AustLit

'A gripping story of one Australian boy's experience of devastating drought.

'A few kookaburras laugh in the gum trees. Alex grins – they don't often come up this far. His grandpa told him that if kookaburras laugh late in the afternoon, it will rain next day. 'Ha, someone needs to tell the rain to listen, hey Tangi?' She grins at him like it's a good joke. Alex wishes it was just a joke.

'Thirteen-year-old Alex lives on a drought-affected property in South Australia with his mum, his dad, his kelpie dog Tangi and colt, Jago. When he meets his new next-door neighbour, Bonnie, he is grateful to make a new friend and fascinated by the camels her family has brought to the farm..

'For years it hasn't rained enough for them to put a crop in. And while all the farmers in the area are suffering, Alex's dad is struggling more than most. It's nearly winter and the paddocks are still brown. But when Bonnie comes over to visit and cook with him, Alex feels lighter inside. And his mum loosens up a bit as well. 

'As the drought stretches on, Alex must help his mum with the farm work, and draw wisdom and strength from his support networks so he can find a way into a brighter future.

'This inspiring Australian Disaster Zones series is a powerful and contemporary reminder of the effects of natural disasters and the ever-increasing threat of climate change to our vast and volatile continent. ' (Publication summary)

'Pepper Masalah adventure series is based on a black cat called Pepper Masalah, a nine-year-old boy called Zamir and a flying carpet.

'Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zamir’s grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and when coming to Australia she brought with her an ancient carpet.

'A charming story about the importance of family and caring for those in need. Readers who loved the magic and playfulness of the bestselling Tashi series, will also love Pepper and her friend Zam.

'With her usual flair, Rosanne Hawke blends culture, legend, and history throughout her stories, as Pepper and Zamir are whisked off together on adventures around the globe.

'The concept has broad appeal: mystery, adventure, travel, exotica, and three very memorable characters: Pepper Masalah, Zam and the Flying Carpet.' (Publication summary) 

'Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zam’s grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She is the only one who believes the carpet can fly and will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasn’t flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first and can’t find its bearings. Thus, it lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir where Pepper Masalah, the cat and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

'In the 2nd book, Pepper Masalah and the Temple of Cats the flying carpet lands in the River Nile in Ancient Egypt. They have a clash with a crocodile and the carpet floats away on the Nile. Pepper and Zam are taken to a temple full of cats by a girl called Tabir. Pepper is in danger again as she is so special people want to make her into a mummy. Pepper tries her best to escape and Zam manages to climb the wall of the temple to help her. Sebu, the temple attendant wants the carpet and Pepper for himself. Pepper wants to save the cats and herd them to the granaries where there is a plague of mice.' (Publication summary)

'In Flying Blind, musical 15-year-old Essie is missing her dad; her friend at school is treating her strangely and a new boy with an army of siblings moves into their coastal town from the Outback. 

'If this isn’t enough to deal with, a junior lifesaver sweeps her out of the sea when she’s hightailing it to the shore after sighting a fin. It was a dolphin after all, so she wasn’t really in trouble. 

'Does that mean he likes her? 

'Sometimes searching for significance and trying to fit in will lead to blind loyalties before we can recognise our true friends.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

''Fozia noticed smoke from the chimney curling to the sky. The brick kiln was working again but she didn't want to go there. She couldn't let the kiln owner see her.'

'Twelve-year-old Fozia has survived the worst flood in Pakistan's history. But her life will never be the same. With her little sister gone and her parents missing, Fozia now lives with Jehan's family in a new village, hoping that one day she will see her family again. But after returning to her old home and coming face to face with the brick-kiln owner, Fozia realises there is much more at stake if she's made to pay back her family's debt to the owner.

'To escape her new reality, Fozia tells her friends a fairytale about Prince Zal. He rides a magic carpet on a quest to find his little sister, battling leopards and hidden serpents along the way. But can Prince Zal succeed in his quest if the truth behind Fozia's story is revealed?' (Publication summary)

'In the snow-capped Himalayan Mountains, monkeys flitted from tree to tree and fish shone silver in the stream. Hidden there lived a beast that villagers rarely saw: the Ghost of the Forest.

'Once, the slave girl Chandani lived near the mysterious forest, dreaming of kindness. Her work was never done or good enough for her mistress. She longed for her home and family. Then she discovered the Ghost of the Forest and her world changed forever.

'A heartfelt fable of friendship and courage, Chandani and the Ghost of the Forest reminds us that hope can be found even in dark places.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Sixteen-year-old Liana Bedford lives in constant fear. Political tensions in Pakistan are rising and terrorist attacks are becoming an everyday norm. As a Pakistani-Australian, she could be the next target. When her school friends are taken hostage by terrorists, Liana's world disappears overnight. Alongside her new teacher, Mr Kimberley, she must journey through rural Pakistan in a bid to find them and bring them home. But Mr Kimberley has a secret, and to save him and her friends, Liana must overcome her fears. And dance for her life. An unforgettable story about one Pakistani-Australian's will to survive. Liana's Dance is a stand alone novel from Rosanne Hawke, inspired by a character from Rosanne's Beyond Borders series.' 

