Young adult

Clunes Booktown Festival is back!

by Angela Crocombe

We are excited to be returning to Clunes this year for the Booktown Festival on the weekend of 30 April – 1 May.

The festival celebrates books and authors, taking over the historic buildings and wide streets of this tiny town in the Goldfields, just under two hours from Melbourne.

We’ll be on hand with a large marquee featuring books from the authors appearing at the festival and hosting author signings, also selling bargain books and the latest releases, alongside…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Treehouse Tales by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

Flames of Hope: Wings of Fire 15 by Tui T. Sutherland

Weirdo 18: Weird History by Anh Do

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Milo Finds $105 by Matt Stanton

Bluey: Baby Race by Bluey

Skydragon 4: Brave the Storm by Anh Do

Sugar by Carly Nugent

Babysitters Club Graphic Novel 11: Goodbye Stacey, Goodbye by Ann M. Martin & Gabriela Epstein

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

Rocketing to…

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CBCA Book of the Year Awards Shortlists 2022

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its Book of the Year Awards shortlists for 2021. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators, editors and publishers!

Here are the shortlists for each category:

Older Readers (for ages 13-18 years)

The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

Girls in Boys’ Cars by Felicity Castagna

How to Repaint a Life by Steven Herrick

Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix

Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim

Sugar Town Queens by Malla Nunn

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Top picks of the month for Kids and YA book clubs

March has delivered plenty of engaging new releases that would be excellent reads to provoke discussion among young people in book clubs!

Below are our top picks for book clubs this month.

For readers aged 5-9

What Snail Knows by Kathryn Apel

Lucy and Dad move a lot, so it’s hard to make friends. Luckily she has Snail to keep her company. But when she finds somewhere she wants to stay, can she convince her dad?

Themes include:

loneliness

belonging

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The CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals shortlists 2022

The shortlists for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced!

The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

The shortlisted books for the 2022 Carnegie Medal:

October, October by Katya Balen, illustrated by Angela Harding

Guard Your Heart by Sue Divin

When the Sky

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Recommended YA books and news for March

This month we have three new fantasy novels to immerse yourself in, including the new book from the author of Four Dead Queens, Astrid Scholte; a story set in a world of ancient magic; and a spooky thriller focused on a notorious party and its aftermath.

For contemporary fiction lovers there are two powerful new Australian novels, one set during an epic road trip and one focusing on a small town and the aftermath of fire. We also have…

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I'm with the band – music themed YA

by Angela Crocombe

Who doesn’t love a juicy story with behind the scenes gossip about the music world, filled with tempestuous singers, badly behaved drummers, stifled songwriters and giggling fans? Well, it turns out that young adult fiction is filled with these stories and they truly are a lot of fun. Here’s a few of our favourite musician and music themed YA stories.

Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young

Back in San Francisco, Alice took regular singing lessons. But since their diplomat mom…

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International Women's Day books for kids and teens

by Angela Crocombe

Happy International Women’s Day! It’s a day to celebrate women and their achievements - past, present and future - and we are blessed with many great books that articulate the lives of remarkable women. Here are a few recent titles about amazing women to both educate and inspire young people.

Courageous Queens by Angela Buckingham

A story collection about women with power and how they used it.

These queen stories are not fairytales for small children. They are true tales…

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Spotlight on recent translated books for children and young adults

In recent months there have been a number of uniquely beautiful books in translation for children and young adults. From a picture book by one of Sweden’s most beloved authors, a hilarious book about a dad trying to keep their child busy during lockdown, to a story set in Nazi Germany and more. Read on to discover these unique perspectives.

The Tale of the Tiny Man by Barbro Lindgren & Eva Nilsson (translated from the Swedish language by Julia Marshall)

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CBCA Notable Books of 2022

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its Notable Books for 2022. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers!

The CBCA presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. The CBCA Awards were first presented in 1946 and are the longest-running book awards in Australia.

