Autumn Reading Guide 2023

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AUTUMN READING GUIDE 2023 265 KING ST NEWTOWN NSW 2042 | 02 9557 8700 | BOOKS@BETTERREAD.COM.AU

On the Savage Side | Tiffany McDaniel | $32.99 | Hachette | Matilda’s Review

Recently I’ve heard people say that McDaniel is one of America’s best living authors. After reading On The Savage Side -- brutal, melancholic but with a sting of optimism -- I’m inclined to agree. Arc and her twin sister Daffy live in downtrodden Chillicothe, Ohio, in a house full of women. Their mother, Addie, and their idiosyncratic Aunt Clover are struggling with heroin addiction, surviving by working in the local sex industry, and grappling with the death of the twins’ father. “Queens of Chillicothe”. As their friends begin to go missing, turning up in grizzly drownings in the town river, Arc and Daffy are desperate to keep holding on.

FEBRUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH

FEBRUARY ILF BOOK OF THE MONTH

Smashing Serendipity | Louise K. Hansen | $32.99 | Fremantle Press | Steph’s Review

Louise K. Hansen is a Binjarib Nyoongar, Palyku Mulbpa and Irish woman and this is her story. Told through chronological vignettes, reading this memoir felt very much like sitting in a yarning story, listening to one’s grandparent share snippets of their life and teach important lessons. And that is exactly what Louise set out to do, writing the novel to teach her family of her experiences as an Aboriginal woman growing up in the 1950s and 60s. Her stories also shed light on their political and social context, and I found this to be a very accessible and open account of hers and her community’s resilience, conviction and strength.

FEBRUARY KIDS BOOK OF THE MONTH

Tumbleglass | Kate Constable | $17.99 | Allen & Unwin | Carolina’s Review

When Rowan finds a mysterious ring in her sister’s bedroom, the pair are transported back in time. Trouble strikes when Rowan accidentally disrupts the laws of time and wakes up to her sister missing and her family having forgotten she existed. Rowan’s journey to save her sister is laced with magic, lessons in bravery, and no small amount of mystery. Both captivating and heartwarming, Tumbleglass is perfect for middle-grade readers who want a story they can sink their teeth into. Brace yourself for unexpected twists and turns! A beautiful and clever classic time-slip novel.

MARCH BOOK OF THE MONTH

Dress Rehearsals | Madison Godfrey | $24.99 | Allen & Unwin | Tahlia’s Review

This new poetic offering from Madison Godfrey is a searing memoir in verse. Published by Joan, an exciting new imprint for Allen & Unwin, Dress Rehearsals is a book to take your time with, offering an intimate meditation on the performance of femininity, through adolescence into adulthood. Godfrey shares hard won wisdom with a clear poetic voice, and no shortage of wit. It is fierce, sharp, rebellious, and ultimately loving. A song for those who will see themselves in its pages.

Gigorou | Sasha Kutabah Sarago | $34.99 | Bloomsbury | Reem’s Review

Gigorou (jig-goo-roo) means beauty or beautiful in Jirrbal, the language of Sasha Kutabah Sarago’s grandmother. And this book is just that, absolute beauty. Sasha begins by asking the reader to get ready to embrace their Gigorou, I knew I was in for a journey. Powerful and thought provoking all the way. Ending with a letter written to her niece, that’s filled with wisdom and love. This book has it all.

MARCH

ILF

BOOK OF THE MONTH

MARCH KIDS BOOK OF THE MONTH

The Hotel Witch | Jessica Miller | $16.99 | Text Publishing | Lexie’s Review

I never knew I wanted to be a witch until now! Sybil works in a hotel with her grandmother, where they both use their magic to keep things running smoothly. But rather than hiding their magic it’s the appeal of the hotel! When someone comes to stay in the hotel and gets her grandmother stuck on the thirteenth floor, Sybil must rise to the occasion, summon all of her powers, and take it upon herself to save her grandmother. A charming, heartwarming tale of courage and patience.

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OUR BOOKS OF THE MONTH

A Country of Eternal Light | Paul Dalgarno | $32.99 | Harper Collins

Margaret Bryce has been having a hard time since dying in 2014. Spanning more than seventy-five years this novel follows Margaret as she flits from wartime Germany to Thatcher’s Britain to modern-day Scotland, Australia and Spain. A poignant, utterly original and bitingly funny novel about complicated grief.

