What our Teen Advisory Board are reading
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Caspian is reading The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
Last month I read The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman.
I’m a sucker for fantasy and a sucker for pirates so this book was perfect. The magic system was so unique and awesome with the spirits and sacrifices. The world building with the gods and their stories was really good as well. I’m not usually one for romance but Shelly and Leander are so cute. All the characters have really interesting arcs and personal growth for them to go through and I can’t wait to see it come to fruition in the next book.
Alina is reading Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Poetic in its simplicity, and complex in its characterisation, this novel by Saenz narrates experiences of boyhood, sexuality, friendship and finding happiness with oneself and life. With rich descriptions of thoughts and dreams, alongside observant critiques on culture, discrimination in all forms, and the emotional toll on veterans, this novel prevails in communicating the positive power of romantic, familial and self-love.
Recommend wholeheartedly, though it is not a recent YA novel, it still remains relevant and moving.
Saira is reading House of Gucci by Sara Gay Forden
I finished reading House of Gucci (the book by Sara Gay Forden) this month, which was excellent.
The book itself is about the Gucci family. It goes over their whole history, from the early 1900s all the way to the early 2000s (not from 2001 onwards, since the book was originally published in 2002). The main thing that caught my attention was that Sara Gay Forden was able to paint such a vivid portrait of the family (their public and private lives) and the business (the inner workings and the exteriors). It's a nonfiction book, filled with so much research, but her style of writing and countless interviews with people associated with the family make it a worthy read.
Jasper is reading Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
I recently had the absolutely delightful pleasure of reading Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.
Gender Queer is Kobabe's graphic memoir about eir experince growing up as non-binary and all the trial and tribulations that come with that. I consumed this book in a single sitting not just because it was short but also because it was utterly engrossing and so deeply genuine and heartfelt. The visuals also are quite nice, simple yet elegant, and effective with rather pretty naturalistic colours.
Ione is reading The Women in black by Madeleine St John
Set in a 1950s Sydney department store, The Women in Black is a gentle, character-driven observation of human nature and relationships. Lisa is the new Sales Assistant (Temporary) in Ladies' Cocktail Frocks. With the holiday rush looming ahead, she is introduced to her fellow saleswomen – each with her own dreams and aspirations. This novel is an irresistible reminder of the importance of friendship while being a nostalgic picture of Sydney at another time.
Witty and charming, The Women in Black is a lighthearted masterpiece.
Charlotte is reading It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames
I recently read It Looks Like Us, a young adult novel about a group of teenagers who spend their summer taking ice samples in Antarctica. However, there's something strange out on the ice, and something inhuman happening to the scientist supervising them. The premise was what motivated me to pick up this book, and it definitely came through.
I would highly recommend this book to people who like Stranger Things. It's a fairly quick read simply for the fact that it keeps you turning the pages.
Olivia is reading The Aleph and Other Stories by Jorge Luis Borges
Right now I'm reading The Aleph and Other Stories by Jorge Luis Borges. In this collection of his best short stories and personal essays, Borges offers philosophical puzzles, character studies, and even meditations on the nature of reality itself. It is transcendental, ephemeral, exultant, disturbing, liberating, metaphysical, and above all, fundamentally true.
To read Borge is to be awakened.
Poppy is reading Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
A book I've recently read is Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow. This novel tells the story of Luca Laine Thomas and her life on Parris, an island paradise. However, what happens when Luca suddenly gets sucked into the history of the island, and the unsolved deaths of the young women Parris all seem to forget.
Combining mystery, betrayal, murder and uncertainty, this novel it a perfect thriller to start your winter.
