Everything YA in July
July is a cold wintry month, so it’s appropriate that there’s a plethora of YA thrillers, dystopias, and dark subject matter currently on our shelves.
You can find some of our best kids reads of the month here.
YA BOOK OF THE MONTH
Hive by A.J. Betts
Zac and Mia author Betts follows up her bestselling work with the atmospheric and intimate dystopia, Hive.
Nature-loving innocent Hayley works contentedly as a beekeeper in the strictly regulated, constrained and hierarchical world of the Hive. When she begins to suffer from migraines, Hayley ventures out of the gardens in pursuit of relief. A single, impossible drop of water sets in motion a series of dangerous questions that lead Hayley to question everything she knows about her world. Hive is the first book in a planned duology, and is suitable for readers aged 13 years and up.
You can read our review here.
RECOMMENDED READS
Mercy Point by Anna Snoekstra
Five small-town teenagers are burdened by a suspicion that they are adopted, and turn to an anonymous online chat group for solace. When the five meet in person though, they’re horrified to realise that they know each other in real life, and are far from friends. Emma, Michael, Fabian, Tessie and Sam take turns to narrate a story that is full of dangerous secrets that the adults are desperately trying to keep under wraps. Our reviewer Kushla promises that Mercy Point will ‘keep readers guessing until the very end’. For ages 13 and up.
You can read our review here.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
High-achieving African-American student Justyce has worked hard to distinguish himself, finding himself in an identity quandary. The (majority) white students at his school are blind to their privilege and behave in ways that are downright offensive and prejudiced, while his black peers think he’s assimilated too much. Justyce holds himself at a distance from the gang life around him, yet he and his best friend Manny can’t escape the dangerous realities of police racial profiling.
Told through an interesting mix of letters to Martin Luther King, dialogue in script form and third-person narration, this is a layered, timely and hard-hitting read. Issues of race, gender and masculinity are explored in an even-handed and compassionate way. For ages 13 and up.
The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot
The Art of Taxidermy is an evocative verse novel set in a small Australian town in the 1960s. Lottie is a young girl who expresses her fascination with death by collecting dead animals and attempting to preserve them. The Art of Taxidermy uses lyricism and dark humour to explore the effects of grief, loss and war. Our reviewer Bronte recommends this unique verse novel for: ‘teen readers who have, like Lottie herself, 'a dark heart’.‘ For ages 13 and up.
You can read our review here.
Puddin’ by Julie Murphy
An unlikely friendship blooms between high school students Millie and Callie in Puddin’, a companion novel to the fantastic Dumplin’. After taking the fall for a bout of group vandalism, Callie is forced to work alongside Millie at the gym owned by Millie’s uncle.
Told in alternating first-person chapters, the dreams and pressures of each girl are revealed as they form a tentative connection. Biracial Mexican-American Callie is dumped by her dance team friends, and struggles to formulate a strong sense of identity. Millie has secretly applied for a summer broadcast journalism program, instead of her usual weight loss camp, but can’t find a way to tell her mother. Friendship, self acceptance and a light sprinkling of romance make this a smart and entertaining read. For ages 13 and up.
Important note: The movie adaptation of Dumplin’ is due out sometime this year, starring Australian actress Danielle Macdonald, and featuring new original music by Dolly Parton (!).
Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Well, that’s a bracing title, isn’t it? A group of illegitimate teens sit at the ‘bastard’s table’ at a royal banquet to honour Princess Lyriana and her uncle, Archmagus Rolan. When several of the adults band together, murder Rolan and plan a coup, Tilla and her half-brother Jax, friend Miles, warrior Zell, and the princess flee under a cloud of suspicion and lies. There’s a price upon their heads, and rival forces are conspiring to drum up a civil war.
With romance, intrigue, magic and thrilling action, Royal Bastards is not your average fantasy novel. Snappy dialogue and rebellious teen antics give this high fantasy a modern feel. For ages 13 and up.
THE READINGS YOUNG ADULT BOOK PRIZE SHORTLIST
We couldn’t be more excited about the shortlist for this year’s Readings Young Adult Book Prize! This is the second year of the Prize, which celebrates the best new writers in Australian Young Adult literature, and considers first and second YA books.
The six shortlisted novels are:
- Untidy Towns by Kate O’Donnell
- Beautiful Mess by Claire Christian
- Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough
- This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada
- Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
- Between Us by Clare Atkins
Nina Kenwood, Readings’ Marketing Manager and Chair of the Judging Panel, comments: ‘The stories in this year’s shortlist range from romantic comedy to post-apocalyptic plague, and inspire everything from creeping horror to sheer joy. The six books are of an exceptionally high standard, demonstrating the extraordinary depth of talent to be found amongst debut and early-career Australian YA authors.’
The winner of this year’s Readings Young Adult Book Prize will be revealed in late July, and will be featured in the August issue of the Readings Monthly. They will receive $3,000 in prize money. You can find out more about the prize and the shortlist here.
NEWS, RECOMMENDATIONS & EVENTS
The Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals winners for 2018 were recently announced, with Angie Thomas’s hugely lauded YA novel The Hate U Give taking out The Amnesty CILIP Honour for the Carnegie Medal.
We also recently rounded up Australian books to get excited about in the second half of 2018, which includes some exciting YA reading.
Anticipated titles include: After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson (August); I Am Out With Lanterns by Emily Gale (August); Meet Me at the Intersection edited by Rebecca Lim & Ambelin Kwaymullina (September); and Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina (September).
This past month, I highlighted some of my recent YA reading of 2018. There’s something for everyone in my picks (I hope): dark fairytale, contemporary realism, historical fiction, humour, magic realism and fantasy.
And finally, please join us for the launch of Mercy Point. The gripping first young adult novel from bestselling crime author Anna Snoekstra will be launched at 2pm on Saturday 7 July at Readings Kids. This event is free, and no booking is required.
