San Ginese is a village where God lingers in people’s minds and many dream of California, Argentina or Australia. Some leave only to return feeling disheartened, wishing they had never come back, some never leave and forever wish they had. The Fireflies of Autumn takes us to the olive groves and piazzas of this little-known Tuscan village. There we meet Bucchione, who was haunted by the Angel of Sadness; Lo Zena, his neighbour, with whom he feuded for forty years; Tommaso the Killer, the Adulteress, the Dead Boy and many others. These are tales of war and migration, feasts and misfortunes – of a people and their place over the course of the twentieth century. ‘I have never read a migrant tale so original, so breathtaking in scope, or so magical. I have not since stopped thinking about the characters in San Ginese.’ ALICE PUNG ‘Astonishing in the seductiveness and uniqueness of its storytelling. I read it greedily, not wanting to leave San Ginese and return to the real world.’ CHRISTOS TSIOLKAS

WINNER OF THE SCOTTISH TEENAGE BOOK PRIZE 2022 Fin Whittle is sixteen and he likes guys. A fact which seems to be complicating his life. One minute Fin's kissing the godlike Jesse; the next he s been cruelly outed. His family's response? To up sticks in search of a 'fresh start'. A fresh start won't change the truth of who Fin is. Obviously. But it does introduce him to the best squad in town: kick-ass Poppy, her on-off girlfriend June and the super cute, super irresistible Rye. Fin soon has a serious crush. And Rye might just feel the same way. But Fin's parents aren't happy. If their son won't change his 'lifestyle', they ll force him onto the straight and narrow . . . by way of 'conversion therapy'. An outrageous plan is needed to face down the haters and to give Fin and Rye (and their fireflies) a chance at the happy-ever-after their story deserves . . . From moonlit meet-ups to vintage diners, pride parades to a passion for old vinyl, Fin & Rye & Fireflies is a gloriously upbeat tale of being true to yourself no matter what. 'A big-hearted queer romance' - Abdi Nazemian, author of Like a Love Story 'Charming. Sweet. Engaging. Important. Characters you will fall in love with and an author you will as well.' - Greg Howard, author of The Whispers 'All the Love, Simon feelings and then some. As cute and queer as it can get.' - Kai Spellmeier, YA Blogger

A collection of poems celebrating lives with animals as the first persons telling their tales on a summer day and night.

Autumn was a Meadow Elf that spent most of her life hidden away with her nose in a book. But everything changed when she met Chriol, a Wood Elf from a neighboring village and a lovable goofball. Their friendship adds brightness and company to her life as Chriol shows her the wonders of the Heinthral Forest, Wood Elf culture, and a budding romance. Not everything is wonderful in Autumn’s life, though, as every night she continues to be plagued by a nightmare she can never remember. The only hint she has as to what this dream is? A vague feeling of warmth on her skin. Join Autumn and Chriol in their fantastical friendship in this unique story that will leave you hoping, yelling, wondering, and crying over the journey that takes place.

On its release in 1988, Grave of the Fireflies riveted audiences with its uncompromising drama. Directed by Isao Takahata at Studio Ghibli and based on an autobiographical story by Akiyuki Nosaka, the story of two Japanese children struggling to survive in the dying days of the Second World War unfolds with a gritty realism unprecedented in animation. Grave of the Fireflies has since been hailed as a classic of both anime and war cinema. In 2018, USA Today ranked it the greatest animated film of all time. Yet Ghibli's sombre masterpiece remains little analysed outside Japan, even as its meaning is fiercely contested - Takahata himself lamented that few had grasped his message. In the first book-length study of the film in English, Alex Dudok de Wit explores its themes, visual devices and groundbreaking use of animation, as well as the political context in which it was made. Drawing on untranslated accounts by the film's crew, he also describes its troubled production, which almost spelt disaster for Takahata and his studio.

An informative, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated look at the beloved firefly For centuries, the beauty of fireflies has evoked wonder and delight. Yet for most of us, fireflies remain shrouded in mystery: How do fireflies make their light? What are they saying with their flashing? And what do fireflies look for in a mate? In Silent Sparks, noted biologist and firefly expert Sara Lewis dives into the fascinating world of fireflies and reveals the most up-to-date discoveries about these beloved insects. From the meadows of New England and the hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, to the rivers of Japan and mangrove forests of Malaysia, this beautifully illustrated and accessible book uncovers the remarkable, dramatic stories of birth, courtship, romance, sex, deceit, poison, and death among fireflies. The nearly two thousand species of fireflies worldwide have evolved in different ways—and while most mate through the aerial language of blinking lights, not all do. Lewis introduces us to fireflies that don't light up at all, relying on wind-borne perfumes to find mates, and we encounter glow-worm fireflies, whose plump, wingless females never fly. We go behind the scenes to meet inquisitive scientists who have dedicated their lives to understanding fireflies, and we learn about various modern threats including light pollution and habitat destruction. In the last section of the book, Lewis provides a field guide for North American fireflies, enabling us to identify them in our own backyards and neighborhoods. This concise, handy guide includes distinguishing features, habits, and range maps for the most commonly encountered fireflies, as well as a gear list. A passionate exploration of one of the world's most charismatic and admired insects, Silent Sparks will inspire us to reconnect with the natural world.

England, 1962. Seventeen-year-old Radford arrives at Goodwin Manor, a home for boys who have 'been found by trouble'. Watched over by the enigmatic Teddy, life at the Manor offers a fragile peace at best, as the coldest winter in three centuries sets in. Radford learns that the boys are to care for each other, since their families and the law have been unable to do so. But will this be enough when tragedy strikes? At once both beautiful and brutal, The Everlasting Sunday is an unforgettable debut novel about growing up, growing wild and the shifting nature of friendship.

The inspiring true story of Greta Thunberg, a young eco-activist whose persistence sparked a global movement. You are never too young to make a difference. Ever since she learned about climate change, Greta Thunberg couldn’t understand why politicians weren’t treating it as an emergency. In August 2018, temperatures in Sweden reached record highs, fires raged across the country, and fifteen-year-old Greta decided to stop waiting for political leaders to take action. Instead of going to school on Friday, she made a sign and went on strike in front of Stockholm’s parliament building. Greta’s solo protest grew into the global Fridays for Future—or School Strike 4 Climate—movement, which millions have now joined. She has spoken at COP24 (the UN summit on climate change) and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This timely, unofficial biography is her story, but also that of many others around the world willing to fight against the indifference of the powerful for a better future.

365 Real-Life Superheroes is packed full of real stories about true superheroes: from Galileo to Greta Thunberg – or, in Australia, from Eddie Mabo to Lowitja O'Donoghue. Among the heroes profiled are sportspeople, scientists, journalists, explorers, doctors, astronauts, musicians, artists and activists. Each has been chosen because they display a particular heroic attribute: courage, intelligence, creativity, determination, justice or generosity. This charming illustrated collection of stories will entertain and, above all, inspire young readers. For readers aged 9 to 12.