Six teen books to read in March
This month we’re lucky to be reading a varied array of quality Aussie YA, award-winners, and one of the most startling fantasy reads of the year.
You can find some of our best children’s books of the month here.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie lives in Orïsha, a place that used to be full of magic – until the evil king Saran ordered all maji, including Zélie’s mother, to be killed. The remaining descendants of the maji now live as the underclass of diviners, made visible and vulnerable by their white hair and skin tone. The task of restoring fairness and magic to Orisha falls to Zélie and the rebel princess Amari, but their quest is a daunting one that will pit them against tyranny, blood relations, a complicated history of division and hate, and truly terrifying magical powers.
This brilliant fantasy founded in West African mythology has captivated our booksellers. We raved about it at length here, and you can also read a review here.
White Night by Ellie Marney
Much-loved Australian YA author Ellie Marney (Every series) has a new standalone novel out this month that draws heavily on her personal experiences growing up in a religious community.
White Night takes us to the small country town of Lamistead, to follow the friendship and developing romance between sporty Bo Mitchell and the sheltered Rory Wild, who lives in the nearby community of Eden. Bo is drawn to the seemingly idyllic lifestyle at Eden, but nothing about Rory’s life is as it first appears. Love, sex, environmental concerns, grassroots activism and changing family dynamics combine in what our reviewer Bronte describes as an ‘empowering and authentic teen story’.
You can read our full review here.
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
After 16-year-old Grace gets pregnant and gives up her baby for adoption, she embarks on a search for family. Adopted herself into a wonderful family, Grace searches for her birth mother but instead finds she has two siblings, Maya and Joaquin. This multi-perspective novels lets us into the secrets and very different life experiences of Grace, Maya and Joaquin as they tentatively get to know each other.
Our reviewer Angela says of this National Book Award winner: ‘These are wonderful, complicated, real characters who you cannot help feeling empathy and compassion for, who come from diverse, complicated families.’
You can read our full review here.
Tin Heart by Shivaun Plozza
Marlowe, the teenage recipient of a donor heart, becomes gripped by the need to find the family of the unknown donor and make sense of the fact that her new burst of life is built on someone else’s loss. When the family refuse her request, Marlowe goes underground in her search to connect, building a precarious and risky friendship with the donor’s sister, Carmen.
Our reviewer Natalie describes Tin Heart as ‘a divinely chaotic teen-drama full of emotional angst, crises and just the right amount of romantic tension’.
You can read our full review here.
Obsidio: The Illuminae Files 03 by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Massively popular local authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff finish off their groundbreaking and epic The Illuminae Files trilogy with the third instalment Obsidio. Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik have narrowly escaped the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With their backs against the wall, they will be forced to return to Kerenza, where Kady’s cousin Asha and her old flame Rhys are on opposite sides of violent conflict.
Continuing with the breakneck pace, intrigue and the clever format that mashes together transcripts, chats, emails and other documents, our impressed reviewer Andras promises that ‘Kristoff and Kaufman will hold your hand all the way to the end of this entertaining and thoughtful romp through the great expanse of space-adventure’.
You can read our full review here.
P is for Pearl by Eliza Henry Jones
Well known for her excellent adult novels, In the Quiet and Ache, Eliza Henry Jones has turned her hand to young adult fiction. Or rather, she has turned her skills onto a novel that she originally wrote when she was only sixteen years old.
Avid runner Gwendolyn P. Pearson lives in a small town on the unforgiving Tasmanian coast, together with her two best friends Loretta and Gordon. Gwen still bears the effects of a family tragedy that saw her lose her mum and younger brother, but has many other pressing things to focus on, such as the tensions within her new step-family and a blossoming romance with Ben. After a strange incident at the cafe where she works though, Gwen is propelled into a mystery that will uncover secrets within her family history. This is a gorgeously-crafted novel that delves thoughtfully into grief, identity, family and mental illness.
Join us for the launch at our Hawthorn shop on Thursday, 8 May.
RECENT NEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS
It really is awards season at the moment.
Over in the States, the 2018 winners of the Caldecott, Newbery and Printz awards have been announced. These awards are run by the American Library Association. Also overseas, the YA Book Prize shortlist has been revealed. This prize is awarded annually to the best young adult book written by an author living in the UK or Ireland.
On home shores, the Inky Awards longlists 2018 has been decided. The Inkys celebrate Australian and international YA books and winners are decided by teens. The Children’s Book Council of Australia have named their notable books of 2018. Shortlists in these categories for Book of the Year will be announced on 27 March.
Our Teen Advisory Board have been busy as usual. Here’s a monthly update on their activities. Fantasy and sci-fi have been a theme recently, with recommendations from board member Mia here and board member Tracy here, as well as a general round-up from the group here.
