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When Briony first meets Ren, he is standing in the freezing sea at the edge of their tiny town. Ren hasn't been home for a decade but has returned to be with his dying father. Briony won't leave, hoping that Sarah, her missing sister, will one day reappear. But Sarah and her friend Aria have been stranded on a desolate island far off the coast. The longer they're trapped there, the less alone they seem. How many secrets in this town have been swallowed by the brooding sea?

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The Shore, The Shallow & The Deep, traumatic, grieving

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Every element of the front cover works so perfectly together to create such a specific atmosphere and setting. The illustration with this title packs so much emotion, you can feel the energy and movement within it. It’s a well-crafted cover. The title itself is also clever as it is the collective noun for seabirds, yet all the characters themselves are wrecked in one way or another.

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The pacing was presented quite smoothly despite all the jump in perspectives. Though it may be dividing between readers' preferences, as some may dislike and find it jarring, compared to others. I found that this unique structure eventually allowed for satisfactory conclusions. 

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A character driven novel - Briony & Sarah, Ren & Sam & dying Father, Sarah & Aria, 

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Intergenerational trauma, sibling bonds, friendship, loss, hope

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Maddy is mute. Since the Incident she has barely spoken. And now she and her mother and brother are staying in a farmhouse on an old apricot orchard not far from town. It's a chance to rest and recuperate – or a way to hide further away from the world. Alice is waiting. Since Birdy, her darling daughter, disappeared forty-five years ago, she has sat in her house waiting for her to come home. Alice says Maddy reminds her of Birdy, and Maddy feels a strange connection to the long-lost girl. In the quiet not-speaking and waiting, amid the clutter of the old woman's house, Maddy and Alice slowly become friends. Until Maddy takes something that's not hers. Birdy is a tender warm-hearted verse novel about the pain of loss and shame, the beauty of words, and the healing power of small acts of kindness.

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MADDY - mute BIRDY - poet, loves music, plays guitar, interest in male teacher, cold case, murdered ALICE - surrounded by clutter to fill the space left behind by deceased husband Bert and missing daughter, feels less alone CHARLIE - aka little professor - young - likes to search and collect/find things - encouraged Maddy to make friends - Helped Maddy through her anxiety, e.g. meeting Levi

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The harms of social media - embarrassment, shame, never erased, fear, the healing power of nature

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When 17-year-old Jonah arrives in a new town – Patience – with his dad and younger brothers, it feels like a foreign place. A new town means he needs to make new friends - which isn't always easy. Especially when he's wrestling with his body image, and his memories of his mother. When he joins the local footy team so he can spend more time with his new crush, Harley, he feels like he's moving closer to something good. But even though he knows what he wants, it doesn't mean he's ready. I'm Not Really Here is a novel about navigating family and friendships and finding a way through grief towards love.

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The design of this book cover is quite bold with the use of neon backgrounds and simple structure. However, there is a lack of symbolism for the reader's personal inferences and appeal, e.g. for LGBTQ+ themes. The simplicity, while aimed for impact, blends with many other novels under the same style and ultimately may be dismissed. 

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Jonah, Zeke, Luke & Dad, Aunty Tracey - Harley, Cherry, Elaine & Maisie - Tegan, Zoey & Gordon - Jack, Rodney, Erin - Francis

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Grief, Loss, Friendships, Family, Exploring sexuality, Love, Loyalty

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Iris, 17, lives on the run - from constant earthquakes, and from an enemy she knows all too well. So when her mother goes missing, Iris fears the worst. All she can do is reach out to a stranger for help... When Lena gets Iris's message, she's torn. She wants to help, but she also feels an instant spark - and Lena is definitely not looking to complicate her life. Still, she's Iris's only lifeline, and both girls want to uncover the truth. Iris and Lena have been forced together, yet what they discover might tear them apart. Only one thing is certain: meeting up will change their lives forever

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I really liked the cover for this. Not only is is beautiful, but the design is symbolically important and related to the plot. - James E.

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It was the beginning of everything. And the end of so much.' Layla is in her final year of school. It's the last year to make sure that the next major phase of her life begins correctly because she's got big plans.She just wants to be a normal teenager and to fit in but when her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay, he challenges everything she thought she was.Steph Tisdell is a writer, actor and an award-winning comedian. She's a proud Yidinji woman, and her words sparkle with humour, depth and authenticity in this extraordinary debut novel that explores cultural and personal expectations, and responsibilities.

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A superb YA fantasy set in the near future, full of secrets, high stakes, peril, deceptions and dream walkers, from the internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of the Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering. Delicious twists and deceptions fill this high-stake tale where dreams will entice you. You won't be able to sleep until you hit the last page.

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Will (protagonist), Ender, Magda, Adam (dead), Padraig, 

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Hear from the 2025 Judges as they introduce the Shortlisted Books and explain their reasoning for selection.

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2025 Older Readers Shortlist | CBCA Book of the Year Awards

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What is Shadow Judging?