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#LoveOzYA: Spring Reads

#LoveOzYA – Spring Reads

This fortnight’s #LoveOzYA theme is Spring Reads. Here are the books that have been released recently that are on my to-read list this spring.

 

#LoveOzYABloggers is hosted by #LoveOzYA, a community led organisation dedicated to promoting Australian young adult literature. Keep up to date with all new Aussie YA releases with their monthly newsletter, or find out what’s happening with News and Events, or submit your own!

Australian YA Books – Spring Reads

A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares – Krystal Sutherland – Penguin Australia – Published September 2017

Esther Solar’s family is cursed. Cursed to die of their greatest fear. It’s why her father hasn’t left the basement in six years, why her brother is constantly surrounded by multiple sources of light, and why she herself has decided to never find her greatest fear. Instead, Esther has created a list of her worst nightmares and has worked hard to avoid each and every one of them. But then an old classmate (and crush) reappears in her life, pickpockets her belongings, and discovers her list. Jonah decides that Esther must face her fears and that he will help.

This amazing books takes mental health and family breakdown and wraps it in a layer of magic and imagery so strong it glows like a thousand candles in the dark. It is a story of family and fear and bravery and love. It is funny and clever and sad and just a little bit frightening.


Take Three Girls – Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell, Fiona Wood – PanMacmillan Australia – Published September 2017

Kate, a quiet boarder, making some risky choices to pursue the experimental music she loves. Clem, shrugging off her old swim-team persona, exploring her first sexual relationship, and trying to keep her annoying twin, Iris, at arm’s length. Ady, grappling with a chaotic family, and wondering who her real friends are; she’s not the confident A-lister she appears to be.

When St Hilda’s establishes a Year 10 Wellness Program in response to the era of cyber-bullying, the three girls are thrown together and an unlikely friendship is sparked.

This book sounds fantastic, written by three amazing Australian authors, and perfect for spring reading.


Untidy Towns – Kate O’Donnell – University of Queensland Press – Published October 2017

Seventeen-year-old Adelaide is sick of being expected to succeed on other people’s terms. She knows she just has to stick it out at school for one more year and then she’ll be free. Instead, she runs away from her fancy boarding school back to her sleepy hometown to read and dream.

But there are no free rides. When Addie’s grandad gets her a job at the local historical society, she soon finds out that it’s dusty and dull, just like her new life. Things change when she starts hanging out with Jarrod, a boy who seems full of possibilities.

Another book to look forward to this spring, Untidy Towns promises a “heartfelt tale of love, friendship and finding your way.”


This Mortal Coil – Emily Suvada – Penguin Australia – Published October/November 2017
When a lone soldier, Cole, arrives with news of Lachlan Agatta’s death, all hope seems lost for Catarina. Her father was the world’s leading geneticist, and humanity’s best hope of beating a devastating virus. Then, hidden beneath Cole’s genehacked enhancements she finds a message of hope: Lachlan created a vaccine.

While Emily Suvada now lives in the USA, she was born and raised in Australia and so her debut makes it onto this list. I have had the pleasure of reading this incredible book. Breathtaking! A perfect spring read.


Want more Oz YA for spring? Check out more picks here.

4 Comments

  1. Sarah "SacaKat" Fairbairn

    I loved that you went with books you intend to read over spring! I didn’t even think of that. I was stressing trying to think of books that mentioned or took place in spring lol. I’m actually feeling a little silly now.

    • Madison's Library

      Yes, I wasn’t sure which way to go either. I love your idea to choose spring themed books and spring colours! Not silly at all. At first, I was thinking books about flowers or gardens, but couldn’t think of any Oz YA that suited (The Secret of A Heart Note would make my US YA spring reads list, flowers and gardens galore), but in the end books published in the months of spring was easier.

  2. kozbisa

    I loved Semi-Definitive, and I was a fan of Sutherland’s last book too. I am dying to read Take Three Girls, because I adore Crowley so much. I hope it gets a US release soon.

    • Madison's Library

      Yes! It sounds really good. So many books, not enough time to ream them all.

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