Here are the notable books for each category:

Older Readers

Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and are appropriate in style…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes & Ellie Laing

Only A Monster by Vanessa Len

The First Scientists by Corey Tutt

Possum Magic by Mem Fox

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Your School is the Best by Maggie Hutchings

The Unexpected Tale of Bastien Bonlivre by Clare Povey

Rockstar Detectives by Adam Hills

Nature’s Treasures by Ben Hoare

Our Planet: The One Place we all call Home by Matt Whyman & Richard Jones

Adam Goodes again takes out the…

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A message from the outgoing Teen Advisory Board

Well, that’s a wrap.

It feels anticlimactic for the Teen Advisory Board of 2021/22 to sign off this way, given the incredible highs we’ve had these past few months. From meeting acclaimed authors to attending book launches, there’s been such an amazing array of activities on offer, it scarcely seems possible to identify the highlights.

Our first meeting was a blur, meeting each other for the first time and learning all about everyone’s likes and dislikes, the things that make…

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The CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals longlists 2022

The longlists for the 2022 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced!

The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

Here are the longlisted books for the 2022 Carnegie Medal:

October, October by Katya Balen, illustrated by Angela Harding

Musical Truth by Jeffrey Boakye…

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Our top picks of the month for kid's and YA book clubs

We have some fantastic new releases that would be excellent reads to provoke discussion amongst young people in book clubs! Read on see this month’s top picks.

Books for readers aged 5-9

Looking After Country with Fire by Victor & Sandra Steffensen

This non-fiction book uses a story narrated by Uncle Kuu to teach children about cultural burning techniques. The book includes explores understanding ecosystems, the technique of cultural burning, and respect for First Nations practices.

You can read our…

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Our books of the month, February 2022

OUR FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

Reviewed by

This highly anticipated follow-up to 2015’s A Little Life is an epic tour de force. In fact, it’s impossible for me to praise To Paradise enough. Set in an alternative America, this is a novel of three parts, its narratives traversing a slew of human experience and emotion.

Locational echoes and characters’ names recur from one story to the next, as if they are reincarnated or reimagined…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

The Brightest Night: The Graphic Novel by Tui Sutherland

The First Scientists by Corey Tutt

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen McManus

Only A Monster by Vanessa Len

Friday Barnes 10: Undercover by R.A. Spratt

Rockstar Detectives by Adam Hills

Wandi by Favel Parrett

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes & Ellie Laing

Bumper Treehouse Book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

This week sees the graphic novel adaptation of Wings of

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Recommended YA books and news for February

New year, new books! So many exciting new releases are coming our way this month with stories to suit a wide variety of young adult readers. We’ve got a fascinating historical novel, contemporary thrillers, a local debut fantasy, as well as the beginning of a fantasy series focused on Persian mythology, not to mention a collection of romantic short stories. Let’s get into it!

For our children’s book round-up please take a look here.

YA BOOK OF THE MONTH

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Applications are open for our Teen Advisory Board

Applications are now open for the 2022 Readings Teen Advisory Board!

We’re currently looking for a new intake of teenagers (aged 14–19) to join our advisory board, starting in April 2022 and running until March 2023.

The board is a volunteer group of teenagers who meet monthly to learn about the book industry, discuss young adult books, meet authors, publishers and book industry experts, write reviews, provide Readings staff with feedback on a range of topics, and more. This year…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes & Ellie Laing

The Brightest Night: The Graphic Novel by Tui Sutherland

Adam Spencer’s Maths 101 by Adam Spencer

First Scientists by Corey Tutt

Tomorrow is a Brand New Day by Davina Bell

Wandi by Favel Parrett

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen McManus

There’s a Zoo in my Poo by Felice Jacka

Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beatty

In an Artist’s Garden by Claire Orrell

Adam Goodes continues to hold onto the…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes & Ellie Laing

Your School is the Best! by Maggie Hutchings

Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Adam Spencer’s Maths 101 by Adam Spencer