Funny Ethnics | Shirley Le | $29.99 | Hachette

Based in the streets of Western Sydney, I was so excited to get my hands on this coming-of-age debut. I knew I was going to be taken on a journey between two worlds through the eyes of a child of immigrant parents. The streets of Yagoona come to life with Le’s humour, honesty, and heart. -

Shirley | Ronnie Scott | $32.99 | Penguin

It’s been 20 years since her mother was photographed, blood-soaked, outside the family home. Since that time, the girl has grown up, bought an apartment, learned her own cooking style, fallen in love. But strange things are in the air. The daughter of a celebrity must discover who is worthy of her devotion and who is just a fan.

Higher Education | Kira

McPherson | $34.99 | Ultimo Press

Sam is struggling to find her place at university. That changes when a lecturer introduces Sam to Julia, his wife and a lawyer who agrees to mentor Sam through law school. With time, this unspools into a dynamic of mutual preoccupation and boundary crossing, as they navigate their feelings for one another.

Little Plum | Laura McPheeBrown | $32.99 | Text Publishing

Coral is 29 years old and she’s struggling: with her mental health, her drinking and with her difficult mother, Topaz. And now there’s a thing growing inside her. McPhee-Browne writes in such a deft and striking manner about mental illhealth, and at times the book feels like a body horror. This is an exuberant and empathetic novel.

An Ungrateful Instrument | Michael Meehan

| $32.99 | NewSouth

A novel that portrays a son’s struggle to be more than a mere instrument of his father’s ambition, both having been brought up as child music prodigies in the court of Louis XIV. Narrated by the deaf daughter and sister of the Forqueray family, this novel can almost be heard like music.

Return to Valetto | Dominic Smith | $32.99

| Allen & Unwin

The story of a nearly abandoned Italian village the family that remains, and long-buried secrets from World War II. When a family member returns, he uncovers a great betrayal, a disappearance and an unspeakable act of violence. This is a page-turning excavation of the ruins of history; who will answer for the crimes of the past?

The Bell of the World | Gregory Day

| $32.99 |

Transit Lounge

When a troubled Sarah returns from boarding school in England, she is sent to live with her eccentric Uncle Ferny on the family property, Ngangahook. With the sound of the ocean surrounding everything they do on the farm, Sarah and her uncle form an inspired bond with each other and the natural world.

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Age of Vice | Deepti Kapoor |

$32.99 | Hachette

New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the kerb, and in the blink of an eye five people are dead. It’s a rich man’s car, but when the dust settles a shell-shocked servant is the only one who remains. This is the age of vice, where pleasure and power are everything, and the family ties that bind can also kill.

Bad Cree | Jessica Johns | $29.99 |

Scribe Publications

Mackenzie is having nightmares - the thing is, they’re so vivid that it’s clear they are trying to tell her something. As the story unfolds, of a young Cree woman dealing with grief and family trauma, the mystery of her dreajms unfolds with absolute intrigue! This stunning prose is evocative of Melissa Lucashenko’s Too Much Lip! - Steph

Victory City | Salman Rushdie | $32.99 | Penguin

In fourteenth-century southern India, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history, as she embodies the goddess Parvati and brings about the rise of a great city called Bisnaga. The epic tale of a woman who breathes an empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries.

Wandering Souls | Cecile Pin | $29.99 | Harper Collins

One night, not long after the last American troops leave Vietnam, siblings Anh, Thanh and Minh flee their village and embark on a perilous boat journey to Hong Kong. This is a heart-wrenching portrait of a family in unimaginable adversity, exploring the power of stories to heal generational wounds.

Weasels in the Attic | Hiroko

Oyamada | $24.99 | Granta

Is there anything more wonderful than interwoven short stories?

These three stories (making up the smallest novella you ever saw) all centre around our unnamed protagonist and his wife, and his best friend. It’s staggering how much heart break, envy, and love is packed into under a hundred pages . - Lexie

American Mermaid | Julia Langbein | $32.99 | Text

Publishing

A woman braves the casual slights and cruel calculations of a ruthless LA industry town, where she discovers a beating heart in her own fiction, a mermaid who will fight to move between worlds without giving up her voice.

