Young adult

The Pain, My Mother, Sir Tiffy, Cyber Boy & Me by Michael Gerard Bauer

Reviewed by Athina Clarke

Any book that announces itself with, ‘It all started with The Pain’ has me from the very first paragraph, especially when it’s obvious The Pain is no mere physical discomfort but a deeper agony in the shape of a person…

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Riverkeep by Martin Stewart

Reviewed by Holly Harper

The Danék River has always been there, like a dark and silent third member of Wull’s little family. For years, Wull’s father has taught his son the arts of the Riverkeep – how to tend the lamps and keep the…

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Frankie by Shivaun Plozza

Reviewed by Katherine Dretzke

I was drawn to the novel Frankie from the get go, especially as Melina Marchetta had endorsed the title character as ‘gutsy’ on the front cover. And if anyone knows about gutsy women, it’s Marchetta, author of the brilliant LookingFor

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The Special Ones by Em Bailey

Reviewed by Isobel Moore

It’s hard to explain The Special Ones without giving too much away. It’s a fantastically tense read that follows four ‘Special Ones’ who are being forced to live ‘pure’ lives under the watchful eye of Him, and their followers. They…

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Dreaming the Enemy by David Metzenthen

Reviewed by Dani Solomon

Johnny stares at the screen as a celebrity, watched over by a nearby government official, pulls a number out of a barrel and reads it aloud. Just like that, Johnny’s future is decided. Three months of government-funded training, then off…

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Special by Georgia Blain

Reviewed by Athina Clarke

I’ve been suffering from ‘dystopian fatigue’ lately, so the idea of yet another story set in a broken and not-too distant future is enough to send my eyes rolling into the back of my head. But unlike much of the…

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Martians by Blythe Woolston

Reviewed by Angela Crocombe

In a futuristic world not too different from our own, where consumption is the main objective, lives 16-year-old Zoë Zindleman. She has been forced to graduate from high school early and there are only two places to go after school…

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The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis

Reviewed by Isobel Moore

After Isaac dies, his three best friends struggle to fill the space he occupied in their lives. To make the situation worse, the three weren’t actually friends with one another, but now find their lives increasingly tied together through their…

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We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist

Reviewed by Katherine Dretzke

I don’t often read young adult autobiographies. This may be because the majority lately are by bloggers or YouTube sensations and, quite frankly, I couldn’t give two hoots about those people. Luckily for Josh Sundquist I didn’t realise he was…

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The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub

Reviewed by Katherine Dretzke

It’s always nice to be given an Australian author to review as I’m a huge advocate for Aussie YA. Having not read Sarah Ayoub’s first book, Hate Is Such A Strong Word, I wasn’t sure what to expect from…

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