Best young adult books of 2024
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books of the past year. Here are the best young adult books of 2024, as voted by Readings' staff!
Titles are displayed in alphabetical order by author.
A Way Home by Emily Brewin
‘A Way Home is an emotional and empathetic book about a teen girl facing homelessness in Melbourne while her mother struggles with mental health and addiction.
Grace lives under a bridge in the CBD, trying to stay safe until her mum gets better and stability can return to their lives. One day Grace escapes from the bitter winter cold to the City Library and discovers a peaceful oasis. But it’s not just the books that help Grace find comfort – the people of the library and a well-loved community piano are what give her the most hope for her future. Though its themes can be heavy, this is a hugely compelling story for readers ages 12+.’
– Bella Mackey, digital content lead
My Family and Other Suspects by Kate Emery
‘This debut novel set in an old farmhouse in a remote locale in Western Australia is the perfect combination of murder mystery and funny-awkward romance. Ruth and her extended family have been staying at her step-grandma’s house for the weekend to celebrate her birthday. Also among the family is Dylan, who Ruth definitely has a crush on, although for the last six months she has known he is her half cousin (it’s complicated). Then there is her dad, and her two aunties and their boyfriends ... And of course, there is the actual murder (or was it?) of her step-grandmother GG, who died in her bedroom from a head wound ...
Ruth and Dylan, of course, bypass the cops and attempt to solve the mystery of GG’s murder themselves ... this is a highly entertaining murder mystery that will be enjoyed by readers aged 12+.’
– This is an edited quote from Angela Crocombe’s review for Readings Monthly
Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough
‘Iris and her mum are permanently on the run in an alternate future where earthquakes destroy towns regularly and many people have been displaced. Someone is hunting them, but Iris’s mother won’t tell her who or why. When her mother suddenly disappears, Iris has little to go on bar the Spanish phrase "in bocca al lupo" (into the mouth of the wolf), which her mother made her memorise, plus the name of a hotel in a town called Glassy Bay.
In search of answers, Iris connects online with Lena, whose family runs the Glassy Bay International Travellers’ Hostel, and the two develop a growing attraction. Meanwhile, in Glassy Bay, some very suspicious things are happening, not least the washing up of a woman’s body on the shore ... Erin Gough’s third novel has elements of dystopia, eco-thriller and romance, all bound together in a fast-paced, exciting mystery. I highly recommend this fascinating Australian novel for readers aged 11+.’
– This is an edited quote from Angela Crocombe’s review for Readings Monthly
The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha
‘The Fox Maidens is a gripping graphic novel telling a story of magic, love and family in 16th century Korea.
Kai Song wants to be a warrior like her father, the legendary commander of the Royal Legion who killed a nine-tailed fox demon years before. But the odds seem stacked against Kai; not only are female warriors unheard of in her world, but she can’t escape a cloud of suspicion that she has somehow inherited the dark power of the fox demon her father slayed.
Filled with battles, blood, queer romance and Korean folklore, this is a thrilling story told beautifully through Robin Ha’s graphic art style. Recommended for readers aged 13+.’
– Bella Mackey, digital content lead
Liar's Test by Ambelin Kwaymullina
‘The new novel by Ambelin Kwaymullina, the First Nations author of The Tribe trilogy and Catching Teller Crow, is an intricately plotted fantasy that features a gutsy, clever heroine ... Bell has been imprisoned in the kingdom of Radiance ever since her Treesinger grove was enveloped by a mysterious sickness that left many in an endless sleep ...
Bell is called to be the first ever Treesinger participant of the Queen’s Test, an ancient series of challenges for seven young women that occurs every 25 years. If Bell can survive the tests, she can escape her prison and possibly even become Queen. But the various guilds and their factions within Radiance are jostling for power and the palace politics must be negotiated just as skilfully as the challenges of strength ...
This fantasy thriller set in a rich and sophisticated world deserves a wide audience ... Highly recommended for ages 14+.’
