Historical fiction Archives

Trapped!

August 20, 2025

Julia Lawrinson, Trapped!, Fremantle Press, June 2025, 208 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760994990 On 19 March 1907, 160 miners […]

adventure, alternate time lines, based on a true story, coal miners, discrimination, Historical fiction, immigrants, Rescues, set in Western Australia, social inequity, Suspense, Verse novel

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Intermediate Readers Reviews Younger Readers

Ming & Maria Explore the Universe (Girls who Changed the World #5)

August 18, 2025

Jackie French, Ming & Maria Explore the Universe (Girls who Changed the World #5), HarperCollins AU, April 2025, 272 pp.,

adventure, Astronomy, book in a series, comets, family, herstory, Historical fiction, Mystery, resilience, time travel, twisty, women in Science

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The Silken Thread

August 6, 2025

Gabrielle Wang, The Silken Thread, Penguin, July 2025, 288 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781761350740 It’s the time of the

cultural diversity, family, following dreams, friendship, Ghosts, Great Depression, highly recommended, Historical fiction, intergenerations, magical realism, overcoming challenges

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Older Readers Reviews

Hey, Zazou!

June 22, 2025

Tony Thompson, Hey, Zazou! Ford Street Publishing, May 2025, 388 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781922696410 Tony Thompson has created

friendships, Historical fiction, jazz music, music, peace, set in Paris, Vichy France, World War II

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Intermediate Readers Reviews Younger Readers

All the Beautiful Things

May 12, 2025

Katrina Nannestad (text) & Martina Heiduczek (illustrator), All the Beautiful Things, ABC Books AU, October 2024, 352 pp., RRP $24.99

bravery, discrimination, family, Historical fiction, Loyalty, persecution, resilience, World War II

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CBCA Short Listed Highly Recommended Intermediate Readers

Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger

April 1, 2025

Jackie French, Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger, Angus & Robertson, December 2024, 320 pp., $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781460763506 It is

2025 notable book, 2025 Short Lists, colonial history, gold rush, Historical fiction, Identity, intermediate readers, migration, moral dilemmas, resilience, survival, Younger Readers

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Intermediate Readers Reviews Younger Readers

Ming & Ada Spark the Digital Age (The Girls who Changed the World #4)

March 2, 2025

Jackie French, Ming & Ada Spark the Digital Age (The Girls Who Changed the World #4), HarperCollins AU, June 2024,

2025 notable book, book in a series, courage and bravery, diseases, friendship, herstory, Historical fiction, history of computers, intermediate readers, Maths, Mystery, resilience, STEM, time travel, Younger Readers

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Intermediate Readers Reviews

Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger

January 31, 2025

Jackie French, Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger, HarperCollins Publishers, December 2024, 320 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781460763506 Jackie French

bravery, bushrangers, Chinese immigrants, colonial history, Coming of age, gold mining, Historical fiction, migration, Racism, set in the 1800s, Trust

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All the Beautiful Things

January 14, 2025

Nannestad, Katrina, All the Beautiful Things, HarperCollins Publishers, October 2024, 352 pp., RRP $22.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780733343148 We first meet Anna and