The Bumper Treehouse Fun Book by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Cat Kid Comic Club 2 by Dav Pilkey

First Scientists by Corey Tutt

Tomorrow is a Brand New Day by Davina Bell & Alison Colpoys

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths &amp…

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2021 literary prize winners for younger readers

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Winner of the 2021 National Book Award for Young People

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

You’ll be the Death of Me by Karen McManus

Cat Kid Comic Club 2 by Dav Pilkey

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Wolf Girl 6: Animal Train by Anh Do

Tomorrow is a Brand New Day by Davina Bell & Alison Colpoys

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy

Wandi by Favel Parrett

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

Gangsta Granny Strikes Again by David Walliams

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Nature’s Treasures by Ben Hoare

You’ll be the Death of Me by Karen McManus

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy

Tomorrow is a Brand New Day by Davina Bell & Alison Colpoys

Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Bluey: Christmas Swim by Bluey

Cat Kid Comic Club 2 by Dav Pilkey

Gangsta Granny Strikes Again by David Walliams

Bluey Sleepytime by Bluey

The beautiful…

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Gift ideas for hard-to-buy-for teens

Teens are tricky at the best of times and getting them a gift at this time of year can sometimes be a real challenge. Never fear! We are here to help with some appropriate suggestions for those tricky teens in your life:

FOR THE SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR

Lead the Way by Jean Hinchliffe is an excellent introduction to teen activism by a leader of the School Strikes for Climate movement in Australia.

If Not Us by Mark Smith is a…

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Fantastic #LoveOZYA titles of 2021

It’s been a great year for locally written young adult fiction, and we celebrate this with an all-Australian selection of stand-out titles that will be greatly enjoyed by the teen or young adult fiction lover in your life.

The Gaps by Leanne Hall

When sixteen-year-old Yin Mitchell is abducted, the news reverberates through the whole Year Ten class at Balmoral Ladies College. Police suspect the abduction is the work of a serial offender, with none in the community safe from…

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10 Favourite First Nations books for kids in 2021

So many amazing stories were published this year by First Nations storytellers. These ten beautiful books include: an introduction to the lie of ‘Terra Nullius’ conveyed in a simple, rhythmic picture book; a story about the importance of sharing; a First Nations perspective on Invasion Day; a guide to native flora and fauna in Kakadu; and biographical stories of remarkable First Nations leaders, scientists and innovators.

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing and David Hardy

For thousands and thousands…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

You’ll be the Death of Me by Karen McManus

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy

Tomorrow is a Brand New Day by Davina Bell & Alison Colpoys

Animal Train: Wolf Girl 6 by Anh Do

Bluey: Christmas Swim by Bluey

Bluey Sleepytime by Bluey

Gangsta Granny Strikes Again by David Walliams

Cat Kid Comic Club 2 by Dav Pilkey

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Future Girl by Asphyxia

The new Karen McManus…

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Kids book buyers' favourites of 2021

by Angela Crocombe

Book buyers at each of the stores of Readings come across thousands of books each year and have to make decisions about which ones to stock, which ones to feature and how many to order. It’s an enviable job and one of the highlights (and challenges!) is reflecting on some of our top picks of the year. But we’ve managed it! Below are the Children’s Buyers favourite reads of 2021 that come very highly recommend.

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

by Angela Crocombe

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy

Wandi by Favel Parrett

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Bluey: Christmas Swim by Bluey

Nature’s Treasures by Ben Hoare

Big Shot: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 16 by Jeff Kinney

Our Planet: The One Place we all call Home by Matt Whyman & Richard Jones

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad

Pony by R.J. Palacio

Tomorrow is a Brand New Day by Davina Bell

As…

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12 Queer YA Favourites of 2021

by Angela Crocombe

It’s been an incredible year for queer young adult fiction, with a dizzying array of novels that encompass the range and breadth of queer stories today. Here are twelve of our favourites (because our original plan of ten just wasn’t enough!) of 2021, in no particular order:

