This month the teens gave feedback on the 2018 Readings Young Adult Book Prize shortlist and discussed each of the titles on the list, including elements such as the characterisation, plot, writing style and even covers of each book. Earlier in the year they had been lucky enough to meet one of the shortlisted authors, Clare Atkins, and receive a copy of her book.

We also had a visit this month from a publishing industry professional, Allison Colpoys, a book designer at Scribe Publications as well as an illustrator in her own right. Allison has won many awards throughout her career, including numerous gongs at the Australian Book Design Awards (ABDA), as well as the prestigious Crichton Prize for her first illustrated book, The Underwater Fancy Dress Parade. A few days after we met with her, Allison won Best Designed Children’s Book of the Year at the ABDA’s for Under the Love Umbrella, another book she illustrated.

When Allison brought out from her bag a sample of her most recent work as illustrator for British author Joseph Coelho’s book, If All the World Were…, there were audible gasps around the room. Everyone who touched this beautiful book wanted to own a copy.

Allison then took us through a presentation of some of her work and brought out samples of different cover treatments, including flaps, a soft touch cover, and spot metallic finishes.

By the time she had finished, we all had a much greater appreciation of the work that goes into designing a book and also the relationship between book designer, publisher and author, as well as sales and marketing people at a publishing house. Allison told us that she no longer felt bothered by people wanting to change her covers as it was all part of the process of getting to the cover that conveyed a book in its best possible light.

Teen reviews of the Readings Young Adult Book Prize shortlist 2018…

‘With warm, inviting prose and a refreshing grasp on our diverse nation, Clare Atkins has created a world where opposites collide: freedom and oppression, acceptance and rejection, happiness and depression. More importantly, she has given the rest of the world a close-up glimpse into what it’s like to be a refugee in a country that is so-called ‘free’. YA author Fiona Wood gives a testimony on the cover of Between Us, saying she wants everyone to read this book. I hope, too, that everyone gets the chance to read it – young and old alike. And I hope even more that this world can change.’

– Kirrily Ireland

‘Sometimes a book comes along that doesn’t just entertain me, but also inspires me to look at the world differently. Erin Gough’s political comedy, Amelia Westlake is one such book. Gough provides an excellent representation for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as tackling the tough and timely topics of sexism, wealth divides and racism. Her novel is a playful, but powerful feminist romp that perfectly captures the Australian school life of young adults. The struggles of Gough’s characters, from fractured families, falling grades and messy relationships, feel authentic and relatable. This is such an important book and it’s undoubtedly one of my favourite YA books of the year.’

– Tracy Hwang

‘ Between Us is an engaging and powerful book that delivers a heartfelt and emotionally captivating story. The three main characters have been written with depth and care. Their motivations feel messy and believable, and they are all flawed in compelling ways. The varied narrators also give insight into the characters and allows nuance to be shown in their actions. Between Us puts the detention centre crisis into the spotlight and expands worldviews by showing the horrors Anahita went through before she was put into detention. It’s definitely worth a read, especially for teenagers who might benefit from this relatable perspective on the issue.’

– Joe Murray

‘ This Mortal Coil is set in a post-apocalyptic world where every human is constantly trying to enhance themselves by genehacking their DNA, meaning that the very definition of being human is blurred. Emily Suvada expertly weaves a world run by genetic engineering and futuristic tech, with deep questions about humanity and identity, to deliver an awfully intelligent novel that is impossible to put down. I constantly felt myself reaching for this book, unable to get enough of the thrilling pace and relentless plot twists that stole my breath away. This is a brilliant sci-fi for adrenaline junkies and readers interested in STEM. Perfect for fans of Illuminae and Warcross.’

– Tracy Hwang