Interviews with our work experience students

Over the next few weeks we’re participating in a work experience program with students from high schools across Melbourne. Here, 15-year-old work experience student Olivia Walls tells us about her favourite books.


How would you describe your taste in books? Do you like romance or adventure, science fiction or history, etc?

The books I read are fantasy, romance (‘bad boy’ ‘good girl’ romances are my particular love), contemporary, some science-fiction. Nearly all of them have a little bit of romance – that’s what keeps the story going in my opinion. Really, I’ll read most things apart from war books. Some are probably good but I just don’t love them.


Tell us about one of your favourite books. When did you first read it? Have you read it more than once? Did you have a different favourite book before now?

I have many favourite books but my absolute favourite would have to be Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter, the first of a trilogy. (The third will be released in September this year.) I read Alice over a year ago and since then, have re-read it from beginning to end two more times. I even sometimes pull the book out of my bookcase so I can read random chapters and transport myself back into the world.


Do you and your friends share books with each other? What is one your friend has liked, but you haven’t?

Yes. I have a few friends that I rant about books to, who also rant back. :) Recently, I read The Fault in our Stars and though I think it was well-written and very thoughtful, I wouldn’t rave about it like the whole population of the world. I prefer books with a happy ending. I do have a friend who loves it though! And I can’t wait for the movie to come out though. I will probably be crying the whole way through.


The Emerging Writer’s Festival is happening in Melbourne later this month. You can check out the program here. What’s an event you might be interested in attending?

I think Keeping your book in the Bookshop would be interesting because I want to learn about book reviews!


What is a book you’d love to see made into a film? Who would play the lead role?

I would love to see all of my favourite books made into a film! Here are just a few:

  1. Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter
  2. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
  3. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
  4. Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout
  5. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie Mcguire
  6. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
  7. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (now a movie so yay)
Cover image for Alice in Zombieland

Alice in Zombieland

Gena Showalter

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