Books published by Hachette Australia

A hauntingly beautiful picture book from the acclaimed Shaun Tan, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal 2020, Academy Award and Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, The rabbits came many grandparents ago. They built houses, made roads, had children. They cut down trees.A whole continent of rabbits... The Rabbits is a thought-provoking allegorical fable about colonisation and the effect of man on the environment. Told from the perspective of the colonised, an unseen narrator describes the coming of the 'rabbits'. An encounter that is at first friendly and curious, but later darkens... Sparse, strange and stunningly beautiful, The Rabbits is a truly unique picture book.

Four perfect strangers. Three days. Can one weekend away change your life? The unputdownable new drama by one of Australia's most beloved storytellersComing together for a writing workshop with bestselling author Jan Goldstein, four strangers converge upon a luxury forest retreat. But along with their notepads and laptops, each of the participants has brought some emotional baggage.Beth is a solo parent and busy career woman haunted by a tragic car accident. Simone, the youngest at 26, is a successful Instagram star but she's hiding behind a facade. Jamie is the only man. He's a handsome personal trainer - but he looks out of place with a pen in his hand. Finally, Alice is a wife and mum recovering from post-natal depression. She and Jamie soon realise they are not such perfect strangers after all.Only one thing is for sure: on this creative getaway, nothing will go according to script.'The Long Weekend delivers to readers the perfect chance to escape from their own lives, if just for a few hours. Readers can expect a raft of revelations around postnatal depression, secret affairs, hidden identities, parental neglect and untold truths, with a few steamy sex scenes' Books+Publishing'Delves deep into themes of secret affairs, hidden identities, parental neglect and untold truths' Who Weekly'Fiona Palmer is a writer who demonstrates great facility for storytelling, for swiftly moving a plot along. She writes relatable characters. I have no doubt that The Long Weekend will be another bestseller' Living Arts CanberraPraise for Fiona Palmer:'There's an honesty to Palmer's characters that transports you into the heart of their worlds' Australian Women's Weekly'It's a story about family, female empowerment and matters of the heart' Woman's Day'Her books are tear-jerkers and page-turners' Sydney Morning Herald'Fiona Palmer just keeps getting better' RACHAEL JOHNS'Heartbreak, love and sibling relationships' New Idea

It's not just a war over horses. It's a battle for the soul of Australia.This is a book about the intense culture war raging around Australia's wild horses, known as brumbies. It pits a vision of the legendary Man from Snowy River and the iconic ANZAC Light Horse against the spectre of ecosystems destroyed by feral pests. The debate involves powerful politicians and media commentators, and stars an animal mythologised in Australian poetry and prose. But in essence, this is about us. The Brumby Wars is about Australians at war with each other over their vision of an ideal Australia.To ecologists and people who ski, walk and fish in the High Country and other areas where the brumbies proliferate, they are a feral menace which must be removed to save delicate alpine landscapes. To the descendants of cattle families and many Australians in urban and regional areas, brumbies are untouchable, a symbol of wildness and freedom.Something has to give. But what? The land or the horses? This war is set to escalate dramatically before we have an answer. Featuring interviews with characters from all sides of the debate, The Brumby Wars is the riveting account of a major national issue and the very human passions it inspires. It is also a journey, a quest to understand what makes us tick in our increasingly polarised country.Praise for Anthony Sharwood's From Snow to Ash'Makes for inspirational reading' West Australian'A distinctive, charming narrative ... a thinking, caring man's trek' Canberra Times'A joyous read with personality in spades ... A book for the adventurer in us all' Australian Geographic

Who is Rampaging Roy Slaven? An Australian icon, a raconteur, an athlete of unsurpassable - and some may say improbable - sporting feats. Whether it was riding Rooting King to another Melbourne Cup victory, commentating the Olympics or hobnobbing with the country's upper crust, Rampaging Roy Slaven has lived an extraordinary life.But even some of the greatest men come from humble beginnings. Before he shot to fame as Australia's most talented sportsman, he was just another kid in Lithgow, trying to avoid Brother Connell's strap and garner the attention of Susan Morgan from the local Catholic girls school.Blessed follows one year in the life of the boy who would become Rampaging Roy Slaven, a boy who, even at the age of fifteen, knew he was destined for greatness but had to get through high school first.

