New and recommended young adult books for April
We’ve got some great new releases this month, including new novels by Australian authors, Lili Wilkinson and Allayne Webster, an international debut inspired by Greek mythology, and a haunted house story. Our book of the month is the stunning new novel by multiple award-winning author, Helena Fox.
YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Quiet and the Loud by Helena Fox
This beautiful book by the author of How it Feels to Float is set during the summer of 2019, when bushfires dominated the lives of many Australians. The main character, George, is a likeable, kind person who is trying to negotiate some big events in her life. Her father was an alcoholic for much of her childhood and although her parents are long separated, she still hasn’t processed all the pain he caused. When he contacts her again after a period of estrangement, George must reconcile the trauma of the past. Her best friend is pregnant and her other good friend has become a climate activist, but there is a girl she is teaching art classes with, and with whom she may just be falling in love.
This stunning story has incredible dialogue, and handles big topics with wonderful sensitivity. Highly recommended for readers aged 14 and up.
FIVE BOOKS WE LOVE THIS MONTH
A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson
Due April 18
The new novel by on of our favourite Melbourne authors is a fantasy thriller set in a world where magic is regulated and commercialised. People can buy magic to make themselves more beautiful, but any stronger magic is banned. Maude is the daughter of witches, brought up by her grandmother since her mother was killed by the authorities for practising unlicensed magic. When Maude’s ex-best friend Odette disappears in search of illegal, dark magic, Maude decides to rescue Odette in hopes of repairing their friendship. This sets off a chain of events that will resonate throughout their world.
This is brilliant, feminist fantasy that is unputdownable for ages 14 and up.
Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
This debut fantasy story is inspired by Greek mythology and the story of Penelope’s twelve hanged maidens. In Ithaca every year, twelve maidens are sacrificed to appease Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her sacrificial death on a strange island, she meets the island’s caretaker, Melantho, a girl who tells her that to break the curse and stop the sacrifices she must kill the prince of Ithaca. Together, they set out to do just that, falling in love along the way.
This is a beautiful reimagining of Greek mythology that is suitable for ages 15 and up.
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
This is a chilling, post-colonial haunted house story. Jade is spending her last summer before college in Vietnam at Nha Hoa, the French colonial house her estranged father is fixing up as a vacation rental. When strange things start to happen to her, Jade realises that the house is haunted. When her father and sister refuse to believe her, she recruits the caretaker’s daughter to help her reveal the ghosts inside Nha Hoa that will devour them if they can.
This is a beautifully written ghost story for ages 13 and up.
Selfie by Allayne L. Webster
This school story set during year eight is about friendship and the perils of online fame. Tully can’t believe her luck when her classmate Dene Walker, with thousands of adoring fans online, wants to be her friend. Tully quickly abandons her long-term bestie, Kira, for a friendship that is shallow and not at all what she expected.
This tale is ideal for tweens and young teens just starting to explore the online world for themselves. Suitable for ages 11 and up.
The Impossible Story of Hannah Kemp by Leonie Agnew
This magical realist story from New Zealand is about a young woman recovering from a life-changing accident that she caused and now must make reparations. Shunned by the rest of her small community, she hides inside books until she finds a mobile library that is bigger on the inside than the outside and in which all the stories seem to be true. When she finds her own story in the library, it sets off a chain of events that change everything for the better.
Suitable for ages 13 and up.
