The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal, ARA Historical Prize Winner

The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal, ARA Historical Prize Winner The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal (HarperCollins Australia) has just won the 2025 ARA Historical Prize – children’s/young adult book. This comparatively new award showcases historical novels where “most of the narrative takes place at least 50 years ago.” Mark Macleod, Chair of […]

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Music Camp by Penny Tangey

Music Camp by Penny Tangey UQP Guest author post by Penny Tangey for ‘Joy in Books’ at Paperbark Words In Grade 5 I attended an interschool music camp and had the time of my life. I made new friends, laughed, broke rules and played music. Later, I went to other music camps and had intense, […]

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The Midwatch by Judith Rossell

The Midwatch by Judith Rossell Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Author Interview with Judith Rossell about The Midwatch ‘Miss Mandelay says we should all learn as many useful things as we possibly can,’ said Harriet, ‘so we’re ready.’ ‘Holy mackerel. Ready for what?’ asked Maggie. Harriet took a bite and said with her mouth full, ‘Ready […]

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Brave in Every Which Way by Maddy Mara

Brave in Every Which Way by Maddy Mara ill. Lauren Degraaf Published by Affirm Press Author Interview with Maddy Mara Congratulations on the publication of your important, affirming picture book, Brave in Every Which Way, Maddy Mara, and thank you for speaking with Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords. Guest Author Post by Maddy Mara about Brave Every Which Way Maddy […]

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Paper-flower Girl written by Margrete Lamond, illustrated by Mateja Jager

Paper-flower Girl written by Margrete Lamond, illustrated by Mateja Jager Published by Dirt Lane Press, WestWords Inside the CBCA Shortlist   Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 Notable Books Paper-flower Girl is an HONOUR BOOK in the CBCA 2024 Picture Book of the Year category. “Up there the Paper-flower Girl. She speeds. She cuts. […]

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The Edge of Limits by SJ Gervay

Guest Post about The Edge of Limits by Susanne Gervay for PaperbarkWords blog Susanne Gervay writes important, ground-breaking books. Her new YA novel The Edge of Limits is hard-hitting and enlightening about a number of issues, particularly that of consent. Timely indeed. The Edge of Limits cements Susanne’s position as one of our leading agitators […]

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How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald

How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald An exciting and entertaining new voice, children’s author Carla Fitzgerald writes about her timely, funny and thoughtful debut novel How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five (University of Queensland Press) for ‘Joy in Books’ at PaperbarkWords: How to be Prime Minister […]

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