Young adult
The Upwelling by Lystra Rose
This fantasy debut by First Nations writer Lystra Rose is a fascinating deep dive into the traditional culture of the Yugambeh people, proudly showcasing their language and practices throughout the narrative.
Written in three distinct voices, the story begins in…
A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin
Five teenagers are on a night walk in the Otway Ranges. With no adults supervising, this is their chance to prove their capabilities to themselves. After all, as their principal says, it’s just a walk in the dark, what’s there…
A Little Spark by Barry Jonsberg
Barry Jonsberg is an award-winning, bestselling author of wonderful books for young people, including My Life as an Alphabet and A Song Only I Can Hear; his uncanny ability to explore serious issues with humour, warmth and a genuine…
The Brink by Holden Sheppard
A group of teens is forced to change their plans and move their end-of-year Leavers celebration, setting off a cascade of events that leave two dead and a community shattered. Told from multiple points of view, The Brink finds these…
The Hidden Girl by Louise Bassett
When Melati Nelson gets unfairly sent to counselling sessions for standing up to the school bully, she discovers a diary written in Indonesian in her teacher’s office and steals it out of curiosity. To her horror, Melati discovers it contains…
Sadie Starr's Guide to Starting Over by Miranda Luby
Sadie Starr is starting over. Her parents are moving her from Sydney to Melbourne, which means a fresh new identity. She has a new wardrobe, a new diet and a clean slate. Once in Melbourne, she’s immediately taken under the…
Money Queens by Michelle Bowes
When I was a teenager, my father gave me a book called Making Money Made Simple and quizzed me endlessly about the financial wisdom within. Maybe I didn’t become thecorporate high-flyer he dreamed of, but I did incorporate the principles…
Friends Like These by Meg Rosoff
Friends Like These is the second instalment of Meg Rosoff’s trilogy of summer novels, the first being The Great Godden, which was perfect seaside escapism. This time it’s a city summer: New York in 1982. A city of sweat…
Completely Normal (and Other Lies) by Biffy James
Shortlisted for the Ampersand Prize, this debut YA novel by local author Biffy James is told from the perspective of Stella Wilde, an amusing, sardonic teenager who’s just starting to figure out who she is. At school she is surrounded…
The Comedienne’s Guide to Pride by Hayli Thomson
Taylor Parker has a secret. Well, two secrets. She’s a finalist for a diverse writers internship at Saturday Night Live – yes, THE Saturday Night Live in New York City – and she’s a lesbian.Now she has fewer than two…
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