Shine Mountain

On his deathbed, Ellie's pop reveals a secret—a magical button-box. It's a musical instrument from the Gleam country—a land far from Spit Farm and the mountains, with talking goats, sweet grass, and corn that grows so high you have to fell it with an axe. But the button-box's magic is sinister. When Ellie plays it, flowers bloom and crops spring up overnight—but soon the farm is cursed by drought and her beloved oma is gravely ill. To save her oma and discover the truth about her own identity, Ellie must embark on a dangerous journey to the Gleam country—the only place where the evil button-box can be destroyed.

Julie Hunt loves poetry, storytelling, and traditional folktales. Her debut novel, Song for a Scarlet Runner, won the inaugural Readings Children's Book Prize and her graphic novel KidGlovz (illustrated by Dale Newman) won the 2016 Queensland Premier's Literary Award. She also writes books for younger readers. Her picture book, The Coat (illustrated by Ron Brooks), won the 2013 CBCA Picture Book of the Year.