Aussie Kids Books

Loner won the 2019 Text YA fiction prize and I can absolutely see why. I will start by saying that it took me a few chapters to feel invested in Lona as a protagonist - and I think this is because the third person narration initially made me feel a bit distanced from her. But I quickly realised that this is merely because I'm accustomed to reading YA that is written in first person present tense, which ensures that you as the reader are very quickly drawn inside the head of t

Wow. This book left me breathless with the sheer scope and depth and beauty of it. It is a powerful and emotive read set in a dystopian world on a remote island, and is narrated by identical twins Summer and Winter. Without giving away any spoilers, here are the reasons why I loved this book: 1. Originality. The premise for this book is so original. We have twins – Summer and Winter – living on a remote island in a world of catastrophic climate change. Into their sheltered wo

This beautiful little book was awarded the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 1999, and this is the 20th anniversary edition of the book. For such a small book, this story really delivers an emotional punch. My Girragundji is told from the point of view of a young boy, on the cusp of adolescence. He lives with his seven sisters and three brothers and is just starting to notice girls. We learn that he is passionate about football. The boy's voice is lively with humou

This powerful, moving young adult novel has a backdrop of surfing and the ocean weaving through the narrative, making it the perfect summer read. The ocean in Raw Blue provides a healing background for teenage Carly's story of pain and healing and coming to terms with a traumatic event from her past. When she is in the water, Carly feels like she can momentarily feel free from the pain that haunts her. The vivid descriptions of the ocean shimmer like sunlight and make this bo

You Were Made for Me is a fun and addictive story for young adults, which I devoured over the Christmas break. I loved the voice of the teen protagonist Katie - it sparkles with humour and warmth, as she navigates the unexpected - and not completely unwelcome! - predicament of waking up to a boy she and her friend Libby have inadvertently created. Not just any boy - this is a boy who looks like a long lost Hemsworth brother! And he is completely and totally devoted to Katie..

This is an empowering, moving and beautifully articulated story of loss and grief and family love, of finding your inner strength against what seems like impossible odds. Fourteen-year-old Nia lives in the slums of Jakarta, along the train tracks. She yearns to go to high school and become a writer – but instead spends her days running the family food cart and looking after her younger brother. Things begin to change after Nia is involved in a bus accident; Nia miraculously s

'You are living on stolen land what can you do about it?’ (p.6). This book is a poignant, empowering call for action, which exposes the bias that we all – consciously or subconsciously – hold, as settler Australians. We are invited to consider the ways in which we might begin to be aware of - and then actively fight – these biases. It is one thing to be aware of bias and prejudice – but it is yet another to take action, to make a difference – and this book is a call for acti

I really love verse novels - so when I heard about this book for middle grade readers told in verse, I was keen to read it. Verse novels are not easy to do well - but as I started reading this book, I was immediately completely absorbed in the story and knew that this book was going to be something special. I was unable to put this book down, wanting to see how things were going to work out for the kids who are narrating this story of friendship, courage and healing. The litt

This engaging story of art and activism is set against the vibrant backdrop of Paris. Sixteen-year-old artist Sofie is an exchange student in Paris and she is on a quest to explore all the beauty and art Paris has to offer. What she didn't expect was to unearth a new understanding of the ways in which art can be utilised as a form of protest - to inform, to express anger, despair and hope. To demand change. This is a story set against a background of climate change, bushfires

If you love an addictive edgy read set against a background of rock music, fame and teen relationships, then this is the book for you! I can never resist a young adult book that features bands and music, and this book had me captivated from the first page. Sixteen-year-old Liliana, exchange student at a prestigious music academy in England, is missing her girlfriend and family back home. But when she is selected to join a ‘secret’ band, that rehearses under the cover of night

Reasons why Ghost Bird is one of my top reads of 2020: The writing: this is a beautifully crafted book, with writing that is rich with meaning and beautifully vivid description. The writing will make your heart sing. The storyline: the story shimmers with a beautiful darkness - it is gripping, mysterious, and will have you on the edge of your seat, racing to the finish to see if Stacey can find her missing twin sister in time. Voice: the raw, candid voice of the narrator, Sta

Books, of course, make the best gifts! If you're stuck for ideas, try one of these fabulous reads: Metal Fish, Falling Snow, by Cath Moore - this is a beautifully written own voices story about grief, family and identity. The voice of the 14-year-old protagonist is captivating - it sparkles with humour and energy, while simultaneously resonating with something lost. Both tough and fragile, this is a read you won't forget. Published by Text Publishing. Music for Tigers, by Mic

I grabbed a copy of this young adult novel from my local library after discovering is it set in my home town (Canberra). I came to this discovery after participating in a LoveOzYa Instagram challenge, where one of our quests was to identify a young adult book set in our home town. This proved something of a challenge - while it seems there are many young adult books set in Melbourne, with a plethora to chose from, it is not so much the case for Canberra. But when you think ab

This young adult novel is a fabulous own voices read - the highlight for me being the voice of sixteen-year-old narrator Peta, who, according to her best friend Jeb, has so many letters she could start her own alphabet. Peta has ASD, ADHD and SPD, and the first person narration, told in an honest and engaging voice, allows an intimate insight into Peta's thought processes. While the high school years present their own challenges of navigating friendship, romance, study and t

This is a book you won't be able to put down - it is a dark-edged read which throbs with tension and mystery. The reader is drawn into the world of 16-year-old Abbie, who moves with her family from Sydney to a small town called Derrington. Arriving in Derrington, Abbie wonders why all the kids at her new school are either avoiding her, or looking at her with hostility. She soon realises that she is the mirror image of Rebecca O'Reilly, a teenage girl who had been brutally mur

I’m a big fan of the psychological thriller genre, and this wonderfully spooky read will have you on the edge of your seat. I read this book fast, my pulse racing, rushing through to the fast-paced climax. I had to read the last part of the book in the daytime, otherwise I’d have needed to leave the lights on to fall asleep! As the story opens, it quickly becomes clear that seventeen-year-old narrator Tash is unable to tolerate enclosed spaces. What has happened to instigate

I'm currently participating in an Instagram challenge which celebrates Aussie young adult fiction. There's a challenge prompt every day where you get to select an Aussie YA book that fits that prompt. It's a great way to celebrate our wonderful Australian YA authors (let's face it - Aussie YA is the best - not that I'm biased at all! But Aussie YA has its own unique vibe about it - a quirky humour and vivid sense of place). So back to the topic: the prompt for day 14 was 'men

The Long Distance Playlist is a book about friendship and family and having the courage to embrace the unknown, set against a backdrop of awesome music playlists! The story starts with ballet dancer Isolde feeling heartbroken and unmotivated after being dumped by her boyfriend. Isolde receives an unexpected sympathy email from Taylor, who used to be her best friend, before an argument led to a period of silence between the two. Isolde responds, and soon the two of them are ta

This book has remained one of my favourite young adult reads of all time, since I read it when it was published back in 2006. It has a timeless appeal - with its universal themes of navigating shifting friendship dynamics and family relationships, and learning to embrace your true self - but these themes are explored in a unique, smart and compelling way which makes this book stand out from many other YA reads. Seventeen-year-old Gem narrates this smart and edgy novel, her i

Here is a teaser from my young adult manuscript Exposed! It was well received on my Instagram page so I thought I'd post it here too. (For background, Exposed is about 16-year-old Skeeter, who starts having strange flashbacks about drowning and becomes obsessed with the need to know how her heart donor really died. In this scene, Skeeter is meeting her heart donor's parents for the first time). My gaze falls on a large framed photo on the side table, of a girl with long hair