Young adult

The Illuminae Files 1 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Reviewed by Isobel Moore

Illuminae is unlike anything I have ever read previously and I loved every moment of it. Engrossing and encompassing, the format follows the structure of a series of documents in various styles, from email and instant messaging to more abstract…

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Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Reviewed by Bronte Coates

A Harry Potter-esque romantic adventure story set in a boarding school from Rainbow Rowell? Yes please, thank you very much.

Like other fans of Rowell’s earlier books I’ve been very much anticipating the release of her new novel and I’m…

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Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

Reviewed by Katherine Dretzke

I’m really loving how YA fiction is tackling so many different issues at the moment. Unbecoming, the new novel by Jenny Downham, author of the brilliant Before I Die, is no exception, with sexuality and family being central…

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The River and the Book by Alison Croggon

Reviewed by Katherine Dretzke

Not only did this book appeal to me from the get go with its beautiful cover, but the fact that it is endorsed by Amnesty International as a book that promotes awareness of human rights issues meant it was made…

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Night Owls by Jenn Bennett

Reviewed by Jemma Sbeghen

Night Owls follows the adventures of two teenage artists separately following their dreams who meet on a late night bus and soon become something more than just strangers. Resonant and authentic, this book is a rare gem that I don’t…

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Atmospheric: The Burning Story of Climate Change by Carole Wilkinson

Reviewed by Angela Crocombe

This non-fiction book on climate science for readers aged ten and up is well researched and highly readable. To engage readers more effectively, each chapter begins with a first person narrative set in a key period in the past. These…

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The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Reviewed by Katherine Dretzke

Grief is a topic that is often explored in young adult fiction, where some of the most traumatic experiences can be examined in full detail. However, when it comes to tackling such an issue in middle-fiction novels it has to…

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Another Day by David Levithan

Reviewed by Isobel Moore

Another Day is the companion novel to the widely acclaimed and revolutionary Every Day, which followed ‘A’ who wakes up every day possessing a new body.

Another Day follows Rhiannon, the girl who ‘A’ falls in love with. Although…

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Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

Reviewed by Athina Clarke

The journey from childhood to young adulthood is never an easy path, even for those blessed with loving families and friends to help them navigate the perils of transit. When steadfast friends Bridge, Em and Tab leave the relative safety…

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