'Every woman on Earth should read it' Caroline Overington, Weekend AustralianHaving lived through the humiliation and bewildering complexity of heartbreak in her twenties, Nikki Gemmell eventually resurfaced, reclaimed space for herself and found her voice. Decades later she has written a deeply personal, profoundly intimate reflection on love and female creativity, and what happens when the two collide in a man's world.Dissolve is a conversation. A conversation with the young women of Gemmell's teenage daughter's generation, and of course with men.'Reading this memoir is like therapy for the soul' ArtsHub'one of the most enriching, yet debilitating reads I've experienced... tremendous, moving writing' Jessie Tu, Women's Agenda'Nikki Gemmell wrote this book for me, and I suspect there will be many women who feel the same way... Each page is imbued with startling self-awareness and profound wisdom... Vulnerable, honest and raw' Better Reading

Australia's greatest country singer-songwriter Slim Dusty's own story, written with Joy McKean, his wife for 50 years - now updated.'It seems I've done most things I wanted to do, but of all things, I think I most enjoy finding good songs and recording them. There are so many songs I want to record that I will be kept busy for as long as I can keep it up ... It is the people you meet along the road of life who make the travelling easier. No wonder I loved it all.' - Slim DustySlim Dusty was Australia's most well-loved and best known country music performer. A legend in the bush, his famous hit 'A Pub With No Beer' made him a household name in the towns and cities too.This is the story of the life that Slim Dusty and Joy McKean shared for their fifty years of marriage and touring together - their love for each other, their family and their music - and their determination to bring country music to the whole of Australia. Slim died in 2003, but throughout Australia, and around the world, people are still playing his songs and passing them on to new generations of fans. In this updated edition of the classic autobiography, Joy McKean writes about her family's commitment to honouring his memory and their work to keep his name alive.If you love today's Australian country music, this is the story of where it all started.'... just like his lyrics, the prose is perfect. Here he is talking about the early Dusty days. It's just like listening to a bright spark in the bush.' - The Age'Slim blazed the red-dirt trail for Australian singer/songwriters, allowing us to remain unashamedly ourselves.' - Missy Higgins

An inspiring story about the bravery and sacrifices of Australian nurses in World War I, by award-winning author and illustrator Mark Wilson.

Schoolies week: that strange in-between time when teenagers move from school into the adult world. It's a week when anything is possible, and everything can change.Grace is questioning everything she thought about herself, and has opted not to join her clique of judgemental friends for schoolies, instead tagging along with her brother Casper and his friends. Casper, an artist, is trying to create the perfect artwork for his uni application folio. Overachieving, anxiety-ridden Noah is reeling from a catastrophe that might have ruined his ATAR result. And Elsie is just trying to figure out how to hold their friendship group together.On the first night of the trip, they meet Sierra, a mysterious girl with silver-grey hair and a magnetic personality. All of them are drawn to her for different reasons, and she persuades them to abandon the cliched schoolies experience in favour of camping with her on a remote, uninhabited island. On that island, each of them will find answers to their questions. But what does Sierra want from them?An empathetic and suspenseful coming-of-age story from the author of All That Impossible Space.Praise for Before the Beginning:'Soulful and suspenseful; this #LoveOzYA story doesn't take you where you think it will, it leads you where you need to be ... 'Before the Beginning' heralds Anna Morgan as the lovechild of Cath Crowley and Vikki Wakefield for her thoughtful and thrilling storytelling of the highest order.' - Danielle Binks, author of The Year the Maps Changed and Begin, End, Begin'Genuine characters, a clever hint of danger and a deep understanding of graduating high school. I was hooked!' - Emily Gale, author of I Am Out With Lanterns and The Other Side of Summer

Let's build a house! But what comes first? A step-by-step look at how a house is constructed by real-life engineer Mike Lucas and gorgeously illustrated by Daron Parton.

Without fear or favour, How Good is Scott Morrison? examines the trials and tribulations of our 30th prime minister. Investigating Morrison's unlikely rise to the liberal leadership and his miracle electoral win, van Onselen and Errington put his leadership under the spotlight.Covering Morrison's disastrous management of the catastrophic bushfire season that was highlighted by the extraordinary statement, 'I don't hold the hose, mate,' and the decision to holiday while the country burned, How Good is Scott Morrison? shows his resolve and the redemption the government's response to the pandemic brought him.Right now, Scott Morrison seems unassailable and sure to win the next election, but what exactly is his vision for Australia? A pragmatist rather than an ideologue, he is a deeply Pentecostal religious man but he doesn't wear his faith as a badge of honour. So what does he really believe in?When the history of this period is written, Morrison will certainly be seen as an election winner but will he be viewed as having had the courage and vision to change Australia for the better, or the worse?

