Lower Secondary Fiction 2026

SEPTEMBER

Protector of Beyond

By Shara Curlett

Magical creatures, perilous trials, and one unbelievable adventure in this new blockbuster fantasy s ... Read More

The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia

By Leia Ham

A highly illustrated MG fantasy debut in which kids age out of magical abilities as they become adul ... Read More

Bloodsuckers

By Steve Worland

Vampires, Vampires, Vampires . . . ON A PLANE! Jett Torrens thought this would be the flight of a li ... Read More

Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky

By Will Kostakis

Otis Ottley lives in the shadow of the Manor School for Magic. Literally. It's an island hovering ov ... Read More

The Wave

By Sarah Armstrong

From the acclaimed author of Run comes this exhilarating survivalist novel about 13-year-old Max, wh ... Read More

The Thing About Giants

By Christopher Galvin

Skandar meets The BFG in this powerful, cinematic debut, combining folklore, fantasy and adventure. ... Read More

AUGUST

The Nardi Puzzle

By Gabriella Page

Thirteen players. Thirteen hours. One extraordinary prize. When 12-year-old Sebastian Walker is invi ... Read More

A River I Must Be

By Kate Foster

Like a river, I must keep flowing, finding a way through if I want to survive. I will adapt no matte ... Read More

Bandoola

By Beverley McWilliams

Deep in the forests of Burma, an elephant calf named Bandoola is in trouble – again. Curious and hea ... Read More

Miles Thorne and the Forbidden Magic

By Rebecca Ahola

Can Miles and the group of magical misfits win the Battle Games and finally show the show the world ... Read More

JULY

Hunt for the Nighthawks

By Felice Arena

It's Jake and his friends versus the Nighthawks . . . and the Nighthawks will stop at nothing to get ... Read More

The Unlucky Pirate

By Mark Greenwood

From author and History Hunter, Mark Greenwood, comes a new mystery about a lost pirate treasure. Ca ... Read More

Nowhere House

By Adrian Beck

A cursed house. A decades-old mystery. A brother and sister on the edge. Nate is furious that he’s h ... Read More

Shakespeare in the Orchard

By Danielle Binks

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel. - W ... Read More

JUNE

The Ghost Horse of Snowy River

By Stef Gemmill

I can feel what Faith feels as she stretches out into a gallop. Me. The wind in my face. The perfect ... Read More

Wildheart

By Bec Manser

Frozen meets Greenwild in this incredible debut, full of wild magic, spooky ghouls and adventure. Th ... Read More

The Between-Worlds B&B

By Amy Mae Baxter

Have you ever wanted to experience magic? Have you ever wanted to get away from everyone and everyth ... Read More

MAY

The Wild Unknown

By Emily Gale

A propulsive middle-grade mystery about changing friendships, growing up, and embracing adventure. I ... Read More

Hafsa's Way

By Aisha Saeed

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Hafsa's Way is an uplifting story abo ... Read More

Crow: Thief Of Magic

By Fiona Dixon

Twelve-year-old Crow is a thief. Scraping a living on the winding streets of Starsgard, Crow works f ... Read More

Hell's Bells

By Jared Thomas

Uncle Xbox is now in a relationship with Lil, and Dusty is jealous of having to share their time tog ... Read More

The Casting Dilemma

By Lynne Stringer

Performing is Kate's dream, but she doesn't feel good enough. Is she perfect for the part she wants ... Read More

Raised by Wolves

By Tristan Bancks

When your dad's a fugitive, who do you trust - him, or yourself? Twelve-year-old Olive Silver knows ... Read More

APRIL

The Midlands

By Kate Gordon

1916. As The Great War rages overseas, eleven-year-old Lorna Whittle and her four sisters fight thei ... Read More

Finn's Epic Fails

By Phil Earle

A hilarious new series by award-winning author Phil Earle which introduces Finn N. O. Hope and his l ... Read More

The Lost Defenders

By Sam Summers

Journey into the enchanting world of the Lost Defenders, where 11-year-old Jace discovers the real r ... Read More

MARCH

Phoenix

By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

First in a brilliant new middle grade horse series from the award-winning author of The War That Sav ... Read More

Swearwolves

By Steve Worland

Kids love naughty, parents love safe - and Swearwolves delivers both. Luna Wilkinson wants to stand ... Read More

Ruby's Web

By Ellen Van Neerven

Ruby is starting year 7 at a new school. Her cousin Amber used to be her best friend, but she has st ... Read More

FEBRUARY

A Light on the Rocks

By Helen Edwards

In 1859, fourteen-year-old Daisy is travelling on the SS Admella from Adelaide to Melbourne, when th ... Read More

How to Make Friends and Go Viral by Accident

By Y. K. Willemse

Thirteen-year-old Hayden's parents have just ruined his life. They've signed him up for singing less ... Read More