The Shards | Bret Easton Ellis | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin

Bret is in his final year at prestigious Buckley College. His Los Angeles is about to be rocked by a series of grisly killings by a serial killer dubbed “The Trawler”, and Bret’s personal world is shaken by the arrival at Buckley of Robert Mallory, attractive and mysterious... The Shards is Ellis with all guns blazing. - James

The World and All That It Holds | Aleksandar Hemon | $34.99 | Pan Macmillan

An epic, continent-spanning story of a world in convulsion, of millions broken between war, displacement and revolution, and of human bonds so strong that they stretch from Sarajevo to Shanghai without snapping, and encompass all.

The Heroines | Laura Shepperson | $32.99 | Hachette

When writing of ancient times, women are often the chased victim in need of rescuing. With The Heroines, Laura Shepperson blows that all away; giving her “Heroines” a voice, giving warmth and depth to her female leads as they deftly manoeuvre through the confines of ancient Athens, in this rich tale of Royal scandal. - Robert

4 INTERNATIONAL FICTION

Old Babes in the Wood | Margaret Atwood | $45.00 | Random House

Atwood’s latest collection of short stories showcase with sparkling clarity the breadth and depth of the literary talent she has become so renowned for. How masterfully she evokes a keen sense of nostalgia through her stories that span a variety of genres and explore aging, loss, and the evolution of relationships was particularly notable to me. Reflective, and at times hilarious.

A Minor Chorus | Billy-Ray Belcourt | $27.99

Birnam Wood | Eleanor Catton | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin

Five years ago, Mira Bunting founded a guerrilla gardening group: Birnam Wood. Then Mira stumbles on an answer, a way to finally set the group up for the long term: the town of Thorndike is abandoned and fit for a farm. But Mira is not the only one interested in Thorndike.

A gripping psychological thriller, Birnam Wood is Shakespearean in its wit, drama and immersion in character.

The Bandit Queens | Parini Shroff | $32.99 | Murdoch Books

Belcourt has written a gripping and gorgeous work about Indigenous endurance. Our unnamed narrator returns home to Alberta after abandoning his thesis, and begins to find the shape of a novel in the stories of those people around him. This is a literary take on the small-town narrative that effortlessly weaves literary and gender theory into the fabric of its striking story. An absolute must-read.

In rural India, an isolated woman falsely accused of killing her vanished husband becomes an unwilling consultant to other aspiring widows. In darkly irreverent and fresh prose, this unforgettable feminist revenge thriller acknowledges the unfortunate status quo for women everywhere, and shows that female connections and friendships are what will carry us through the darkness and absurdity of life.

Furies: Stories of the Wicked, Wild and Untamed | $32.99 | Hachette

In Memoriam | Alice Winn | $32.99 | Penguin

It’s 1914, and Henry Gaunt, Sidney Ellwood and the rest of their classmates from an idyllic British boarding school are eventually drawn to the adventure of the front. An epic tale of both the devastating tragedies of war and the forbidden romance that blooms in its grip.

Hungry

Ghosts | Kevin

Jared Hosein | $32.99 | Bloomsbury

Two families collide when a wealthy farmer disappears - setting into motion great change in a divided community, A mesmerising novel about violence, religion, family and class, rooted in the wild and pastoral landscape of colonial central Trinidad.

Blue Hunger | Viola Di Grado | $27.99 | Scribe Publications

Blue Hunger thrums - with uncertainty, grief, desire, and the shimmering lights of Shanghai. The novel follows Ruben as she navigates a turbulent but compelling relationship with the electric stranger, Xu. Pleasure, pain, danger, and passion coagulate and foment inside this compelling duo. Viola Di Grado has crafted a selfassured and haunting novel, sure to be loved by readers of Ottessa Moshfegh and Jamie Marina Lau.

To celebrate Virago’s fiftieth birthday, fifteen award-winning, bestselling authors have written original stories embodying the spirit of Virago: feminist, fearless, fun, wild and defiant of convention. This blazing cauldron of a book is an entertaining and irresistible collection of feminist tales for our time. Includes works from Margaret Atwood, Ali Smith, Kamila Shamsie, Helen Oyeymi and more!

