This month in YA has shadowhunters, yearbook committees and trolley collectors – something for everyone!

The Way We Roll by Scot Gardner

Will pushes shopping trolleys in the rough part of town and lives beneath a bowling alley – all this despite the fact that he comes from a wealthy family and used to attend the prestigious St Alfie’s school. Julian, on the other hand, has been in and out of juvie and doesn’t quite know what to make of his new workmate who seems to be slumming it amongst the rough Westies. But as the pair come to know each other, they realise that appearances can be deceptive, and that everybody harbours their own secrets.

When there’s a new Scott Gardner on the shelves, you sit up and take notice. Gardner’s books are the perfect remedy for reluctant readers who have no interest in the magical sagas or contemporary romances on offer. This is an optimistic book that any reader will devour.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare fans rejoice: she has a new series. Lady Midnight is the first in The Dark Artifices series, and it’s a sequel of sorts to her bestselling Mortal Instruments series. It takes place five years after the events of City of Heavenly Fire that almost destroyed the Shadowhunters. Emma Carstairs is a woman bent on finding answers to the questions surrounding her parents’ deaths, and with the help of her partner, Julian Blackthorn, they uncover a demonic plot that sends them across the country. As if that’s not enough to deal with, Julian’s brother – captured by faeries five years ago – has been returned with the proviso that the pair help hunt down whoever is murdering faeries.

With this new series, Clare will once again plunge readers back into the rich worlds that have earned her millions of fans worldwide.

The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub

What do you get when you join together the school captain, the popular girl, the loner, the new kid and the politician’s daughter in their final year of high school? Well, Sarah Ayoub’s The Yearbook Committee, for one. You also get laughter, tragedy, angst, bullying, love and everything in between. As these five different teens are forced to work together against their will, readers are treated to a story that is being touted as The Breakfast Club for a new generation.

This is a remarkable read from a talented Australian author that Melina Marchetta called, ‘smart, funny and relevant’.

A Tangle of Gold by Jaclyn Moriarty

A kingdom is in chaos. The Elite have taken over Princess Ko’s Kingdom of Cello and ordered her execution. At the same time, Madeline is launching plans to bring the Royals home, but once that happens all ties between Cello and the World will be cut, and Madeline will lose Elliot forever, unless he can escape his Hostile captors. Can Elliot and Madeline save the kingdom they love and each other?

The Colours of Madeleine series has been one of the most exciting and original worlds to come out of Australian young adult in the last few years. The first two books – A Corner of White and Cracks in the Kingdom – garnered Moriarty a faithful following of fans who will be no doubt overjoyed to finally get this third and final book in their hands. If you haven’t read these books, do yourself a favour and grab them now – once you make your way into the Kingdom of Cello, you won’t want to come back.

The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis

After their best friend Isaac dies, Ryan, Harley and Miles turn to each other to fill the void his absence brings. The thing is, neither of the remaining three were ever really friends – they were just the sidekicks to the star that was Isaac. But now that he’s gone, they’ll all have to step up into the light they’ve avoided and learn to shine on their own.

A heartfelt novel that deals grief and loss (with elements of mystery on the side), The Sidekicks is definitely a tearjerker. And while you’ll no doubt find yourself reading between wracking sobs, it’s ultimately an uplifting novel about friendship and identity.

Where the Shoreline Used to Be by Susan La Marca and Pam MacIntyre

Where the Shoreline Used to Be is a remarkable collection of short stories, poetry, illustration and song lyrics from both established Australian authors and new talent. Following on from the success of Things a Map Won’t Show You, Susan La Marca and Pam MacIntyre have collated a new anthology, this time exploring Indigenous issues, migrants in Australia, dystopia and friendship.

With contributions from the likes of Shaun Tan, Tony Birch, Leanne Hall, Amie Kaufman, Alice Pung, Margo Lanagan, and many more, Where the Shoreline Used to Be is an incredibly exciting and important addition to the world of Australian young adult literature.