Better Reading

What’s the book about? A new wacky adventure delivers laugh-out-loud fun as this gaggle of cashed-up guinea pigs (and one silly capybara) become involved in a new ridiculous crime caper. The mega rich guinea pigs are in trouble! Lunk, Hot Head, G-Chip and Big Pig (who is actually a capybara, but don’t tell him that) have received a threatening letter from a mysterious villain. To keep themselves and their fat stacks of cash safe, they are whisked away to a Witless Protection Program.

Sarah Trad talks to Cheryl Akle about Lebanon and the culture’s deep connection to hospitality, her travels around the world, renovating and creating her dream house, and the influence of her mother. Her cookbook, Beit Trad, is out now. About the author Sarah Trad is the founder of Beit Trad, an eighteenth-century Lebanese family home transformed into a boutique guesthouse.

The Better Reading Kids’ Top 50 celebrates the children’s and young adult books that have captured the hearts of Australian readers. Now it’s your turn to have your say. Vote for your all-time favourite children’s or YA book for the chance to win one of seven book packs valued at $1,200 each. Each prize pack will include the final list of the 50 most-voted-for books, subject to availability.

What’s the book about? From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for teens on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people in the world leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed – herself included. Wouldn’t her insecurity, overthinking, worrying, and tendency to empathise stop her from being able to achieve her goals?

Set within an intriguing village community of friends, neighbours (and enemies), all living at the edge of the atmospheric forests of the mysterious Southern Highlands. When historian Rose McHugh is left a mysterious bequest after the death of the reclusive heiress of Thornwood Park, she’s excited to visit the estate. But when Rose realises she may have found evidence of women going missing, she delves deeper.

Joan Sauers talks to Cheryl Akle about her love of mystery series, the writing skills she learned from her father, Hollywood, and the differences between writing novels and screenplays. Her latest book, Murder at Thornwood Park, is out now. About the author Born in New York, Joan Sauers is a screenwriter, producer and author who worked in London, Los Angeles and New York before settling in Australia.

Return to the world of LITTLE LUNCH with fan-favourite Rory in this hilarious, highly illustrated story by award-winning duo Danny Katz and Mitch Vane. Rory likes pretending to be different things. On Monday he’s a crocodile, on Tuesday he’s a giant spider crab, and on Wednesday he’s a bowling ball. But when he keeps hurting his chin, Rory decides he better stop pretending and just be himself. The problem is, he isn’t sure how to be a kid named Rory! Recommended for ages 6+.

Victoria Purman talks to Cheryl Akle about her former career in journalism, her path into publishing, her writing routines, and her love of both vintage and contemporary books. Her latest novel, The Marriage Trap, is out now. About the author Victoria Purman is an Australian top ten and USA Today bestselling fiction author. Her last book The Radio Hour was an Australian bestseller, as were her previous novels. Her earlier novel The Three Miss Allens was a USA Today bestseller.

What’s the book about? What if you felt like you’d cried all the colours away? The heart-wrenching new story of friendship, loss and identity from the author of international bestseller As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow. Joining an exclusive high school should be a fresh start for Jihad after her mother’s sudden death. But she’s the only Muslim student there; her hijab and even her name make her new classmates suspicious.

What’s the book about? A celebratory hardback edition of the bestselling, award-winning rhyming book about Noni the Pony — the nicest pony any child could ever hope to meet! — from the phenomenal and much-loved author Alison Lester. Over 275,000 Noni books sold! Would you like to meet Noni? She’s the friendliest pony. She lives on a farm overlooking the sea and loves to play with her best friends, Dave Dog and Coco the Cat.