5 INTERNATIONAL FICTION
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Leona
| UQP

In a world that shares undeniable similarities with the Victorian era, Dora investigates the death of her brother and searches for clues to the meaning of his ambiguous last words. An intriguing and fantastical story full of revolution, murder and mystery, set in an intricately built world.

| Ultimo Press

Is it paranoia – or is someone watching?

A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay for surrendering our privacy one click at a time.

All Fryda wants is to become a shield maiden and fight with honour for her family and clan. When her father forbids her from fighting, she continues to train in secret, always prepared to jump into action to defend what she holds dear. A really fun and engrossing retelling of Beowulf.

A Day of Fallen Night | Samantha Shannon | $34.99 |

When the Dreadmount erupts, bringing with it an age of terror and violence, three women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat. Intricate and epic, A Day of Fallen Night sweeps readers back to the world of A Priory of the Orange Tree, showing us a course of events that shaped it for generations to come.

| Thames & Hudson

A claustrophobic and Alex has all but given up on her dream to become an author, until she is invited to a month-long writing retreat. However, her former BF and current rival is attending too... This is a propulsive thriller exploring the dark side of female friendships and fame.

Welcome to The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts - a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and intrigue, enter the world of wellintended murderers.

I absolutely adored this. A graphic memoir, Ducks depicts Kate Beaton’s experience living and working in Alberta’s oil sands. It is an environment of relentless misogyny and harassment, where men outnumber women 50 to 1. And yet we also see moments of tenderness, kindness, and humour. It’s quite extraordinary the nuance Kate Beaton is able to bring to this blue-collar reality. She tells her story with immense grace, and a kind of narrative and artistic skill that is mesmerising. A vivid glimpse into a world I knew little about. - Tahlia

Best friends Chris, Jo, Elise, and Alex work hard to keep themselves afloat. Their regular brunches hold them together even as the rest of their lives threaten to fall completely apart. In an effort to avoid being the oldest gays at the party (like they are at every other queer event in Minneapolis), the crew decides to put on a new party called Grind!, a queer gathering specifically for folks in or over their dirty-thirties. A shockingly frank and funny adult graphic novel.

6 CRIME / SCI-FI / FANTASY / GRAPHIC NOVELS
Ducks | Kate Beaton | $60.00 | Random House Dark Mode | Ashley Kalagian Blunt | $34.99 Mimosa | Archie Bongiovanni | $35.00 The Writing Retreat | Julia Bartz | $32.99 | Bloomsbury The McMasters Guide to Homicide | Rupert Holmes | $32.99 | Hachette Shield Maiden | Sharon Emmerichs | $32.99 | Bloomsbury The Curator | Owen King | $32.99 | Hachette Bloomsbury

Expanded Thinking is a new podcast series of illuminating conversations with writers, creatives and spiritual practitioners that expand the mind and feed the spirit.

Join host Walter Mason in-conversation with:

- Vanessa Berry

- Debbie Malone

- Alana Fairchild

- Barry Eaton

- Delia Falconer

- Nigel Featherstone

- Maggie Hamilton

- Andres Engracia

First episode debuts on February 21st, wherever you get your podcasts.

Empress of the Nile | Lynne Olson | $36.99 | Scribe Publications

An exhilarating, in-depth look at a woman whose courage never faltered, whether she was facing Nazi interrogators or backstabbing colleagues. Lynne Olson shines a spotlight on the remarkable Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, the gutsy, determined, French archaeologist, overlooked for far too long. -

Pirate Enlightenment, or the Real Libertalia | David Graeber | $35.00| Penguin

A century before the enlightenment, a brief but incandescent pirate society was formed in Madagascar, founded on the basis of egalitarianism and radical democracy. Graeber continues the task of ‘decolonising the enlightenment’ by examining its diverse non-Western origins.

Still Life With Bones | Alexa Hagerty | $32.99 | Hachette

An anthropologist working with forensic teams and victims’ families to investigate crimes against humanity in Latin America explores what science can tell us about the lives of the dead in this haunting account of grief, the power of ritual, and a quest for justice.