The Accidental Weatherman is the story of what happens when a hilarious Adelaide boy who knows nothing about meteorology scores the coveted weatherman gig on the highest rating breakfast TV show in Australia.As the Sunrise weatherman, Sam Mac has bungee jumped, swum with sharks, got his cat on the cover of Pussweek magazine, taken his mum to the Logies when he was nominated for gold, stripped naked for The Real Full Monty and even recorded a song with The Wiggles. But, ultimately, his job is about people - from primary schoolers to pensioners, Sam's gift is how he connects with them all. He uses heart and humour in his role on Sunrise to introduce viewers to the true characters of Australia. He prides himself on bringing awareness to causes such as mental health and animal rescue, and on championing underdogs who might need a hand up or a shout out. His genuine nature and open-book approach to social media has won him hundreds of thousands of fans along the way - although even he would admit that many of them only like him for his cat Coco (who is rapidly catching up to him in Instagram followers).After presenting more than 25 000 minutes of live TV in over 800 different Australian towns, Sam really has seen the absolute best of Australia, and it's brought out the best in him.

People look at Tessa and see her biggest mistake.While everyone else her age is taking their bold first steps into adulthood, she's just trying to outrun a song that went viral when she was fourteen.But now - an opportunity. A profile as one of The Five Most Forgettable Internet Celebrities of the Decade So Far gives her the chance to right a wrong, and the courage to sing her greatest hit as it was originally written. But will it be enough to win back the person she hurt?An exclusive story for AUSTRALIA READS from one of Australia's leading YA writers.

The prize-winning debut novel from the author of The Performance

Two families escape the rat race to holiday at a remote coastal retreat, but what lies are they telling themselves and each other? The new family drama by beloved Australian storyteller Fiona PalmerAshley has recently lost her husband. Daughter Emily is being bullied online.Best friend Nikki is holding a huge secret. And why is husband, Chris, receiving so many text messages lately?Their teenage children are glued to technology, be it PlayStation, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat . . .The two women hatch a plan: for three weeks, both families will stay in a rustic, remote coastal camp with no phone reception. While the teenagers struggle to embrace this new world of self-entertaining in the rugged bushland, the adults are trying to maintain a certain facade. Soon, around the flames of the camp fire, their tiny white lies might just begin to be exposed. Praise for Fiona Palmer:'There's an honesty to Palmer's characters that transports you into the heart of their worlds' Australian Women's Weekly'It's a story about family, female empowerment and matters of the heart' Woman's Day'Her books are tear-jerkers and page-turners' Sydney Morning Herald'Fiona Palmer just keeps getting better' RACHAEL JOHNS**Contains BONUS extract from Fiona's Top Ten bestseller SECRETS BETWEEN FRIENDS**

Shocking real-life stories of murderous women who used rat poison to rid themselves of husbands and other inconvenient family members. For readers of compelling history and true crime, from critically acclaimed, award-winning author Tanya Bretherton.

An accessible and reassuring picture book that teaches children what they need to know about bushfires so they can understand what's happening and be smart and prepared, not scared. Australia is a big country with all sorts of weather. And sometimes extreme weather like bushfires. Bushfires can make a real mess of things. The air fills with smoke. The skies turn red. Ash falls. Precious things burn. But we don't need to be scared, we just need to know all about bushfires and prepare for them. This book will help you understand what causes bushfires, introduce you to all the clever people who are keeping an eye on them, and teach you how to be prepared and not scared. A practical and reassuring book for children to help them understand bushfires and what action they can take to feel less anxious and more prepared as Australia faces longer and more intense bushfire seasons.

A simple, vibrantly illustrated board book focused on bodies in movement, from one of Australia's leading designer-illustrators.

Things are going downhill fast for class 6PU at Craglands South Primary School. They've changed teachers more times than most kids change their socks, and their latest one is so strict they aren't even allowed to sneeze. But just when it seems like the school term has been turned into a prison term, a new kid arrives.A kid unlike any other kid at Craglands South.A kid named Squidge Dibley.He's small, quiet and strangely ... squidgy.And he's about to change everything.Squidge Dibley Destroys the School is book one in a hilarious new series by Mick Elliott, author of The Turners, and features his unforgettable cartoon-style illustrations on every page.