In April, teenagers ponder the impossible future in a bumper crop of Australian YA fiction, YouTube and TV stars take over the YA memoir genre, and some very classy international fantasy hits our shelves.
(Find our best recommendations for kids’ books this month here.)
LOVEOZYA PICKS
The impossibility of deciding on a future and moving into the freedom and potential of adulthood is explored in three very different, but equally excellent Australian YA novels this month.
The Secret Science of Magic is a long-awaited new contemporary rom-com Melissa Keil. Sophia is genius-level smart, a perfectionist who experiences social anxiety and panic attacks. Her classmate Joshua has been cultivating a long-running crush on Sophia and decides that, given this is their final year of high school, he should finally bust a move. He does so using his amateur powers of illusion and magic in a somewhat complex courtship. Digital marketing manager Lian loved this novel, and you can read her review here. For ages 14 and up.
Year 12 is already over in Gabrielle Tozer’s Remind Me How This Ends, which explores the excruciating in-between phase between being a teenager and a fully-fledged adult. After five years part, former best friends Layla and Milo reconnect over one confusing and heady summer and discover that they still share a strong connection. This is a hopeful and romantic story about fallible and authentic teens. For ages 14 and up.
In Steph Bowe’s Night Swimming, Clancy and Kirby are 17-year-old best friends living in a tiny Australian town. Future musical star Clancy has no qualms about eventually leaving for the big smoke; Kirby finds the decision to stay or leave far more fraught. Their gorgeous friendship is put to the test by newcomer Iris, who is eminently desirable to both Kirby and Clancy. Hawthorn bookseller Carrie greatly enjoyed this bittersweet comedy, and you can read her review here. For ages 14 and up.
On a very different note, established Australian author James Bradley, turns his hand to writing near-future sci-fi YA fiction. The Silent Invasion is the first book in his new trilogy. It’s 2027 and Earth has been infiltrated by an extra-terrestrial lifeform that lives in the natural world and passes to humans, causing a sinister process called the Change. Teenager Callie makes the decision to evade authorities and run for potential safety in northern Australia – but then her little sister Gracie is infected. Bradley paints a realistic and gripping Australian dystopia in this exciting action thriller for ages 13 and up.
INTERNATIONAL YA PICKS
Oodles of Readings staff members are fans of Laini Taylor’s dreamy, kooky and fantastical writing, so there’s a lot of excitement around Strange the Dreamer. This is her eighth – and I think best – book. Medieval geek boy Strange has always been obsessed with the mythical lost city of Weep. Lonely Sarai, hidden in a walled citadel with her brothers and sisters, has a serious case of cabin fever. Their paths collide in this odd and utterly heartbreaking novel. You can read my review here. For ages 14 and up.
I’ve had my eye on Finnish feminist fantasy novel Maresi since it came out in hardcover late last year, so I’m pleased that it’s now available in paperback. This story opens with the intriguing premise: an island and abbey inhabited solely by women and girls that exists in a world ruled by men. When a new novice washes up on the shores, pursued by a violent father, the women and girls must draw on mythology and magic to defend their haven. Maresi is the first book in The Red Abbey trilogy, with second book Naondel due for release in September. For ages 13 and up.
Canadian author Susin Nielsen also has a bit of a cult following at Readings for her funny stories about quirky outsiders facing big challenges. Her latest, Optimists Die First, places grief-stricken and anxious 16-year-old Petula in the path of Jacob, another teen in her therapy group is relentlessly optimistic despite losing an arm. If you like to read smart, funny and romantic books, this one is for you. For ages 13 and up.
And finally, in exciting news, it’s been announced that Philip Pullman is writing a new trilogy that will work as a companion to his classic and acclaimed His Dark Materials trilogy. The first book in the series, The Book of Dust, will be published on Thursday 19 October this year and features the familiar Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pantalaimon. We’ll be selling it at the special price $26.95 (). You can learn more about what to expect from the new story here.
YA BOOKS ON THE SCREEN
Avid screen watchers will definitely want to read the book before (or after) watching these film and TV adaptations of popular YA novels. All three are now available in new editions.
Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall is the story of a teenager who is forced to relive the day of her death every day for a week. The film adaptation has been released, and you can watch a trailer here.
Jay Asher’s 13 Reasons Why has been transformed into a Netflix series that has everyone talking – including our own marketing manager Nina. Watch a trailer here.
And we’re getting VERY excited for the film adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s Everything, Everything, which is due for release on 6 July. Find the trailer here.
NEW YA MEMOIR
Two new YA memoirs respectively springing from Reality TV and YouTube are likely to catch the attention of teen readers – even if parents won’t really get it.
Prodigiously talented teen dancer Maddie Ziegler, of Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance_ and Chandelier fame, has written an admittedly early memoir, The Maddie Diaries. You can forgive her for it though, because she really has crammed a lot of achievements into her young life; the memoir is full of details about her early years, training and rise to fame on reality TV. Young dancers or performers will likely get a lot out of reading about Maddie’s determination and focus in this bright and breezy memoir. For ages 12 and up.
Canadian actress and comedian Lilly Singh, aka IISuperwomanII, is a huge deal on YouTube, and given the amount of content she pumps out it’s hard to see how she found the time to write How to be a Bawse. As the title suggests, this book covers all matters of working hard, putting in the yards and the mystifying advice to ‘Be A Unicorn’. YouTube obsessives and ambitious teens looking for motivation, self-respect and a strong female role model will enjoy this one. For ages 14 and up.
THE CBCA 2017 SHORTLISTS
The Children’s Book Council of Australia have released their much-anticipated Book of the Year shortlists for 2017.
Congratulations to the shortlisted authors in the Older Readers category – the judges have picked an eclectic list that covers fantasy, magic realism and contemporary fiction.
You can view the Older Readers shortlist here, and read about all categories here.
APRIL EVENTS FOR TEENS
We’re delighted to be hosting two free events for YA readers at Readings Kids this month.
Come along to help us launch Steph Bowe’s new young adult novel, Night Swimming, on Thursday 20 April.
Find more details here.
And hear two of Melbourne’s finest YA authors in conversation on on Thursday 27 April. Nicole Hayes will chat with Emily Gale about feminism, family and her recent novel, A Shadow’s Breath.
Find more details here.
