3 Reasons Why You Should Read Six Summers of Tash and Leopold by Danielle Binks

What’s the book about?

Alytash and Leopold – Tash and Leo – are neighbours who used to be best friends, but aren’t anymore, for reasons that Leo doesn’t entirely understand. But now it’s the last week of Year Six and Tash is standing in Leo’s front yard with a misdelivered letter – and a favour to ask.

It’s a request that will set off a chain of events in their little crescent in Noble Park, a suburb that is changing, and fast.

As they solve an unfolding neighbourhood mystery and help Ms Shepparson, a reclusive neighbour with a tragic past, Tash and Leo each has to confront fault lines in their own recent histories and families.

They will discover that friendships can grow and change, that bravery takes many forms, and that, most of all – whatever the future holds – friends and family are what matter.

Six Summers of Tash and Leopold is for fans of Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia and Nova Weetman’s The Secrets We Keep, as well as Danielle Binks’ previous bestseller, The Year the Maps Changed – and for anyone who enjoys a big, hopeful, coming-of-age middle-grade book that features complicated families and life-changing summers.

Recommended for: 

Ages 11+.

Three reasons to read it: 

1. Six Summers of Tash and Leopold presents a deep exploration of its protagonists, Tash and Leopold. Tash, a dynamic and thoughtful young woman, and Leopold, a charming yet complex individual, offer readers a glimpse into their evolving relationship. The way they grow over time makes them relatable and memorable, ensuring that readers are emotionally invested in their journeys.
2. The book transports readers to a picturesque Australian coastal town, creating a vivid and immersive backdrop. Binks’ descriptive prose brings the setting to life, making it a character in its own right. Whether it’s sunlit beaches or charming local spots that Tash and Leo frequent, the setting adds a layer of atmosphere that is youthful and fun.
3. Binks incorporates elements of Australian culture into the narrative, offering readers an authentic glimpse into life Down Under. This cultural richness adds an extra layer of enjoyment for readers interested in diverse settings. The local customs, language, and landscapes are woven into the story, providing a unique flavour that sets it apart from other kids romances.

Buy a copy of Six Summers of Tash and Leopold here.

About the author:

Danielle Binks is a writer, literary agent, and lecturer in Creative Writing at RMIT University who lives on the Mornington Peninsula. Her previous books were Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology, which won the 2018 ABIA Book of the Year for Older Children; the bestselling middle-grade novel The Year the Maps Changed, which was a CBCA Notable Book for Younger Readers 2021, shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2021 and shortlisted for the Readings Children’s Book Prize 2021; and the young-adult novel The Monster of Her Age, which won the 2022 Indie Young Adult Book of the Year.