The best new books for teens in October
Stolen emeralds, superheroes and climate change – October is a huge month for young adult fiction, and we’re positive you’ll find your next big read in amongst this haul.
New Australian YA reads
Fans of Vikki Wakefield can now rejoice, because Inbetween Days has finally hit our shelves. Jacklin is trying hard to find her place in the dying town of Mobius, but nothing seems easy. She’s dropped out of school, lost her job and the boy she loves doesn’t love her. A gritty, heartfelt read for teens and adult readers alike.
Zeroes was penned three authors – two Australian authors (Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti) and one American-but-now-living-part-time-in-Australia author (Scott Westerfeld) – and is the first in a new series which follows around six teens with strange powers as they’re drawn into a world of mobsters and bank robberies. It’s an action-packed read with a great cast of well-rounded characters that will appeal to male or female characters aged 13+.
And Garth Nix has taken a departure from the high fantasy of his Old Kingdom series with his latest offering. Newt’s Emerald is a regency romance which sees Lady Truthful donning a disguise to hunt for her family’s stolen necklace. As an avowed Nix fan, I’m intrigued to see how he handles this transition into a new genre.
A panel discussion on OzYA Heroes
If you’re eager to get even more insight into OzYA, be sure to come along to our panel on Monday 19 October at our St Kilda store.
Authors Nicole Hayes (One True Thing) and David Burton (How to be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Sex and Teenage Confusion) will be joining bookTuber Chami and blogger Chris Buur to discuss what makes a character a hero.
Find the details here.
New Rainbow Rowell! New Rainbow Rowell!
If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the latest Rainbow Rowell, you aren’t alone. There are a few of us here at Readings who are counting down the days until Carry On is unboxed. In this new book, readers can reacquaint ourselves with the characters Rowell first introduced in Fangirl. Simon Snow’s time at Watford’s School of Magicks is proving difficult after his girlfriend dumps him and his roommate (and arch-nemesis) goes missing. But then, who said life would be easy for the world’s most powerful magician?
Climate change for teens
Climate change is an issue that affects us all, and if you or your teens are wanting to learn more about it, look no further than Carole Wilkinson’s excellent new non-fiction book Atmospheric: The Burning Story of Climate Change. In her review, Carlton Children’s Specialist Angela Crocombe said: “Her underlying motivation is clearly to inspire young people to make a difference and show them that they can be engaged in turning the climate crisis around. I really hope it succeeds.”
Come along to our Carlton shop on Tuesday 13 October to hear Carole Wilkinson discuss these important issues in person. You can find the details here.
Gorgeous cover makeovers for much-loved series
Two heavyweights in the YA world have been given cover makeovers.
Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series has been reissued with hand-etched designs by artist Míla Fürstová. You can see a detail from one of the covers over on the right, and you can find the books here.
Harry Potter has also yet again been given a new set of jackets – not that we’re complaining! The new editions feature artwork by renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson. You can find them here.
