*Scorch Dragons - Amie Kaufman
This is the second book in this middlegrade fantasy series Elementals by one of my favourite #loveozya authors. I really enjoyed the first book Ice Wolves when I read it last year, so I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next! I've seen these classified as YA (Ice Wolves is on the Gold Inky longlist), but I feel like they are definitely on the younger end of that scale, probably for readers between 10 and 13 years old.

*Nevermoor - Jessica Townsend
I'm sure EVERYONE has heard about (and probably already read!) Nevermoor- it was a massive hit both here in Australia and overseas when it came out, and the sequel, Wundersmith is already out too. I borrowed this one from the library last year and didn't manage to get through it before it was due back (why do all the library holds come in at once?) but read enough to know I was going to love it so bought a copy rather than going back in the library request queue.

*Dream Riders Frankie - Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder
I have a severe weakness for middlegrade books about girls and their horses, so there was no way I could resist this one. I received this copy from Walker Books, and it is out this month.
 

*Juno Jones Word Ninja - Kate Gordon
This was included in a book package I was lucky enough to win from Kate through her instagram account, along with her YA novel Girl Running Boy Falling and Kate Forsyth's brand new picture book Once (which is beautifully illustrated by Krista Brennan). Juno Jones Woord Ninja is the first book in a new series for ages 6 to 10 years, and it looks like a lot of fun!

* Horse Warrior - Meredith Jaffe
More horses! This one has a bit of a fantasy spin to it, I think, and is out this month from Harbour Publishing, who kindly sent me this copy.

*Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds - Jeremy Lachlan
This is another title that has been an absolute hit - in fact it won the Book of the Year for Older Children (13+) at the Australian Book Industry Awards last night. Like Elementals series, this is one that I've seen described as both YA and middlegrade, and probably sits in the 10-13 year old reader group.

*The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone - Jaclyn Moriarty
I was just talking last week about how much I like Jaclyn Moriarty, so it is probably no surprise that this book is on my list! This is another one that has a sequel out already. The cover is divine and I am pretty confident that the book itself is going to be an absolute delight!


So, that's my Aussie middlegrade May to read from stack! Let me know if you have any favourites here, or books I've missed but should check out!

xo Bron