Hosts: Happy Indulgence, Genie in a Book, Loony Literate, Thoughts by J and My Life in Books.
Questions:
What do you love about Aussie YA?
I love the sheer imagination and variety coming from the writers. We have fantastic contemporaries, sizzling paranormals, epic fantasies, intriguing sci-fi, and it’s all coming from Australian authors! I think that’s wonderful.
Favourite Aussie YA authors
Garth Nix, Shirley Marr, John Marsden, Isobelle Carmody.
I also want to mention Middle Grade writers I grew up on Morris Gleitzman and Paul Jennings, who, if you weren’t aware, wrote the short stories most of Aussie cult children’s TV show Round the Twist is based on.
The Aussie YA book you grew up with
“Back on Track – diary of a street kid” by Margaret Clark. I think it was the first case of contemporary teen sex/rape I’d seen in a novel. I’m pretty sure it was my first contemporary YA ever. I remember all the girls in my class kind of passing the book around and borrowing it from the library one after another and then kept talking about it all year. I think I was about twelve years old and it really challenged my preconceived notions of teenagehood and the privileged life I’d come from. I really think it made me grow up almost overnight.
Favourite Aussie YA book released in 2016
Kara Terzis’ Frayed. OMG talk about a thriller!
Aussie YA Debut you are looking forward to
Sing Fox to Me by Sarah Kanake.
Favourite Aussie YA series
Definitely The Old Kingdom series. I’m so glad Garth Nix decided to keep writing in this world.
Unexpected Aussie YA surprise
Thyla by Kate Gordon. Told largely in second person POV, it’s about thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) shifters! Set in Hobart!
Aussie YA Book you always recommend to others
Tomorrow When The War Began series. It’s amazing how it’s still relevant today even though it was written way back in the 90s, way before YA really took off as a thing.
An Aussie YA book on your TBR
The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta. I’ve heard really good things about them and I tried listening to Finnikin of the Rock in audiobook, but it was too heavy. I need to read a physical copy. I also want to get into Juliet Marillier.
Recommend your favourite Aussie YA Bloggers!
I recommend my co-blogger Tanieka’s Instagram @flilppingthroughpages and YouTube channel Flipping Through Pages. You can see stuff there that doesn’t appear on this blog.
I recommend A Quick Succession of Busy Nothings.
I recommend Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.
Follow this link to find the blog hop and discover more Aussie YA recommendations!
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About Nemo
A lover of kittens and all things sparkly, Nemo has a degree in English Literature and specialises in reviewing contemporary, paranormal, mystery/thriller, historical, sci-fi and fantasy Young Adult fiction. She is especially drawn to novels about princesses, strong female friendships, magical powers, and assassins.
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Angelya
Oh wow, that Thyla book sounds intriguing! Also, you should totally read Finnikin… that series is just amazing. Thanks for all the recs! 🙂
Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books
I’m super looking forward to reading Frayed. I didn’t realize it was by an Aussie author!!! I’ve loved every Aussie book I’ve ever read (except Jellicoe Road… eek, sorry!!!). Love and Other Perishable Items (Good Oil) by Laura Buzo was probably my fave though.
Emily @ Loony Literate
Can’t believe I forgot about Morris Gleitzman – Two Weeks With the Queen was one of my favourite books ever!! He’s so funny. John Marsden as well. Thanks for linking up, it’s been awesome reading everyone’s posts 🙂
Hannah @ Hannah Plus Books
I totally agree with you about the Tomorrow series. It really does transcend generations! Great recommendations Nemo!
Carolyn
You’ve got some really different books here, great recs! Your comment about Margaret Clark’s book reminds of reading Puberty Blues around the same age (I could have used that as my YA book I grew up with, oops!). A handful of us read it and it blew our (almost too) young minds – it was both eye-opening and scary.