is better than it ever was in England, their morale is low as they wait for news from home. PRAISE FOR NANBERRY: BLACK BROTHER WHITE 'For really, really good Australian young-adult (and middle-grade) historical fiction, Jackie French has always been a winner ... With Nanberry: Black Brother White she delivers an excellent fictionalised account of the First Fleet's settlement at Sydney Cove ... a powerful novel' -- Australian Bookseller & Publisher, 5 stars 'She is one of few masters who can embed historic characters in rattling good tales, and her meticulous research is seamlessly inserted so that you live the detail rather than learn it. Even if you are not into history, Nanberry will hook you in ... Irresistible for history buffs of any age' -- Good Reading Magazine, 5 stars 'I've been telling all my friends to read this book, and to give it to their kids to read. It's absolutely engrossing' -- Herald Sun
Magician Kingsley Ward travels to the mysterious world called Demimonde in an effort to redeem himself after his first performance ends in disaster and his father is abducted, and he soon finds himself the target of two warring factions.
One paper plane flies straight and fast and true. Dylan's. Twelve-year-old Dylan Webber lives in outback Western Australia in a small country town. When he discovers he has a talent for folding and flying paper planes, Dylan begins a journey to reach the World Junior Paper Plane Championships in Japan. Along the way he makes unlikely new friends, clashes with powerful rivals and comes to terms with his family's past before facing his greatest challenge – to create a paper plane that will compete with the best in the world. Steve Worland brings you the exciting, heartwarming story of Paper Planes, adapted from the award-winning family film that features a cast of Australia's finest actors, including Sam Worthington, Deborah Mailman, David Wenham and Ed Oxenbould.
