Young adult
Our August 2023 children's and young adult bestsellers
One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus
Welcome to Sex! by Dr Melissa Kang & Yumi Stynes
The World’s Worst Monsters by David Walliams
Ghost Book by Remy Lai
Scar Town by Tristan Bancks
Never a hero by Vanessa Len
The Skull by Jon Klassen
It’s the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke
This Camp is Doomed by Anna Zobel
Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment
Storm by Jane Bunn
Melissa Keil meets The Readings Teen Advisory Board
Melissa Keil is one of the most talented romantic comedy writers for young adults today. We are delighted that her three stunning YA novels have been re-released with gorgeous new covers for a new generation of readers to discover. She recently visited our Teen Advisory Board and below is what they had to say.
'Her books read like a love letter to Melbourne, and you will find yourself falling in love with both the story and the city!’ — Aalia…
The winners of the CBCA Shadow Judging Book of the Year Awards
The winners of the 2023 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shadow Judging Book of the Year Awards have been announced. Inaugurated in 2022, the awards this year were judged by over 2000 young readers from more than 250 groups across Australia.
A vibrant network of young readers, from emerging to young adult, dive deeply into the 2023 CBCA Shortlist and express their opinions and share their responses as judges ‘shadowing’ the CBCA Judges. They use the same criteria to…
The Readings Young Adult Prize shortlist 2023
The Readings Young Adult Prize is presented to the best contribution to Australian youth literature from an emerging author.
Our staff judges for the 2023 prize are Aurelia Orr (chair of judges, Readings Kids), Lucie Dess (marketing and events co-ordinator), Emma Janes (Readings Doncaster) and Stephanie King (Readings Emporium). We're thrilled to announce this year's six Young Adult Prize shortlist titles, and look forward to sharing our New Australian Fiction Prize shortlist soon! The six titles on the below shortlist…
The winners of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2023
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced their Book of the Year Awards winners for 2023. These Awards celebrate the best Australian books for readers in early childhood up to young adult readers.
Here are the winners for each category:
Older Readers (Ages 13-18 years)
Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling. Ages 13-18 years.
Note: Books in this…
Our July 2023 children's and young adult bestsellers
Welcome to Sex! by Dr Melissa Kang & Yumi Stynes
Inkflower by Suzy Zail
Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment
Sink or Swim (Wolf Girl, Book 9) by Anh Do
It’s the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke
The Bad Guys Episode 17: Let the Games Begin! (Full Colour Edition) by Aaron Blabey
Blind Spot by Robyn Dennison
The Skull by Jon Klassen
Australia: Country of Colour by Jess Racklyeft
New YA books to read from authors you've loved before
Looking for a new book to pick up but inspiration hasn't hit you? Well, I've compiled a stack of new release young adult books from authors you've loved before.
Did you devour Hive and Rogue? Then you know you'll love...
One Song by A.J. Betts
Aspiring singer-songwriter Eva has one last chance to enter Triple J Unearthed High and break into the music industry.
But after three failed attempts, she needs some help.
Cue the band: perfectionist Eva, charismatic…
New graphic novels for young adults
If you're anything like me, you love a good graphic novel! And there have been some incredible new releases recently. Below are some suggestions to help you pick your next read.
Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa
High-school senior and notorious wallflower Hawkins finally works up the courage to remove her mascot mask and ask out her longtime crush: Regina Moreno, head cheerleader, academic overachiever, and all-around popular girl. There’s only one teensy little problem: Regina is already dating…
Our June 2023 children and young adult bestsellers
Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer
Wilam: A Birrarung Story by Andrew Kelly & Aunty Joy Murphy
With a Little Sprinkle of Courage by Jackie Case
Welcome To Country by Aunty Joy Murphy & Lisa Kennedy
The Bad Guys Episode 17: Let the Games Begin! by Aaron Blabey
The Sun and the Star (from the World of Percy Jackson) by Rick Riordan & Mark Oshiro
Custodians (Wylah the Koorie Warrior, Book 2) by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Exit…
Our May 2023 children and young adult bestsellers
A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson
The Sun and the Star (from the World of Percy Jackson) by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer
Robodog by David Williams
The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
Let the Games Begin! (the Bad Guys: Episode 17) by Aaron Blabey
With a Little Sprinkle of Courage by Jackie Case
Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea (The Adventures of Dog Man, Book 11) by Dav Pilkey
…
Creepy young adult books
Are you a fan of reading books that will keep you up at night? Well these recent young adult releases are for you ... if you dare.
