Reviewer Renee Mihulka shares her picks for 2017…
How to Bee – Bren MacDibble
This middle-grade book is quirky and beautifully written. It explores deep themes such as class difference, phobia and family with hope and loads of heart.
Book Scavenger – Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
This is the first in a middle-grade series about a girl who loves books and solving puzzles. My 10-year-old daughter devoured it and begged for the next one which was published this year. The story is fun, filled with puzzles and a mystery, but best of all you too can become a Book Scavenger once you’ve read it!
(link to Booktopia via image)
Singing my Sister Down – Margo Lanagan
This book should be compulsory reading for every senior school student. It is a masterclass in short story writing. Edgy, uncomfortable but unputdownable.
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
When a book is on the Times Bestsellers list for weeks on end it’s usually a sign that the story is something special. Written in response to the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, this is a book bursting with heart and meaning but most importantly it’s a great story, written really well.
A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness
Although this middle-grade book has been around for a while and the movie was released last year, if you haven’t read it, do. It explores grief and terminal illness in a unique, sophisticated and relatable way.
Meet reviewer Renee Mihulka…
