Young adult

Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates

Reviewed by Yasmin Baker

Sisters of Sword and Shadow is an engaging story that offers a different take on the legends of the Knights of the Round Table. A must-read for teen girls, this Young Adult–Arthurian fantasy is easy to read and follows our…

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Smoke & Mirrors by Barry Jonsberg

Reviewed by Kate McIntosh

When your mum drinks too much, your father is dead, your younger brother only appears occasionally, you have no friends, and your grandmother is about to be diagnosed with a terminal illness, you could be forgiven for thinking the world…

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Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice & Kate Rice

Reviewed by Lucie Dess

Stuck Up and Stupid is a modern retelling of the much-beloved Pride and Prejudice. The story follows Lily, who lives in the quiet coastal town of Pippi Beach in NSW with her man-obsessed mother, Lydia. When Hollywood stars Casey Brandon…

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Tonight, I Burn by Katharine J. Adams

Reviewed by Nishtha Banavalikar

It isn’t easy to put out something that feels unique in Young Adult fiction, but I think Tonight, I Burn brings something refreshing and deeply intriguing to the category. Set in a world where witchcraft has been shackled and bound…

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Where He Can't Find You by Darcy Coates

Reviewed by Alicia Guiney

A spine-chilling new horror novel sure to keep readers on the edge of their seat, Where He Can’t Find You sets the bar for what YA horror can be. The story follows Abby and her group of close friends as…

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An Unexpected Party: Queer Speculative YA Fiction, edited by Seth Malacari

Reviewed by Alicia Guiney

An Unexpected Party is a deeply touching and heartwarming anthology exploring queer stories in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Featuring 19 unique stories by different authors, this anthology explores a diverse range of queer experiences in one volume, making it…

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What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Reviewed by Aurelia Orr

Set in 19th century Buenos Aires, Inez yearns for her parents, whose long travels to Egypt make her believe their love for a faraway land is greater than their love for their daughter. But when she receives a letter saying…

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The Thief (The Queen’s Thief, Book 1) by Megan Whalen Turner

Reviewed by Alicia Guiney

The Thief is the perfect introduction to Megan Whalen Turner’s epic six-book series, The Queen’s Thief. It’s a fast-paced quest soaked in history and brimming with excitement.

The story follows Gen, a young thief whose claims he can steal…

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Borderland by Graham Akhurst

Reviewed by Angela Crocombe

The debut thriller by First Nations author Graham Akhurst is an engaging coming-of-age tale about a young Indigenous Australian man discovering who he is and what he stands for. When studying at performing arts school, Jono and his best friend…

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Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

Reviewed by Claire Atherfold

Ross Quest isn’t a regular teenager. Already a master thief by the age of 17, she spends her days planning escape routes for fun and pulling elaborate heists with her elegant, but also manipulative, mother.

It’s an exhilarating lifestyle, but…

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