Neverlanders 2: Get Lost

Neverlanders 2: Get Lost. Tom Taylor. Illustrated by Jon Sommariva. Paperback Middle-Grade Graphic Novel. Penguin Random House, 2026. RRP $22.99. ISBN 9781761049118.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Against all odds, Bee and the new Lost Ones have managed to save Neverland. They’ve defeated a gang of pirates, banished the villain Peter Pan, and defended the world’s magic. It seems that all that’s left is to relax in paradise…but maybe not! 

When a mystery rot is discovered at the edge of the island, fun and games come to a crashing halt. The Lost Ones have to face the possibility that the magic tree, which is the source of Neverland’s power, may be dying. When Justin, whose life was saved by the tree, becomes ill, they set sail in Hook’s ship on a daring new quest to find a cure. But before that, they need to seek the assistance of an old friend from Neverland: Wendy Darling. Her own history with the island is as famous as it is complicated. Now with the life of one of their own members and the fate of their newfound home on the line, the gang of perpetual youths might need more than faith, trust and pixie dust to survive.

This book was created by a duo who have brought to life some of the most iconic characters from the past: the Avengers, Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, the Suicide Squad, and more. Heavily illustrated in comic-book style, there’s a lot to take in on each page.

The publisher recommends a readership level of 10+ years.

Our Dark Unravelling

Our Dark Unravelling by Margot McGovern (Penguin Random House) RRP: $24.99 ISBN 9781761346309

Reviewed by Rebecca Fung

Our Dark Unravelling is a YA ghost story that explores the dark side of relationships and grief. It's told from the viewpoints of the two main female characters - Lyssa and George.

Lyssa and George are dormmates at school, but not terribly close. Lyssa's boyfriend, Jude, dies in an accident and she's distraught - but as well as dealing with her grief, she must deal with some strange revelations that surface. For example, George had previously had a relationship with Jude. Why did Jude and George keep this a secret from her?

The story opens with a prologue that hints at dark magic. The story sometimes felt like it was set in a real world where the supernatural only existed in games and toys, and then later, where it was very real. I was a little confused about how McGovern was building the world and how supernatural she intended it to be.

Jude was clearly a charming but toxic male character from the beginning - what seems to be a popular sort of villain. He reminded me of Andrew in Freida McFadden's The Housemaid. The effect on the women in this situation is predictable: it causes conflict in their relationship, but ultimately makes them both stronger and brings them closer as they fight against a man's control.

The way both women dealt with grief was compellingly written and the real substance of the story, and of the horror. It explores control and power imbalances in a relationship. Jude attempts to influence George and Lyssa's lives from beyond the grave. It also looks at how grief can make someone lose control - especially Lyssa and her grip on reality. Either way, it's a frightening look at what people might do when feeling so lost.

Our Dark Unravelling demonstrates strong female characters who find themselves feeling less than strong haunted by this man and explores how they help each other and draw on their strength. Teens may find it comforting and useful to read about strong characters involved in situations and experiencing emotions they can relate to.

Harriet and Will: The Secret Gold

Harriet and Will: The Secret Gold by Debra Clewers (Lilly Pilly Grace Publishing)

In July 2026, I released an updated version of my Middle-Grade time-slip historical fiction novel Harriet and the Secret Coins, originally released in 2019. Now renamed Harriet and Will: The Secret Gold, with fresh editing, shorter chapters, and a new cover, this adventure is set in NSW and Victoria.

While on a school gold rush excursion, 11-year-old Harriet Cooper and her best friend, Will Taylor, are drawn to an old red phone booth, restored to play stories of the goldfields in return for a historic coin. The phone booth appears in the museum grounds of each location the children visit. But they discover much more and end up time-travelling to each of the three Australian historical gold rush locations, gathering information for their upcoming school history project.

When Harriet discovers some old gold coins at one museum and a nugget at a gold mine museum site, she is excited. Both the coins and the nugget have been missing for over 100 years, and the gold would help to pay off her parents’ house. But a tough teacher and assistant principal may not allow her to keep both, believing she is not entitled to them.  Along the way, Harriet’s personal bully tries to block Harriet’s claims and keep the gold for herself.

With the assistance of their red dragon friend, Gruffyd, the two become involved in drama galore, from riots to threatening miners, tough teachers and more. It seems Harriet might lose her claim to ownership, and she and Will seek justice. Help comes in the form of a second protective dragon, who reminds Harriet that the gold nugget, called Da Jin Shi, is really her property now and something disastrous will befall anyone else who tries to claim it. 

Will Harriet get to keep the gold, or will it have to be returned to the sites where the coins and nugget were discovered?

The sites mentioned in the story are real locations, all of which my husband and I visited and researched. We had great fun researching at the time and learned a great deal of interesting historical facts along the way. The book has been shared in the current SCWBI Australia East newsletter.

Somewhere You Can Dream

Somewhere You Can Dream by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper. RRP AUD $24.99 ISBN: 9781761181764

From the smallest cubby to the highest hilltop, this heartwarming, read-aloud picture book is all about finding your own special place in the world. From award-winning creators Janeen Brian and Hilary Jean Tapper.

Do you love shadowy secret nooks or cosy hideaways?
Leafy, shady trees or sheltered, rocky bays?
Do you love comfy little cubbies or tree forts way up tall? 
Or spaces behind places where you can curl up small?

A beautiful, lyrical story that asks readers to consider where in the world they feel most at home, exploring safe spaces and cosy feelings, self-awareness and belonging. Perfect for reading at bedtime, with glorious illustrations by award-winning illustrator Hilary Jean Tapper.