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
Jade Nguyen has always lied to fit in. She's straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough – at least for this summer with her estranged father in Vietnam. Just five weeks of ignoring the quietly decaying French colonial house he's fixing up, then college and freedom…
Cosy graphic novels for when the weather turns frosty
It's getting colder and if you're anything like me, there's nothing you'd rather do than snuggle up with a book. This blog is full of cosy graphic novels to help you choose what to pick up next.
For those who needs a little bit of courage...
Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
Garlic feels as though she’s always doing something wrong. At least with her friend Carrot by her side and the kindly Witch Agnes encouraging her, Garlic is…
New and recommended young adult books in May
As the weather turns rapidly colder, consider snuggling up with a blanket, a cup of tea and one of these thrilling new releases. A new solo release from bestselling New York Times author, Amie Kaufman, is our Book of the Month, but we also have a captivating new story from YA darling, Will Kostakis, a debut YA from Australian fiction author, Tegan Bennett Daylight, and a new one from US based Australian author, Jen Wilde. Let’s get into it!
YA…
Our April 2023 children and young adult bestsellers
Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea (The Adventures of Dog Man, Book 11) by Dav Pilkey
Pasta! by Felice Arena & Beatrice Cerocchi
The Garden at the End of the World by Cassy Polimeni and Briony Stewart (illus)
Robodog by David Williams
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-Bottomed Boat by Charlie Archbold
The Bowerbird by Julia Donaldson and Catherine Rayner (illus)
The Glow by Sofie Laguna & Marc McBride (illus)
Our Teen Advisory Board interviews Lili Wilkinson
by Teen Advisory BoardOur outgoing Teen Advisory Board were delighted to receive, as one of their last books, a proof copy of the new fantasy novel by Lili Wilkinson, A Hunger of Thorns. The teens loved it and were excited by the opportunity to ask Lili some questions about her process and inspiration.
Have you been working on/thinking about this book while writing other books? Or is it a relatively new idea?
SO LONG. At least a decade, maybe longer. I’ve always…
What to read after binging that show
So, you just binged the latest trending show and don't know what you could possibly do now that you are without it? Well, I'm here to help! Here you'll find a helpful guide to match your current favourite show with the next YA novel you need to add to your TBR.
You're still shaking after the season finale of You...
None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney
This outstanding psychological thriller will quench your thirst for more serial killers.
In 1982…
The 2023 Yoto Carnegie shortlists
The shortlists for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing and Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration have been announced!
The Carnegie Medal for Writing is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Carnegie Medal for Illustration* is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.*formerly known as the Kate Greenaway Medal
Below are this year's two shortlists.
The 2023 Yoto…
The Teen Advisory Board interviews author Ann Liang
by Bonnie-Mai Smith, Teen Advisory BoardThe Readings Teen Advisory Board meets monthly to discuss all things bookish and chat with some amazing people in the industry. During a recent meeting, we had the chance to interview author, Ann Liang. After her smash hit debut, If You Could See The Sun, she's just released another great read, This Time It's Real. Here is an extracted version of our discussion with Ann, written and compiled by Bonnie-Mai Smith, and edited for clarity.
