Young adult

Our October 2024 children's and young adult bestsellers

Coming in at number one this month is the lastest adventure with everyone's favourite Demigod, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess.

Also making the list is the winner of The 2024 Readings Children's Prize, a beautiful picture book about baking with grandma and the finale of the Bad Guys.

Finally, all three of the Wild Robot books have made the list after the success of the movie adaptation.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of

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The November young adult review

Discover the new books for young adult readers that our booksellers are excited about this month! From a gothic fairytale to a complex YA dystopia, a classic fantasy favourite, and more.

Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

Reviewed by Bella Mackey, digital content lead

C.G. Drews’ return to young adult fiction is a gloriously gothic exploration of fairytales, isolation and obsessive friendship, set in an elite boarding school and a dark, untouched forest.

Andrew feels too fragile…

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Q&A with Gary Lonesborough, winner of The Readings Young Adult Prize 2024

We are proud and excited to announce Gary Lonesborough as the winner of The Readings Young Adult Prize 2024 for his coming-of-age novel, We Didn't Think It Through, about a sixteen-year-old boy finding his future and navigating the challenges of racism, family and friendship in a small Australian town.

We asked Gary about the inspiration for his work, the creative process, his perfect reader, favourite writing advice, and what he hopes readers take away from his book.

What was…

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The Readings Prize 2024 winners

Nearly 100 submissions, 18 shortlisted books and now we celebrate four winners! 

It’s a fantastic achievement just being shortlisted for this prize for emerging Australian talent, and we have one final shout-out to our highly recommended shortlisted books and authors at the end of this post.

Our winners represent a diverse snapshot of quality writing in Australia today. A contemporary Muddleheaded Wombat, an action-packed tale of the repercussions of one bad decision, a heartfelt journey in search of identity and…

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The TAB's guide to romance tropes

by Saskia de Leeuw Kyle & Alicia Vu

Romance is one of the most popular book genres of 2024. Whether it's the central genre of a novel or simply a sub-genre, it is a captivating exploration of love, passion and emotional growth, centred around the evolving relationship between two characters. Whether set in a contemporary world, a fantastical one, or historical, the heart of the story lies in the emotional conflicts that stand in the way of love. Romance dives into the characters’ inner struggles, personal growths and…

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A musical guide to the 2024 Readings Young Adult Prize

by Alicia Vu

The Readings Young Adult Prize is a perfect reading list for ages 14+. This year’s shortlist spans worlds of fantasy and realism, exploring the complexities of growing up – whether you're fighting off sea monsters, learning about your magical abilities, or simply finding your own pathway in life as an adolescent.

It has been an absolute pleasure to be able to immerse myself into each of these incredible novels. As a music lover, books and music go hand-in-hand for me…

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Our September 2024 children's and young adult bestsellers

In first place on our bestseller list for the second month in a row is the first book in Andy Griffiths brand new adventure series!

Other titles making the list include a heartwarming story of nature and technology colliding, the movie tie-in for Craig Silvey's Runt, Percy Jackson's latest adventure, and a story of the unsung heroes of war.

The Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths & Bill Hope (illus.)

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

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Top picks for book clubs this month

Looking for something juicy to discuss in your book club? Try one of these new releases, chosen by our booksellers to appeal to a wide range of readers and provide plenty to talk about.

Australian fiction

Juice by Tim Winton

Two fugitives, a man and a child, drive all night across a stony desert. As dawn breaks, they roll into an abandoned mine site. From the vehicle they survey a forsaken place – middens of twisted iron, rusty wire, piles…

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Great young adult reads for the school holidays

by Bella Mackey

Make the most of your school holidays with a stack of great books! Here are recommendations across a slew of genres, so you can do a deep dive into a particular niche or dip your toe into everything.

If Romantasy has you in a chokehold

There's no shortage of great romance-fantasy books at the moment, but The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe Chow is a great place to start! Blending Chinese mythology with an action-packed adventure, it's a fun…

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A beginner's guide to Rick Riordan

by Alicia Vu

Rick Riordan is the mastermind behind Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief, which in the twenty years since it was first published has been joined by over twenty books set in the same universe. The Riordanverse now contains multiple series, following the adventures of Percy Jackson, the Heroes of Olympus, the Kane siblings, Magnus Chase, Ana Dakkar and Apollo (aka Lester Papadopolous). Riordan intertwines complex characters, captivating plots and Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Norse mythologies to create worlds I…

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