Compelling Contemporary Stories for Kids

The Year the Maps Changed - Danielle Binks

Sorrento, Victoria, 1999. Just as things feel like they're spinning out of control for Fred, a group of Kosovar-Albanian refugees are brought to a government 'safe haven' nearby, and their fate becomes intertwined with the lives of Fred and her family in ways that no one could have expected.

The Boy At the Back of the Class - Onjali Q. Rauf, Pippa Curnick

Told with heart and humour, this prize-winning middle grade novel is a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense.

As Happy as Here - Jane Godwin

Three teenage girls from very different backgrounds find themselves sharing a hospital ward, when they witness a crime in the park below their window. A beautiful coming-of-age story about identity, expectation, class, justice, society, fairness, and, above all, kindness.

Moon Dog - Jane Elson

Marcus and Delilah couldn't be more different, but they share a dream: to own a dog of their own. A heart-warming animal tale of bravery and friendship between a lost boy, a daring girl and the dog next door – honest, heartfelt and inclusive.