Bonnie-Mai: What did you…
New and recommended young adult books for March
As summer slowly fades and the nights get cooler, it's the perfect time to get stuck into some brilliant new YA that is coming our way. Perfect for book clubs or independent reading, we have a slightly magical story set in Japan, an Australian coming-of-age, a new Patrick Ness (always exciting!), an Australian debut fantasy, a queer rom-com, and a classic that deserves revisiting.
MARCH YA BOOK OF THE MONTH
Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai
Set in the islands of…
CBCA Notable Books of 2023
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its Notable Books for 2023. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers!The CBCA presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. The CBCA Awards were first presented in 1946 and are the longest-running book awards in Australia.
See below the links to the notable books for each category.
Older Readers
Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and are appropriate…
New and recommended young adult books this February
We have a number of exciting Australian debuts this month, as well as a novel by classic Australian children's author, Paul Jennings, and some fantastic releases from international authors!
YA BOOK OF THE MONTH
Two Can Play That Game by Leanne Yong
This story is focused around the ultra-competitive gaming world and two teens, Jay and Sam, who both want the same thing: an elusive ticket to the latest game design workshop, which is a fast-track to a career making…
The 100 bestselling kids & YA books of 2022
We’ve run the reports and done the maths. Here are our 100 bestselling kids & YA books from the past year.
The 156-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat by Charlie Archbold
Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman
Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Maybe by Kobi Yamada & Gabriella Barouch
Barefoot Kids by Scott Pape
If you liked this popular YA book, you should read….
by Bonnie-Mai SmithLooking for something to pick up during the summer holidays but don't know where to start? Teen Advisory Board member, Bonnie Mai, has some great recommendations based on titles you already know and love. She says:
The sun is beaming and there's not a single thought about studying in my mind, school's out and it's time to go to the beach! For some, the weather has not been very summery, but these books will definitely put you in a shining…
2022 Young adult fantasy and sci-fi favourites
It's been a wonderful year for imaginative and inclusive works of fantasy and science fiction for young adults! This list is by no means exhaustive — there's simply too many excellent books — but it is certainly a wonderful place to begin exploring a selection of this year's highlights.
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
In this enchanting debut YA fantasy, a young tea-maker travels to the capital city to take part in a cutthroat magical competition…
Young adult LGBTQIA+ highlights of 2022
2022 was a wonderful year for LQBTQIA+ stories. Our selection of highlights includes both local and international releases, and spans everything from WWII mysteries to the perils of global boy band fame.
Dancing Barefoot by Alice Boyle
This debut queer romance is both heartfelt and hilarious.
Patch has been deeply and unrequitedly in love with the star of the school’s basketball team for years, but when they are suddenly thrown together due to an unfortunate incident with a bottle of…
Best young adult books of 2022
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books of the past 12 months. Here are the best young adult books of the year, as voted for by Readings’ staff, and displayed in no particular order.
A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin
Four students are thrown together for an overnight hike in the Otways with no adult supervision. They must find their way out on their own, with only a compass, a map and some flashlights – that…
Young adult debut highlights of 2022
There is nothing more exciting than discovering an author at the beginning of their career. We are extremely fortunate that this year has been really strong for debut authors in young adult fiction. Here are a selection of our favourite debut young adult titles for 2022, many of which come from very talented Australian authors.
Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
This time-travelling fantasy epic published back in February has been one of our stand-out YA titles this year. The…
Neurodiverse stories for young adults
Adolescence is a confusing, difficult time - even more so when your brain is wired differently to other teens. Here are a collection of powerful stories, both fiction and non-fiction, about living with neurodiversity as a teenager that provide insights and empathy for the complexity, challenges, and joy of living neurodivergently.
Different, Not Less by Chloe Hayden
Growing up, Chloe Hayden felt like she’d crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. She moved between 10 schools in 8…
New Kids and YA books for book clubs
We are delighted to have many recent children’s books that are richly imagined and would be perfect for study by book clubs and in classrooms. Here are some of our favourites.
