BOLD GIRLS

Set against the backdrop of the twentieth century in the early years of aviation, this is the story of Amelia Earhart; the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Inspiring and dynamic, Kim Moldofsky creates a narrative that includes historical information blended with insights into the different stages of Amelia Earhart’s life.

Sometimes it’s hard to be quiet and sit still. Abigail is not having a good day in school. She wants to fidget and draw and play, and instead she just gets in trouble. When she sees all her friends trying different musical instruments, she feels overwhelmed and left out. That’s when her voice gets LOUD! But Miss Butler sees Abigail’s voice as a talent, not a problem, and by the end of the story, Abigail gets to shine.

Authors Melissa Cummings-Quarry and Natalie A. Carter know that growing up as a girl is often difficult, but growing up as a Black girl can be much more challenging. Grown, their carefully curated and lovingly crafted guide, is an educational and fun book aimed at teaching young Black girls (and other girls of colour) how to navigate the different challenges they may face.

Stargazing for Beginners is the fifth novel by teen fiction author Jenny McLachlan. In her latest work 15-year-old space enthusiast Meg likes her life ordered, in contrast to her free-spirited mother Alice. Things take a chaotic turn when Alice decides to unexpectedly hop a plane to Myanmar on one of her ‘save the world’ missions, leaving Meg for ten days to fend for herself while taking care of her infant sister Elsa.

An atmospheric and strikingly lyrical fantasy tale that draws inspiration from a variety of mythologies in an allegorical exploration of humankind’s destruction of nature. Lovett tells the story of twelve-year-old Boudicca Moriarty, who must move to her grandparents’ farm in Ireland following the mysterious disappearance of her mother. There, under the careful watch of a wild hare, Boudicca discovers the ancient realm of the Ullauns and realises her fate to become one of the Ullaunites, a band of child warriors defending nature from villain Mustela and his evil army.

From its opening acknowledgements and introduction, this book draws you in and demands that you take notice of every word. Part memoir, part poetry, part polemic of the life she was forced to live, Rosaleen McDonagh’s extraordinary debut is a rich and complex portrayal of one woman’s life in modern Ireland.

Fizzy and her Mum are about to wind down, eat supper and head to bed one Tuesday evening. But Fizzy begins to root through her dress up box to find the perfect outfit for Mrs Crumbleboom’s party next door. While her Mum needs some convincing, the two head over to the party and enjoy lots of treats, rock music, and exploring Mrs Crumbleboom’s house. Mum brings Fizzy back home before they can see the fireworks, but a compromise is made when they make a blanket fort and watch the fireworks from the window together.

Angie Thomas’s début novel is warm, empathic and timely. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is the story of a young woman coming of age in two worlds, the warm yet troubled community she was raised in and that of the largely white private school she attends. When she witnesses her unarmed friend Khalil shot and killed by a police officer, Starr finds herself at a crossroads. Should she remain silent and keep safe as tensions escalate? Or should she speak out against racism and police corruption?