There are so many exciting new releases in young adult literature this month that will have wide appeal for young adults and adults alike. Our Book of the Month is by the US author, E.Lockhart, and is a prequel to her bestseller, We Were Liars. We’re also excited about a delicious rom-com by Australian author Sarah Ayoub, a historical fiction adventure on the high seas with the pirate Anne Bonny, a fantasy adventure in the skies, and two LGBTQIA+ new releases - a mystery romance by Casey McQuiston and a coming-of-age story told in graphic novel format by Sarah Winifred Searle.

Read this month’s Children’s round-up here.

YA BOOK OF THE MONTH

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart

A windswept private island off the coast of Massachusetts. A hungry ocean, churning with secrets and sorrow. A fiery, addicted heiress. An irresistible, unpredictable boy. A summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes. Welcome back to the Sinclair family. They were always liars.

In this prequel to We Were Liars we are privy to the previous generation’s lies, handed down like an inheritance through the generations. Equally as compelling, you don’t need to read the two books in order.

A hardback collector’s edition is available here.

A thrilling read for ages 13 and up.

FIVE GREAT BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH

The Cult of Romance by Sarah Ayoub

Natalie is living proof that love is a scam. She’s traumatised by her parents’ failed marriage and overwhelmed by her grandmother’s expectations of good Lebanese girls - marriage, motherhood and exceptional tabouli-making skills.

When her best friend decides to get hitched to a guy in the motherland, Nat’s not exactly thrilled by the mammoth task before her: juggling cultural traditions, extra bridesmaid dresses and super-judgemental relatives. Not to mention the annoyingly good-looking best man…

An enemies to lovers rom-com for ages 15 and up.

Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin

A beautifully written teen fantasy adventure, set in a world of flying ships, sky cities and powerful paper spirits inspired by Asian cultures and exploring themes of empire, slavery and freedom.

Kurara has always been a servant, but when her trick of making paper come to life turns out to be a treasured power across the empire, Kurara learns to hunt shikigami - wild paper spirits. But are these animate creatures or beings with their own souls? And can Kurara help them find their voice - and change the course of an empire?

A mythic fantasy for readers aged 13 and up.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

Chloe Green is so close to winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s perfect daughter. But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes.

On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s longtime sweetheart, and Rory, Shara’s bad boy neighbour. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the cryptic notes she left behind. Fierce, funny and frank, this story is about breaking the rules, getting messy and finding love in unexpected places.

A mystery story for ages 14 and up.

Slipping the Noose by Meg Caddy

This rollicking historical novel from Australian writer Meg Caddy takes us into the world of real-life pirate Anne Bonny, picking up her story where history left off.

Bonny is chained up in the hold of a prison ship, nursing nine-month-old Molly. The baby is all she has left of Calico Jack, the swaggering pirate captain. When armed men rip the child from her grasp, Bonny can do nothing and Molly seems lost. But Anne Bonny was not cut out for despair. Her subsequent exploits and whereabouts are brought vividly and rakishly to life.

For lovers of historical and adventure fiction aged 13 and up.

The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle

It’s the first day of Grade Ten, and Winifred is going to reinvent herself. Now that her two best friends have transferred to a private school, Win must navigate high school on her own. Luckily, she meets Oscar and April in art class. They don’t look or act like the typical teenagers in her town: they’re creative, a little rebellious and seem comfortable in their own skin in a way that Win can only dream of.

Even though Winifred is breaking out of her shell, there’s one secret she can’t bear to admit to. Win needs to face her own truth, but she doesn’t need to do it alone.

A graphic novel about identity for ages 12 and up.

NEWS AND EVENTS

• The Kill Your Darlings online journal’s yearly School Writing Prize is now open for submissions from high school students. This year’s theme is ‘hope’. Find out more here.
• Amie Kaufman has a new podcast detailing a book’s journey to publication. Find out more about it here.
• Classic novels are a rich source of inspiration to writers. Find out about some contemporary YA inspired by classic novels here.
• Discover some brilliant YA fiction that has been challenged in the US and why you should read it here.