Cirrus@Austlit

'A suspenseful story of survival and resilience inspired by the 2022 Brisbane floods.

'The kayak rolled as Max tried to get into it. The shock of capsizing into the cold, dirty water made him gasp and swallow some of it. It tasted muddy and disgusting. Was he going to drown? His chest thudded as he fought the floodwater gushing around him. How long could he hold his breath? He could feel a sense of panic rising.

'When an unexpected rain bomb hits south-east Queensland in late summer, an unprecedented disaster engulfs the city of Brisbane. Nothing can prepare Max and his family for the devastating flood as neighbours struggle to help each other survive. When floodwaters rise, homes are submerged and his newfound friend Trent goes missing, Max must face the greatest challenge of his life.

'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)

'Author and licensed pilot Prue Mason shares how a handful of early aviators helped Australia reach beyond its borders to lands far away.

'Imagine what it was like to travel to far-off places before there were aeroplanes. For early 20th-century Australians, it could take days, weeks, or months just to get where they were going. Amazing Australians and Their Flying Machines tells the stories of ten brave Australians, including the youngest licensed woman pilot Nancy Bird, who took to the skies and changed the face of aviation forever.

'Entertaining and informational text, alongside archival photography and humorous illustrations from Tom Jellett, make this a perfect read for young readers interested in aviation and Australian history.

'Co-authors Prue and Kerry Mason are both licensed pilots. Together they restore classic airplanes and take the skies as often as they can.

Great for classroom use with its "Did You Know" sidebars and friendly informational text, but it's also fun and entertaining, making this a great option for the trades.' (Publication summary)

'Zafir has a comfortable life in Homs, Syria, until his father, a doctor, is arrested for helping a protester who was campaigning for revolution. While his mother heads to Damascus to try to find out where his father is being held, Zafir stays with his grandmother - until her house is bombed. With his father in prison, his mother absent, his grandmother ill and not a friend left in the city, Zafir must stay with his Uncle Ghazi. But that too becomes dangerous as the city becomes more and more besieged. Will Zafir survive long enough to be reunited with his parents?' (Publication summary)

''Do you know why you are here? Unbeliever? Jaz swung round. In the shadows of a doorway stood a young man.

'Life in a small town is kind of predictable for Jaz. The only thing that keeps him challenged is his karate - until one day, everything changes.

'At first, going to Abudai seems like a wonderful dream, but Jaz is soon embroiled in dangerous family politics, made even more perilous by his lack of cultural understanding.' (Publisher's website)