This Won’t Hurt | Dr Marieke Bigg |

Dr Bigg takes a deep dive into all the ways medicine is not gender neutral, using stories and experiences to demonstrate how flawed mindsets have paved the way for sub-par treatment, and how prevailing attitudes in a patriarchal world can have unexpected effects.

Maus Now | Edited by Hillary Chute | $49.99 | Penguin

Maus is revelatory, and generative, in profound and longlasting ways. With this richly illustrated collection, American literary scholar (and expert on comics and graphic narratives) Hillary Chute assembles the best work around the globe exploring this classic graphic biography.

The Way of the Fearless Writer | Beth Kempton | $34.99

| Hachette

Offering a rare insight into the writing life and a host of fresh and original exercises to guide you, this is a revolutionary approach to writing inspired by ancient Eastern wisdom.

Earth Transformed

| Bloomsbury

From the biggest storms to the worst winters from the Big Bang to now, The Earth Transformed forces us to reckon with humankind’s continuing efforts to make sense of the natural world.

Notes on the Death of Culture | Mario Vargas Llosa | $32.99 | Allen & Unwin

Saving Time | Jenny Odell | $35.00 | Random House

Our daily experience, dominated by the corporate clock, is destroying us. Odell presents a radical argument that we are living on the wrong clock and that embracing a new concept of time can open us up to bold, hopeful possibilities.

In this bracing collection of essays, novelist Mario Vargas Llosa turns his eye on what he persuasively argues is the gradual death of modern culture, as a society obsessed with “entertainment” becomes enraptured by tabloid frivolity and paralysed by political gridlock. Politicians, journalists, and social theorists alike are not safe from his scathing indictment of the state of modern intellectual life. While you may disagree with his proposed solutions for this sad state of affairs, his work is very thought-provoking.

8 NON-FICTION
The | Peter Frankopan | $39.99 $34.99 | Hachette

Covering two separations, from both her husband and her religion, this is a beautifully lighthearted and warm read. Spanning generations and migrations, we learn just enough about her family to become emotionally invested, and cringe along with Sita at the early slip of an “I love you”. A delight! -

Cloud Land | Penny Van Oosterzee | $34.99 | Allen & Unwin

A sweeping account of Australia’s wet tropical rainforest country, Cloud Land is the story of Penny Van Oosterzee & her husband’s quest to regenerate rainforest. Their quest to resurrect it is as vital for the forest’s otherworldly beauty as it is for its potential role in fighting climate change. - Connor

Tanya Plibersek: On Her Own Terms | Margaret Simons | $34.99 | Penguin

Elected to federal parliament aged just twenty-eight, Tanya Plibersek has lived almost half her life in the public eyeand is the longest-serving woman in Australia’s House of Representatives. But how much do we know about what drives her, what she values, and what we can expect from her next? A fascinating portrait of one of Australia’s most influential women.

The Future Ancestor | Annabelle Sharman | $22.99 | Penguin

Annabelle Sharm, a proud Aboriginal Bush woman of the Mutti Mutti tribe, is a Spirit Weaver. with a commitment to Country. Connect with Mother Earth and your Ancestors through inspiring stories and healing wisdom, and discover how to come home to yourself.

Political Lives | Chris

Wallace | $39.99 | NewSouth Books

Wallace writes our political history anew through this account of prime ministers, their biographies and their biographers. Lively and astute, the book takes us into their motivations and relationships, some well-known and some hidden, and in doing so shows us Australian politics in a fresh light.

Monumental Disruptions | Bronwyn Carlson and Terri Farrelly | $39.95 | NewSouth Books

What is the place of Australia’s colonial memorials in today’s society? Do we remove, destroy or amend? Monumental Disruptions investigates how these memorials have been viewed, and are viewed, by First Nations people to find a way forward.

Murli La | Ngarukuruwala Women’s Group with Genevieve Campbell | $45.00 | Hardie Grant

This illustrated songbook is a visual delight, featuring songs in Tiwi language and in translation, which teach us about culture, geography, kinship, spiritualism and history. Embellished with art, photography and maps, this is the sort of book to pick up and peruse over and over again, learning a bit each time from the Ngarukuruwala Women’s Group. A true testament to the strength of song and oral tradition. - Steph

Infidelity and Other Affairs | Kate Legge | $34.99 | Thames & Hudson

What do you do when your partner’s infidelity upends your life? When you have to face up to your own addictions? As a journalist, Kate Legge often sought answers to how people reckon with bad hands dealt or bad decisions. Then came her own search when faced with her husband’s affair that unearthed a fault line of unfaithfulness running through four generations of his family. Here, Legge strives to understand how we become who we are.