AGES 5 AND UP
My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder
With humour and pathos, Sworder reflects on the strange nature of giving and receiving love and celebrates those parents who embrace a hard life for themselves in the hope of a better life for their children.
Themes include:
…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
Triple Threat by Katy Warner
The 156-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
Little Gem by Anna Zobel
My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder
The Goodbye Year by Emily Gale
Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Wylah the Koorie Warrior by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Chippy Chasers: Chippy Jackpot by Sam Cotton
Our bestselling title this week was the latest young adult…
Recommended YA books and news for September
We have so many exciting Australian young adult new releases this month. Our Book of the Month is a feel-good queer rom-com that our reviewer absolutely adored. We’re also excited by a First Nations fantasy that goes back in time to Australia pre-colonisation. It is utterly brilliant!
Hotly anticipated new novels by Frances Hardinge and Karen McManus have finally arrived, we’re loving a Gothic coming of age story about two very different sisters, not to mention a thriller set in…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The 156-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
Dancing Barefoot by Alice Boyle
Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus
Hasina: Through My Eyes by Michelle Aung Thin
My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder
Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over by Miranda Luby
Be Careful Xiao Xin! by Alice Pung & Sher Rill Ng
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
Where You Left Us by Rhiannon Wilde
The Goodbye Year by Emily Gale
Our top selling title…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder
Bindi by Kirli Saunders
Whodunnit Eddie Woo?: Time Out by Eddie Woo, Jess Black & Mitch Vane
Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus
Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment
The Final Gambit: The Inheritance Games 3 by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon by Gabrielle Wang
All the Little Tricky Things by Karys McEwen
Little Gem by Anna Zobel
Teen Advisory Board: what to read after Heartstopper
by AnanyaWe’ve all read Heartstopper, but what should you read next? Whether we related to the themes, the characters, or just loved the vibes; here are some books that we think you’ll enjoy after you’ve read the popular webcomic turned television series.
Read below for some personal recommendations or browse our full list of suggested reads here.
Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
Perfect on Paper is the perfect rom-com any YA reader could ask for. It’s also the…
Spotlight on Kids and YA Manga favourites
Passionate about manga or curious about the artform? To help build your manga collection, this month we have a 3-for-2 offer on the first three volumes in a range of bestselling manga series. Buy two books and choose a third title in the range (of equal or lesser value) for free. This offer is available in all Readings shops (excluding SLV and online) until 30 September 2022 on stickered, in-stock items only, while stocks last.
Below are six popular series…
All the world's a stage — YA set in the theatre world
There is nothing I love more than a book set inside the world of the theatre. Backstage shenanigans, identity crises, overblown egos, stories within stories, and the long hours characters are forced to spend together create highly combustible, and often hilarious, scenarios.
Recently it seems that young adult fiction is brimming with titles focused around school or university theatre or musical productions, community theatre, or even big Broadway dreams. And why not, because when you’re young and dramatically inclined, all…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La'Brooy
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-Bottomed Boat by Charlie Archibold
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
The Baddies by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment
Little Gem by Anna Zobel
Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim
What We All Saw by Mike Lucas
The Museum of Broken Things by Lauren Draper
What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say by Davina Bell
Our top selling title…
Children's and young adult books by women in translation
To celebrate Women in Translation month in August we are showcasing five fabulous children’s and young adult books both written and translated by women.
My Happy Life written by Rose Lagercrantz, illustrated by Eva Eriksson,
Translated from Swedish by Julia Marshall
The first in a seven-book series, this is one of our favourite junior fiction titles about friendship and resilience.
Dani is happy because she’s going to start school and she’s been waiting to go to school her whole life…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The Readings Prize Children’s Shortlist Pack 2022
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
Little Gem by Anna Zobel
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1 by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-Bottomed Boat by Charlie Archibold
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Readings Prize Young Adult Shortlist Pack 2022
Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment
What We All Saw by Mike Lucas
Our top-selling title this week…
Recommended YA books and news for August
We have a number of exciting new releases from local authors this month, including our Book of the Month — the debut novel from author Miranda Luby, which is a contemporary story about feminism, family, and a whole lot more.