Jehan closed his eyes to pray, then opened them again. It wasn’t a dream. The water was still there – the biggest flood he had seen in his life. 

'For nine-year-old Jehan, life in Pakistan is just as it should be. He attends school, plays cricket with his little brother and fetches water for his family. But when the monsoon unleashes a catastrophic flood, Jehan is swept away from his village and becomes trapped in a tree. 

'Jehan stays alive by rescuing things from the floodwater, but as the days pass with no sign of help, Jehan starts to despair. Will he ever see his family again? 

'Then Jehan rescues a dog and he is no longer alone. But why does the dog keep swimming away? Where is she going? 

'Eventually, Jehan must follow the lost dog into the floodwater. But will the dog’s quest lead them to safety? Or to more danger? 

'Sensitively told, this important story brings home the horrific reality of natural disasters on the lives of children, families and communities around the world, but celebrates need for hope, kindness and resilience that these situations inspire in their aftermath. ' (Publication summary)
 

'After finding her place with the nomads, fourteen-year-old Jahani feels like she finally belongs although she is constantly missing her protector Azhar. With her red hair dyed black, she is safely hidden from the tyrants and war lords who have relentlessly pursued her in their quest to rule the Mughal Empire's northern kingdoms. But after an attack on the nomad camp, Jahani's world is again turned upside down. Soon she is fleeing with the nomad prince Rahul. Will their journey to the Qurraqorum Mountains lead Jahani to danger or to her destiny?"' (Publication summary)

'First moon of summer, 1662: On the edge of the Mughal Empire, fourteen-year-old Jahani lives with her mother in the village of Sherwan. Surrounded by the majestic snow-topped mountains, her life is happy but simple; Jahani enjoys spending time with her best friend Sameela who is about to be married. So why is Jahani plagued by dreams of fire and a child who has lost her mother? And why does she feel like she doesn't belong?

'After Jahani and Sameela are attacked in the bazaar, Jahani discovers all is not as it seems. Before long, Jahani is fleeing on a warhorse with the mysterious protector Azhar. Surrounded by deceit and danger, Jahani does not know who to trust as Azhar leads her higher north over treacherous terrain towards the fabled Qurraqoram Mountains. But when they reach their destination, will Jahani find out the truth and be in control of her own destiny?' (Publication summary)

'Everything changes for Aster the night her brother dies. Suddenly she's the only hope of the family, and instead of an early marriage to a boy from her small village in Pakistan, her parents decide to send her to the government high school in her brother's place. Aster is excited about this unexpected opportunity for a career, but, as a Christian, she is unprepared her for the difficulties of attending a Muslim school: her fellow students are far from welcoming and one of her teachers takes an instant dislike to her. One day, she is accused of intentionally making a spelling mistake to insult the holy prophet. Her teacher is incensed and accuses her of blasphemy. A violent crowd forms outside the school and Aster is taken to jail to be tried at a later date.

'A young social justice lawyer takes up her case, and Aster's Australian cousin, Maryam, starts an online campaign to free Aster. But will it be enough to save her?' (Publication summary)

'Kerenza isn’t sure about leaving her village in Cornwall and taking a ship to Australia, but she can be brave for her da’s sake. Where he sees a farm, she and her mam see endless bush and flies — millions of them — and hard work from dawn to dusk.

'It’s almost too much to bear, but the Mallee has its own beauty, and family and new-found friends might just make it her home.' (Publication summary)

'A beautifully written story of love, adversity and adventure from award-winning author Rosanne Hawke.

'When eight-year-old Kelsey goes to Pakistan so her mum and dad can help flood victims, she's miserable. It means missing out on the fun she had planned with her friends – including her birthday party.

'To ease her homesickness, Kelsey talks to her nanna on Skype. Together they create a story about a porcelain doll that nanna sends from Australia. As Kelsey waits for the doll to arrive they imagine the doll's adventures across Pakistan.

'With her new friend Shakila, Kelsey learns more about her new country and the people who live there.

'But how will the doll's quest end? Will Kelsey ever receive her nanna's gift?' (Publication abstract)

'Get your heart racing in this gripping thriller from Rosanne Hawke - the conclusion to a high-octane trilogy.

'Joel Billings is in trouble...again. After being threatened by his jailbird father, Joel is packed off to a sleepy beachside town for a holiday with his biker foster dad, Dev. Only when a monster ute runs them off the road does Joel begin to suspect that all is not as it seems.

'Who is driving the killer ute? And why are they after Joel?

'As danger mounts, Joel and Dev are forced further into hiding. But a killer ute isn't all Joel has to fear. Will Dev still want to be his dad even though he's a magnet for trouble?

'This exhilarating action-adventure is the third and final in a trilogy for middle-reader boys, which began with The Keeper and Sailmaker.' (Publisher's blurb)