– This is an edited quote from Angela Crocombe’s review for Readings Monthly
I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang
‘Sadie Wen is the perfect student. She’s school captain, valedictorian, and gets the best grades for all her assignments. But with all the stress and frustrations that come with being an A-grade student, Sadie’s method of venting is to draft emails to all the people she hates, listing the reasons they have wronged her – whether it be a teacher who refused to round up her percentage score on an essay; a classmate who copied Sadie’s idea and took the credit; or to Julius, her arch-nemesis and co-school captain, who has been competitive towards Sadie since they were kids.
She would never send them, of course. Until one day these draft emails are mysteriously sent to every student and staff member and Sadie becomes the most hated person at school. Except to Julius, who seems interested in knowing who the real Sadie Wen is ... For readers 12+.’
– This is an edited quote from Aurelia Orr’s review for Readings Monthly
A Sea of Wolves by Sarah Street
‘A Curse of Salt author Sarah Street has brought us back into the world of the Heartless King with a sapphic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
A 50-year treaty between pirates and the city of Bray has been broken. Sick of being trapped on land, Mersey sets out to sea to free herself and the people of Bray from the control of the Heartless King. But her plan goes wrong, and she is immediately captured and brought aboard The Blood Rose. A war is brewing and Mersey must decide if she will fight for her people or fall for the cold-blooded pirate Golde; the longer she’s on the pirate ship, the less certain she is about the right way forward.
This is a heartbreaking but epic fantasy story about fierce women, found family and the power of love. Though A Sea of Wolves is technically a prequel to A Curse of Salt, I’d recommend reading this second, after you’ve been fully immersed in the world. Perfect for readers aged 14+.’
– Lucie Dess, marketing and events coordinator
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
‘Zara is trying to raise her murdered sister from the dead, and she needs magic to help her perform necromancy. Jude, the black sheep of an ultra-wealthy, dysfunctional family, is cursed by a deal with a demon that went horribly wrong and looking to fix it any way she can. When these two women meet Emer, an orphaned witch with a horrific past, they both decide her skills can provide them with the answers they need. But first they need to find the serial killer who is murdering Emer’s clients and stealing their invocations ...
This is a captivating story of strong women and their impressive gifts, magical and otherwise, written by the talented author of House of Hollow and Our Chemical Hearts. It will appeal to those who love fantasy and feminist stories, aged 14+.’
– This is an edited quote from Angela Crocombe’s review for Readings Monthly
The Skin I'm In by Steph Tisdell
‘In this coming-of-age tale, we follow Layla; at 17, she is sharp, quite cautious and always irreverent. She also finds herself facing issues a little too typical for her taste: a fading best-friendship, unrequited crushes, and feeling as though she’s socially falling behind. Layla has always been a headstrong individual, but she’s beginning to think that fitting in might be what she needs. But that’s complicated when you’re the only Indigenous student at your middle-class high school ...
In this giggle-inducing social drama, we watch Layla unpack her experiences and develop the tools to protect and defend herself. Tisdell paints a picture of the daily experiences of colonisation felt by Layla and her family. As Layla learns, we are given the opportunity to learn with her; you can laugh, cry, and grow with her, too ... Recommended for readers aged 15+.’
– This is an edited quote from Celeste Perry’s review for Readings Monthly
Deep Is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson
‘Merry, Sol and Teddy are 17 and have known one another forever. Now, on the cusp of adulthood and potentially going their separate ways, Merry is hoping for one last summer of fun together. But they are swept along by a much more dastardly plot instead.
Merry’s dad is part of a men-only secret society, the Toadmen, that has meetings and some unusual rituals, which Merry thought were harmless until Teddy decided to join them. Merry sneaks into their secret meeting and discovers that they are using forbidden magic and taking each initiate’s life force ... Merry is desperate to stop her friend joining and is offered help by her aloof school rival, Caraway Boswell, if she comes as his date to a secret Toad wedding. These two arch-enemies must travel into the swampy forest of Deeping Fen, where all sorts of mysteries and power plays unfold ... a brilliant read that will be devoured by feminists and/or fantasy lovers aged 13+.’
– This is an edited quote from Angela Crocombe’s review for Readings Monthly
