Reviewed by Wendy Lipke This hard covered children’s picture book, Come Home, Bigibila, is presented by First Nations literary creators and is the story about a young echidna. The reader is told that Bigibila, is the Gamilaraay word for echidna and that it is the totem animal for one of the authors, Corey Tutt. Every
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Comics are a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. Comics and graphic novels are increasingly recognised as a legitimate, sophisticated form of literature in Australia, and not just for collectors or those with reduced reading skills. They are acknowledged for their unique
Reviewed by Rod McLary This new novel by Tom Rob Smith has been described as an ‘epic queer love story’ and that is exactly what it is. A story which spans twenty years and describes the love between Danny and Luis from its beginning in London 1992 through to London 2012. But the narrative extends
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders The world, Dom Thurbon tells us, is beset by lies, so how do we make truth happen? This very readable book, falling somewhere between self-improvement and philosophy, is a passionate defence of truth. The book is in two parts. The first explains why truth matters. The second, larger, part focuses on
Reviewed by Rod McLary In mid-1942, Sydney was attacked by Japanese submarines and it was the first time that the city had been attacked by enemy forces. While some damage and deaths occurred, the psychological impact of the people of Sydney was far greater. It was a city under siege and full of American servicemen
Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve Human beings are complex and mysterious but the famous twentieth century poet, Sylvia Plath remains an enigmatic figure to this day. She has inspired at least forty books which explore her work and tragic life so it is with great interest this new book, a remarkable work of imagination, by Helen
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Nerds vs Aliens is a story written for both reluctant and confident upper primary school readers seeking a funny, quick, entertaining read. It will especially interest young readers who love alien adventures and saving-the-world stories. It has been written by Australian author, Barry Jonsberg, and is set in Queensland. He has
The mischievously misleading title might suggest a podiatrist’s handbook but this is more than cautionary advice from a professional. While there are brief mentions of the value of Birkenstocks, importance of abandoning glamour and high heels and the benefits of taking good care of feet, the book is an entertaining guide to facing the latter
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Kate Thompson is the beloved author of The Little Wartime Library and The Wartime Book Club. Her 100 libraries project celebrates the rich and complex work of librarians and their vital role in our communities. For her, stories are living, breathing things. They have a heartbeat. They deserve to be nurtured
Reviewed by Rod McLary Detective Inspectors Georgie Lennox and Richard Stewart from Police Scotland return in this new crime thriller set in the Scottish Highlands. It is indeed an atmospheric and bleak narrative. While it is a stand-alone novel, there are a number of references back to The Wolf Tree – the author’s debut novel
Reviewed by Ian Lipke The Menzies Legacy is a stimulating book in that it considers the important question of Menzies’ place in the historical record. It interprets whether Menzies led Australia for over half the decade … [with a] reputation for stability and continuity … opposed to everything we commonly associate with the 1960s”. He
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke With the title of this book, Life Drawing, sharing the cover with the back view of a naked woman, one might assume that this book is about that aspect of art. However, this debut novel by Emily Lighezzolo is at heart a love story. Set in Brisbane with the main characters
Reviewed by Rod McLary Set in Cottesloe Beach and surrounds in Western Australia, this novel could not take place in a more beautiful setting but the storyline is at odds with the setting. The Shark is about a serial killer who targets teenage girls and the two teenage girls who are determined to track him
Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Since finishing the last book in the Harry Potter stories in 2007, J K Rowling has gone on to release many companion books. The latest additions to the wizarding world are the ‘Pocket Potter’ series. The first three books in the series were published in 2025 and featured Harry Potter, Ron
Reviewed by Clare Brook While completing a BA in Modern Languages at the University of Leeds, Joanna Lillis studied Russian, before the collapse of the USSR, in the Soviet republics of Belorussia and Ukraine. Lillis also has an MA in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Bradford. Her career has been spent in Central