By Frances Atkinson
It’s been another big year for younger readers, an ever-growing genre. Here are our top kids, middle-grade and YA picks of 2024.
PICTURE BOOKS
Into The Ice: Reflections on Antarctica
Alison Lester, illus Coral Tulloch
(Allen & Unwin)
This is the perfect gateway book to establish a life-long interest in exploration, conservation and wonder. The first-hand accounts by Lester and Tulloch bring to the page the majesty of their shared experiences of Antarctica. From the sea-voyage (Lester gets a tip from a crew member, count the steps from your bunk to the cabin door, just in case the ship turns upside down), to whale sightings to spotting their first iceberg, this richly illustrated book uses a range of mediums to capture the awe-inspiring continent, its fascinating past and fragile future.
Afloat
Kirli Saunders, illus Freya Blackwood
(Little Hare)
The opening page of this story unfolds on the bountiful banks of a gently flowing river as an elderly woman and boy wade knee-deep while an array of wildlife looks on. But with every passing page, nature recedes, and the devastating impacts of climate change make themselvesknown. Sombre but hopeful tale that uses water and weaving as metaphors for celebrating the age-old practice of passing along First Nations wisdom.
Words That Taste Like Home
Sandhya Parappukkaran, Michelle Pereira
(Bright Light)
Rohan and his Muthassi share a special bond – while they make mango pickle, he listens to his grandmother’s stories in her native tongue. When Rohan and his family suddenly move to another country, he learns a completely different language and with every new word, his connection with his Muthassi grows weaker. This is a joyously illustrated picture book about the importance of preserving language and cultural connection.
The Glass Horse of Venice
Arnold Zable, illus Anita Lester
(Text)
Every morning on her way to school, Claudia is distracted by the beauty of the glassblower’s workshop and his delicate menagerie majestically displayed in the window. Touched by her admiration, the glassblower gives her a tiny horse with broken wings. Although it’s not as beautiful as all the other sparkling animals, it captures her imagination and in a time of need, transports her to a place beyond time. Set in Venice, Zable’s first picture book is wildly imaginative and beautifully rendered, thanks to Lester’s captivating illustrations.
Australia’s Baby Animals
Jess Racklyeft
(Affirm Press)
This book is chock-full of cute critters and handy information (do you know what a biome is?) and terms (nestlings, fledglings, nymphs and puggles) for the next generation of David Attenboroughs. From the familiar (echidnas, kangaroos and wombats) to the not-so (woylies, nudibranchs and pobblebonks), the information is presented in an easily digestible and non-overwhelming style, accompanied by Racklyeft’s delightful watercolour illustrations (she even makes a huntsman look cute).
YOUNGER READERS
The Ghosts of the Manor (Lockett & Wilde’s Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries, Book 1)
Lucy Strange, illus. Pam Smy
(Walker Books)
No one writes spooky, cosy adventures quite like Lucy Strange. Her latest, teeming with evocative illustrations by Pam Smy, charts the misadventures of Matilda Lockett, a girl who makes a dodgy living scamming audiences, pretending to be a ghost from beyond. Witty, atmospheric and perfect for young readers who enjoy chills with their thrills.
Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria
L.M Wilkinson, illus. Lavanya Naidu
(Albert Street Books)
This delightful, beautifully illustrated adventure about bravery, friendship and Titch, the smallest mouse on the Plateau, is like The Hobbit meets Stuart Little. She has a warrior’s heart that yearns for adventure, just like her hero, the legendary Bravepaw. But Titch’s Mum wants her spirited mouseling to put aside her wooden sword and be a responsible member of their hard-working community. That decision is taken out of Titch’s paws when danger threatens everything she holds dear.
Read at Your Own Risk
Remy Lai
(Allen & Unwin)
When Hannah and her classmates sneak into the library attic and play a game, a spirit is unleashed, and Hannah finds herself hexed by an ancient evil. So aside from juggling schoolwork, concerned parents and a talking journal, Hannah must find a way to break the curse. A deliciously quirky story, paired with vivid illustrations (including splatters of blood) for readers who don’t mind a touch of gore at bedtime.
Big Trouble with Angry Chairs
Lachlann Carter, Douglas Holgate
(Hardie Grant)
Not much happens in Dead End Street, so Clare, Maddie and their feathered friend Terrible Chicken must make their own fun, which includes the annual Roller-Chair Crash Derby. Everyone (miraculously) survives the event, except the chairs. Outraged by years of careless abuse, they unite and fight back. The pace is furious, so are the laughs, and Holgate’s illustrations are both sublime and ridiculous.
Midwatch
Judith Rossell
(Hardie Grant)
Maggie Fishbone is an unwanted girl. As a newborn baby, she was left on the doorstep of a small-town orphanage. Now a tween and deemed useless and unmanageable, Maggie’s sent to the imposing Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways and Unwanted Girls. Under the single eye of the director ,Miss Mandelay (she sports a patch), Maggie swaps a life of potential drudgery for the exciting world of espionage. Absolutely winning adventure tale brimming with awe-inspiring characters.
YOUNG ADULT
A Way Home
Emily Brewin
(Midnight Sun)
Three pages in, and I was heavily invested in the wellbeing of Grace, a 16-year-old homeless girl (and outstanding pianist), struggling to survive a Melbourne winter. If only that were the least of her problems, aside from “living” under a bridge: Grace’s mother is in a mental health facility, and her Dad has been emotionally and physically absent. Brewin skilfully and sensitively tackles social issues and delivers a hopeful, powerful story about resilience, and the power of kindness over judgment.
The Sweetness Between Us
Sarah Winifred Searle
(Allen&Unwin)
You won’t find Wohoa Maine on any map, which is a bit of a shame. The fictional small town is home to a refreshingly diverse cast of characters, including Amandine, a teen goth adjusting to her new life as a vampire, and Perley, who’s wrestling with a recent diabetes diagnosis. They bond over joint struggles to navigate their “new normal” and find a potentially problematic way to help each other out; Perley shares a small amount of her blood and Amandine gives her semi-accurate sugar readings. The book celebrates diversity – and thanks to Searle’s skill as a graphic novelist, characters are nuanced and memorable.
Comes The Night
Isobelle Carmody
(Allen&Unwin)
It’s 2070 and due to hostile weather brought on by climate change, the good people of Canberra are living in a protective dome. Sixteen-year-old Will is grieving the death of his favourite uncle, Adam, his parents’ recent separation, and terrifying nightmares. His off-the-chart-smart bestie Ender thinks Will is attracted to chaos, and she might be right. This is Carmody’s first book in nearly a decade and fans and newbies alike will enjoy inhaling this whip-smart, twisty conspiracy thriller.
The Skin I’m In
Steph Tisdell
(PanMacmillan)
It only takes a handful of pages to get drawn into Tisdell’s hard-hitting story about 17-year-old Layla and her struggles as her life begins to unravel over the course of 12 short months. She’s academically gifted and driven but ground down by racist taunts and attitudes by supposed friends. The more she learns about her culture, the more Layla questions why the world is like this. A bold, authentic voice that’s as compelling as it is unique.
Anomaly
Emma Lord
(Affirm Press)
The internet’s a thing of the past, phones don’t work, and a terrifying enemy called the Reapers threaten anyone lucky enough to have survived a virus that has decimated the planet. But Piper Manning and her beloved dog Griff have a knack for staying alive, despite constant (and frankly, terrifying) attempts to cut their lives short. Lord’s first book is an utterly gripping survival story that will have you turning pages well into the night.
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