Literally Hilarious! Families Gone Wild

Literally Hilarious! Families Gone Wild by Just Write For Kids Australia and Friends (Daisy Lane Publishing), RRP $17.99 Junior Fiction ISBN 9-781763-670082

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Opening my beautifully gift-wrapped copy of Literally Hilarious! Families Gone Wild was truly like receiving a box of chocolates. I expected a collection of funny junior-fiction short stories: the book certainly had those, but it also included nuggets of poems, limericks, quizzes, and jokes interspersed between the wacky tales. It even had a couple of pages where my daughter could draw her own take on kooky family portraits! At just 1000 words per story, in large type with fun illustrations, it was the perfect book for my son to whiz through his bedtime reading obligations and still get a laugh.

From serving spaghetti on a hoverboard under flashing disco lights, to hurdling fences to escape a raging bull, to playing hockey with scones gone wrong, the delightfully ludicrous stories kept us guessing with every page turn. The pirate limericks gave me a great incentive to search online for more limericks, which led my kids to make up their own. Verse such as:

“At breakfast Tommy spilled his milk, and dipped his toast in juice,

He licked his sister’s scrambled eggs when she called him a goose”

took me back to my childhood, reading Spike Milligan and searching my bookshelf for my dog-eared copy of Silly Verse for Kids. And despite Literally Hilarious! being made-up stories for kids, I found myself as the real-life parent in the story “Nothing in Particular,” with the too-true everyday experience of serving up scrambled nothings and packing lunchboxes full of nothingness.

Overall, this book shouldn't be exclusive to junior fiction readers; older kids and adults who enjoy ridiculousness and a healthy dose of chuckles should enjoy it too.

Harriet & Will: The Secret Gold

Harriet & Will: The Secret Gold by Debra Clewer (Lilly Pilly Grace Publications) MG AU$13.95 ISBN 978-0-6455168-4-5

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Follow the further adventures of Harriet and Will as they travel through time in another middle-grade time-slip novel by Debra Clewer.

Harriet and her best friend Will set out on their school excursion to learn about the Australian gold rush. They visit three different locations where, at each spot, they come across an old red phone booth. And for the cost of a penny, the phone booth plays gold rush stories. Being the history buff that Harriet is, she goes into the booth to listen, but a mysterious portal takes her to the actual gold rush, where she discovers much more than gold.

Harriet’s family are having some money troubles, so Harriet jokes to her mother that she’ll find them some gold. Together, Harriet and Will discover gold sovereigns and a gold nugget that’s been lost for 100 years! But will she be allowed to keep them? And how will she address the interfering bully in her life? Perhaps a little magic from an old dragon friend could do the trick!

This story introduces young readers to the significant role and contribution the Chinese played in Australian history, and the impact the gold rush had on the country's growth and development.

In the same vein as Debra Clewer’s previous Harriet and Will book, The Secret Rings, the short chapters make it an easy read for young readers of around 8-10 who are into magic, fantasy and dragons, and maybe a touch of history.

The author has developed activity sheets, a colouring picture and a word search that parents or carers can download from her website. And for anyone who purchases the paperback version from the author’s website, an embellished bookmark with the cutest little coin is included. Will the coin bring the reader the same luck as Harriet?

Literally Hilarious! – Families Gone Wild

There’s a new collection of stories, poems, jokes and activities for children presented by Daisy Lane Seeds & Just Write for Kids Australia | 22 August 2026 | $17.99 | Original paperback A5 | ISBN 9781763670082 | Ages 6 - 9

 Created by a sensational community of talented authors and illustrators,

 Literally Hilarious! – Families Gone Wild

is a bumper collection of hilarious family short

stories, poems, jokes and other fun activities!

              You’ll find the FUNNIEST,

              MOST EMBARRASSING,

              yet purely HEARTWARMING tales to  literally keep your eyes peeled and your

              ribs cracking for hours!

              Families will go WILD for this anthology!

Key Features:

·        This interactive, illustrated book for junior

              fiction readers includes short chapters,

              engaging language, easy readability, and

              lots of lively action!

·        Each story contains its own unique QR code to take readers to a dedicated website loaded with activities, games and teachable moments.

·        The stories encourage reflection, discussion, and appreciation of their own and other kinds of families, whilst finding the humour in everyday life.

·        A percentage of sales proceeds is donated to The Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

·        With a foreword and short story by NY Times #1 Bestselling Author Adam Wallace.

Anthology Contributors:

Adam Wallace – Ali Rutstein – Andrew Macintosh – Angela Toniolo – Antonia Ridge – Ayla Cohen – Dannielle Viera – Debra Tidball –

Dianne Bates – Di Scotte – Jacinta Lou – Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern –

Jason Secker – Jennifer Horn – Jeremy Kalbstein – Kelly Louise Jarris – Kirsten Temple – Laura Young – Lellie Lopter – Marg Gibbs –

Mietta Postlethwaite – Norah Colvin – Olivia Coates – Rachael Robertson – Rachel Bell – Rebecca Fraser – Romi Sharp – Steve Heron

Praise for the anthology:

“So many funny stories that I’m sure will inspire comments like, “That’s just like my dad!”, “My mum says that all the time!”, and “My uncle's beard is even weirder than Steve’s!”

“Even though there are no triplets, pet geese or robot dogs in my family, I could still relate to every single side-splitting story!”

“This book is jam-packed with family stories that are short, sharp and very funny!”

“Interactive fun for the whole family!”

DAVID LAWRENCE, AUTHOR & INDIGENOUS LITERACY FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR

“SO much fun to read! Kids will love it!”

CAMERON MACINTOSH, CHILDREN’S AUTHOR