Cirrus@Austlit

'Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story.

'Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he’s ever known. Now Sam’s trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he’s caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing -- each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie.

'But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Bronte Mettlestone's parents ran away to have adventures leaving her to be raised by her Aunt Isabelle and the Butler. She's had a perfectly pleasant childhood of afternoon teas and riding lessons—and no adventures, thank you very much. But Bronte's parents have left extremely detailed (and bossy) instructions in their will. She is to travel the kingdoms and empires, perfectly alone, delivering special gifts to her ten other aunts.

'There is a farmer aunt who owns an orange orchard and a veterinarian aunt who specialises in dragon care, a pair of aunts who captain a cruise ship together and a former rock-star aunt who is now the reigning monarch of a small kingdom. Now, armed with only her parents' instructions, a chest full of strange gifts and her own strong will, Bronte must journey forth to face dragons, Chief Detectives and pirates—and the gathering suspicion that there might be something more to her extremely inconvenient quest than meets the eye . . .'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In this sumptuous story of exploration and breaking boundaries, a young girl uncovers her very own freedom machine vehicle that carries her to all kinds of wondrous places.'  (Publication summary)

'No one goes to bed without their faithful bear. But this irresistible story has a surprise in store!' (Publication summary)

'Audrey is bigger than she was yesterday. Now she needs a bigger house. So she tells her dad to build her one.

'At the top of a tree.

'It is an ideal house. It has a bathtub for snorkeling, a place to drink tea, and somewhere to hide the dirty cups.

'The house is perfect in every way.

'Except for one thing …

'This is a gently humorous story that explores the clash between a quest for independence and the longing for security. Emerging author Jenny Hughes is once again paired with internationally acclaimed illustrator Jonathan Bentley to create a picture book of outstanding warmth, sensitivity and insight.' (Publication summary)