Henry Hamlet’s Heart by Rhiannon Wilde

Henry Hamlet doesn’t know what he wants after school ends. It’s his last semester of year twelve and all he’s sure of is his uncanny ability to…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Plume: World Explorer by Tania McCartney

Wandi by Favel Parrett

First Scientists by Corey Tutt

Big Shot: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 16 by Jeff Kinney

Bluey: Christmas Swim by Bluey

The Story of Australia by Don Watson

Pony by R.J. Palacio

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

In another busy week in the shops and online, the new picture

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Recommended YA books and news for November

This month we are spoilt for choice with some fantastic new releases. Our Book of the Month is a collection of Australian voices writing horror stories. We also have a meet-cute in a queer graphic novel, a kick-ass heroine taking down teenage cyber criminals, the final novel in the wildly popular Aurora Cycle sci-fi series, a prequel in Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series, and a new novel by author of the Scythe series, Neal Shusterman. So much great reading ahead!

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Big Shot: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 16 by Jeff Kinney

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy

Wandi by Favel Parrett

Aurora’s End by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Pony by R.J. Palacio

First Scientists by Corey Tutt

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

Bluey: Christmas Swim by Bluey

There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers

We have our two biggest middle fiction titles…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

Aurora’s End by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Big Shot: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 16 by Jeff Kinney

Wandi by Favel Parrett

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy

Bluey Sleepytime by Bluey

Bluey: Christmas Swim by Bluey

The Bad Guys: Episode 14 by Aaron Blabey

There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad

Rocketing to the top spot…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

Big Shot: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 14 by Jeff Kinney

Wandi by Favel Parrett

The First Scientists by Corey Tutt

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

Always by Morris Gleitzman

There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers

Pony by R.J. Palacio

If Not Us by Mark Smith

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs by Sami Bayly

For the second week in a row our top spot goes…

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Children's books for big thinkers

by Angela Crocombe

The release of the extraordinary new book by Brian Selznick got us thinking about books that defy easy categorization and are suitable for readers who like to question everything, consider the big philosophical questions of life, and formulate their own conclusions - or even realise that there are no simple answers to many of our most challenging questions.

As well as the stunning Selznick, here are some other wonderfully inspiring recommendations for deep thinkers of all ages.

Kaledeidoscope by Brian…

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Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs by Sami Bayly

There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers

The First Scientists by Corey Tutt

Wandi by Favel Parrett

Pony by R.J. Palacio

If Not Us by Mark Smith

Always by Morris Gleitzman

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

Racing to the top spot this week is the latest in the hilariously brilliant Treehouse series

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Books on climate activism for young adults

by Angela Crocombe

Young people are understandably worried about one of the most pressing issues of our time: the climate emergency.

Rather than portraying dystopian futures, the following four novels and one non-fiction book show positive ways that young people can become engaged in climate activism in accessible stories that will inspire, entertain and inform.

If Not Us by Mark Smith

Hesse lives a small coastal town, where a coalmine and power station are a part of the scenery, and a part of…

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Our Teen Advisory Board's favourite reads of 2021 so far

We asked our Teen Advisory Board members to let us know which book stands out as exceptional amongst everything they’ve read so far this year. Below are the books they’ve loved the most and you can browse our more extensive collection of their favourite reads here.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

This novel is the book to read! A Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai in the criminal underworld?? Sign me up!

— Aurelia Orr

Yolk

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Recommended YA books and news for October

It’s one of the biggest months of the year with so many fantastic new releases, including an extraordinary new novel by the author of Wonder, a novel about climate change activism by Australian author Mark Smith, a feminist reimagining of The Outsiders, and a debut YA fantasy title from bestselling author C.S. Pacat.

For our round-up of children’s titles this month take a look here.

YA BOOK OF THE MONTH

Pony by R.J. Palacio

When Silas Bird…

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