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The God of No Good | Sita
$36.99 | Ultimo Press
Walker |

Acquacotta | Emiko Davies | $49.99 | Hardie Grant

Discover the cuisine of a secret part of Tuscany, known as La Costa D’Argento. In words and pictures, Emiko guides readers through the use of local ingredients, as well as sharing the history of rustic, storied dishes including strozzapreti noodles and chestnut gnocchi.

In Belinda’s Kitchen | Belinda Jeffery | $49.99 | Simon & Schuster

There are several things you can be sure of when cooking with Belinda Jeffery. Her food will be mouthwateringly good, her flavours simple and fresh, and her recipes never fail. A beautiful book of new and classic recipes accompanied by delightful stories of family and friendship.

My First Popsicle | Edited by Zosia Mamet | $19.99 | A&U

Mamet has curated some of the most prominent and diverse voices in art and culture to tackle the topic of food in its elegance, its profundity and its incidental charm. I loved the exploration of the connection between food and life!

Lost in Palm Springs | Greer

Honeywill | $69.99 | Penguin

Developed over three residencies in Palm Springs where she brought together artists, architects, photographers and thinkers, Greer brings us the desert gardens and the beautiful lines of the modernist houses from that post-war era. A stunning, visual feast.

Cult Sando | Jimmy Callaway | $27.99 | Harper Collins

In Japan, you’ll find sando everywhere: on convenience store shelves, Shinkansen menus and even vending machines. Callaway’s passion for sando perfection has assembled the ultimate collection of simple and oishii (delicious) recipes for you to make at home, with a kawaii graphic layout.

Yayoi Kusama | Edited by Doryun Chong and Mika Yoshitake | $90.00 | T&H

Providing a truly comprehensive overview of Kusama and all of her creative endeavours, this book is stunning. Blending essays and photo compilations, I particularly enjoyed her correspondence with Georgia O’Keefe.

Terrain: The Houseplant Book | Melissa Lowrie | $59.99 | Hardie Grant

Terrain’s plant experts travel the world in search of the most unusual and interesting houseplants, from exotic and eclectic ferns, to new aroids to feed that monstera obsession, and adventurous trailing plants, succulents and cacti.

The Kitchen Shelf | Cressida

Campbell | $39.99 | National Gallery of Australia

Twenty beautifully concertinaed pages unravel to reveal a full colour, 1.8-meter reproduction of Campbell’s The Kitchen Shelf. On the other side, a simple line drawing of the work invites you to create your own colour story.

10 COOKING / LIFESTYLE

Lizzy and the Cloud | The Fan Brothers | $24.99 | Allen & Unwin | 3+

Calling all cloud lovers! Did you know that pet clouds require regular watering? Or that overwatering may result in downpours? These are among the Instructions for Cloud Care that Lizzy must learn when she adopts her very own pet cloud, Milo. In this whimsical delight, the Fan Brothers tell an important story about loving and letting go. Lizzy and the Cloud is sure to capture many hearts.

Queenie in Seven Moves | Zanni

Louise | $16.99 | Walker | 10+

Kind Crocodile | Leo Timmers | $17.99 | Walker Books | 1+

In a fun game of chase, the kind crocodile gives shelter to one animal after another on his long green back, scaring away their pursuers... until he can’t stand the weight anymore! A kind crocodile leaves his pond to see the world, in this fresh and playful new board book with a funny twist ending!

Eggs! | Katie Dale and Jenny Lovlie | $12.99 | Nosy Crow | 1+

Can you guess what’s inside these eggs? Lift the card flaps to discover all kinds of baby animals! This book encourages children to count the eggs from one to five, while lifting the sturdy flaps to discover some surprising little creatures that hatch from eggs. The perfect book for Easter!

After a terrible day at school, Queenie’s Mum, Clare, is waiting for her at home with big news, they have to move, in two days, from the only home she’s ever known. Set against the backdrop of a post-pandemic Australian coastal town, go on a journey of discovery with Queenie to find her “new” forever home.