We also have the new novel from beloved author Barry Jonsberg; a novel that looks at the issue of child trafficking in Indonesia, and an LGBTQIA+ story about the challenges of being in a boy band. If those all sound…
The winners of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2022
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced their Book of the Year Awards winners for 2022. These Awards celebrate the best Australian books for readers in early childhood up to young adult readers.
Here are the winners for each category.
Older Readers (for ages 13–18 years)
Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim
Wen Zhou is the daughter and only child of Chinese immigrants whose move to the lucky country has proven to be not so lucky. Wen and her…
Interview with Alice Pung about Laurinda
We are delighted that one of our favourite young adult novels, Laurinda, has recently been adapted for the stage by Melbourne Theatre Company. We interviewed the author, Alice Pung, about her novel, the societal issues that it raises, and her response to the play.
It’s been nearly eight years since Laurinda was first published. It even inspired a book of short stories and has been studied by countless high school students. How do you feel about it now and…
The Readings Prize: Young Adult shortlist
The Readings Young Adult Prize is presented to the best new voice in Australian young adult literature. This report is written by 2022 chair of judges Julia Jackson (Readings Carlton assistant manager), with contributions from fellow judges: Mike Shuttleworth (Readings Hawthorn) and Clodagh Robinson-Watts (Readings Carlton).
Discover the six shortlisted titles below.
The Museum of Broken Things by Lauren Draper
Reece has a great heart, full of very big, complicated feelings, and her journey as an uprooted, unmoored and alienated…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The Hidden Girl by Louise Bassett
Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1 by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Little Gem by Anna Zobel
My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Maybe by Kobi Yamada
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-Bottomed Boat by Charlie Archibold
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
Our top-selling title this week is the young adult novel that…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Crash Course: Wolf Girl 7 by Anh Do
Bluey: Barky Boats by Bluey
We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
My People by Eddie Betts
Possum Magic by Mem Fox
August & Jones by Pip Harry
What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say by Davina Bell
Our top-selling title this week is once again the first book…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say by Davina Bell
Pig the Rebel by Aaron Blabey
It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
Look Inside Building Sites by Usborne
Maybe by Kobi Yamada
The Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1 by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Heartstopper: Volume 2 by Alice Oseman
Our top-selling title this week…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
Crash Course: Wolf Girl 7 by Anh Do
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1 by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Cop & Robber by Tristan Bancks
Pig the Rebel by Aaron Blabey
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
Peep Inside the Sea by Usborne
What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say by Davina Bell
Kissed by the Moon by Alison Lester
Heartstopper: Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
Once again, our…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
Crash Course: Wolf Girl 7 by Anh Do
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
Completely Normal (and Other Lies) by Biffy James
The Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1 by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Pig the Rebel by Aaron Blabey
Trains (See Inside) by Usborne
World of Dinosaurs (See Inside) by Usborne
Maybe by Kobi Yamada
Heartstopper 4 by Alice Oseman
Our top-selling title this week is the latest book in the bestselling…
Recommended YA books and news for July
So many exciting books this month to dive into! Our Book of the Month is a funny, queer romance about an aspiring comedian. We have a new Meg Rosoff, set in New York during a languid, steamy summer - just what we need to warm up! We also have a novel featuring a complicated love triangle, the first in a new dystopian trilogy, a feminist novel set in an alternate 1950s with dragons, and a non-fiction title on financial literacy…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
Completely Normal (and Other Lies) by Biffy James
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Crash Course: Wolf Girl 7 by Anh Do
What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say by Davina Bell
The Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1 by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Floof by Heidi McKinnon
Look Inside a Hospital by Katie Daynes
Heartstopper: Volume 1 by Alice Oseman
Bluey and Bingo’s Fancy Restaurant Cookbook by Bluey
Maybe by Kobi Yamada
Our…
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