Dorothy | Jordan Collins and Myo Yim | $24.99 | Penguin | 4+

Dorothy wears Doc Martens. Clicking her toes together once, twice, three times, she whispers, ‘Where is my home?’ A captivating and lyrical own-voices picture book exploring homecoming, belonging and identity, with exquisite illustrations capturing the essence of a journey of self-acceptance.

Besties

Canino and Kristina Luu |

Work It Out | Kayla Miller, Jeffrey

$17.99 | Walker Books | 8+

When the girls land a dogsitting gig, they’re sure that fame, fortune and popularity can’t be far behind, but nothing can prepare them for the mishap that throws their business plan – and friendship – into chaos! A fresh and funny graphic novel.

Can You Get Rainbows in Space?

| Dr Sheila Kanani | $32.99 | Penguin | 7+

A beautiful compendium that uses a rainbow to guide you through a world of astonishing scientific facts. Keep reading to discover lots of new facts including why leaves change colour in the autumn and why your veins look blue but your blood is red!

Growing Green | Daniela Sosa | $27.99 | Walker Books | 5+

From strawberries in welly boots to herbs in recycled tin cans, this easy-to-follow gardening book contains 15 simple, edible projects for young gardeners. Learn all you need to grow your own fruit, herbs and vegetables in the space that you have with these fun activities.

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The Isabelle Stories #1: Izzy & Belle | Jane Godwin and Robin Cowcher | $14.99 | Hachette | 6+

Isabelle and Isobel have the same name, but will they be friends? Here are four gentle stories in one volume, all about Isabelle and her world, its trials and triumphs, its small moments and big dramas: friends, family, school life and growing up.

Different for Boys | Patrick Ness | $24.99 | Walker | 14+

The Fix-It Princess | Janeen Brian and Cherie Dignam | $15.99 | Walker Books | 7+

Mum Queen and Dad King happily fly off in the Wing-Thing that Princess Shona made them... but she hasn’t seen them since. Surely she can fix this! A twisty-turny fantasy romp, with heart, humour, do-it-yourself projects and a singing dragon.

Ratbags #1: Naughty for Good | Tim Harris and Shloh Gordon | $14.99 | Penguin | 6+ These are the Ratbags. They have pizza, and they are NOT afraid to use it. From funnyman Tim Harris and illustrator Shloh Gordon comes this stupendously rat-tastic new series. Brace yourself for a rip-roaring ride into the world of the Ratbags. Books 2 & 3 coming soon!

Two

Can Play That Game

Allen & Unwin | 12+

Crookhaven | J. J. Arcanjo | $16.99 | Hachette | 9+

12-year-old Gabriel is a brilliant pickpocket, until one day, he’s caught. But instead of being arrested, he is invited by the mysterious Caspian Crook to attend Crookhaven - a school for future Robin Hoods. Gabriel’s first year at Crookhaven will be one to remember... Can you ever really trust a thief?

| Leanne Yong | $19.99 |

I’ve sensed a sudden expansion of possibility in YA queer fiction. These texts have become a central part of the zeitgeist. How good. Different For Boys is tender, funny, and hard to put down. Bendix’s illustrations add a great sense of atmosphere at times playful and at times a gloomy mess - not unlike adolescence in general. It is assured but humble, wry but sincere. - Jimmy

Better Read Than Dead

265 King Street

Newtown NSW 2042 E books@betterread.com.au

P (+61 2) 9557 8700 W www.betterread.com.au

@betterreadbookshop @betterreadthandead

So, two teen gamers caught up in a competition to prove who’s best, and maybe falling in love along the way? I am obsessed! Leanne Yong has written a completely sweet, funny and meticulous little rom-com that is all about the world of gaming, and as a long-time Sims user, I am here for this. A lovely, nerdy, fabulous book perfect for gamers and non-gamers alike! - Matilda

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

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The books featured in the Better Read Than Dead Spring Reading Guide have all been hand-selected and many have been reviewed by our Better Read Than Dead and Better Read Kids booksellers. Prices, publication information, event dates and event details are correct at time of publication.

12 CATEGORY
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BETTER READ KIDS

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.