Topic : "Contemporary Australian YA"
Young Adult fiction set in contemporary Australia
Total Results : 50
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7562 : 47 degrees by D'Ath, Justin Zeelie wonders if they're in danger. When temperatures soar to 47 degrees one hot summer day, 12-year-old Zeelie hopes the nearby bushfires everyones talking about aren't heading towards her family's new home. What will they do if the wind changes direction? What about their belongings and their beloved pets? And why hasn't her mum and brother returned from Melbourne? Nothing can prepare Zeelie for what's to come. 7-9 booklist |
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5343 : All I ever wanted by Wakefield, Vikki RULE NUMBER ONE: I will not turn out like my mother. Mim wants to be anywhere but home -- in a dead suburb and with a mother who won't get off the couch. She's set herself rules to live by, but she's starting to break them. In nine days she'll turn seventeen. What she doesn't know is that her life is about to change forever. And when it does, the same things will look entirely different. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. 9plus booklist |
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6512 : Amelia Westlake by Gough, Erin Harriet and Wilhelmina couldn't be more dissimilar. Harriet has the perfect life - she's dating the perfect girl, has been elected prefect, is the apple of her teachers' eye, and is an overachiever. Will, on the other hand, has gained the ire of her teachers and lands more detentions than she does accolades. But when both girls witness a teacher harass a fellow student, the two form an unlikely partnership to shed light on the many problems of the exclusive Rosemead Grammar. To protect their identities, they create Amelia Westlake, and as they work together they begin to question their distance from each other...Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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593283 : Art of taxidermy, The by Kernot, Sharon Lottie collects dead creatures and lovingly cares for them, hoping to preserve them, to save them from disintegration. Her father understands - Lottie has a scientific mind, he thinks. Her aunt wants it to stop, and she goes to cruel lengths to make sure it does. And her mother? Lottie's mother died long ago. And Lottie is searching for a way to be close to her. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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23693 : Banished by Schow, Betsy While lying in the hospital in a place called Kansas, Princess Dorthea of Emerald struggles to regain her memory of the events that propelled her out of the land of Story - and to remember how to get home. Meanwhile, in Story, Rexi, with the help of Excalibur, continues to gain confidence in writing her own tale as she fights to save the land from the Wicked Witch. But as is always the case with evil villains, she is not to be underestimated. Can Dorthea and Rexi save their home while protecting the prince they both love from getting caught in the crossfire? Topics /
Contemporary Australian YA /
7-9 booklist
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750999 : Before the beginning by Morgan, Anna Grace was supposed to be spending schoolies with her friends, but they have become a little too judgemental for her liking, so she tags along with her brother Casper and his friends, Noah and Elsie. On their first night away, they meet Sierra, a mysterious girl with an interesting idea. She thinks that they should go and camp on an uninhabited island. The gang agrees, and the island time is one of interesting discoveries for all of them. 7-9 booklist |
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995953 : Borderland by Akhurst, Graham Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn't exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. After graduating, Jono and his friend Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking - interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the city. He's haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun - a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming. What's the real story behind the gas mining venture? Are the documentary crew hiding something from Jono? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. 9plus booklist |
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789575 : Boy from the Mish, The by Lonesborough, Gary It's a hot summer, and life's going all right for Jackson and his family on the Mish. It's almost Christmas, school's out, and he's hanging with his mates, teasing the visiting tourists, avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson's Aunty and annoying little cousins visit from the city - but this time a mysterious boy with a troubled past comes with them. As their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community. And he must face his darkest secret - a secret he thought he'd locked away for good. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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587871 : Catch a falling star by McKinlay, Meg It's 1979 and the sky is falling. Skylab, that is. Somewhere high above Frankie Avery, one of the world's first space stations is tumbling to Earth. And rushing back with it are old memories. Things twelve-year-old Frankie thought she'd forgotten. Things her mum won't talk about, and which her little brother Newt never knew. Only ... did he? Does he? Because as Skylab circles closer, Newt starts acting strangely. And while the world watches the sky, Frankie keeps her own eyes on Newt. Because if anyone's going to keep him safe, it's her. It always has been. But maybe this is something bigger than splinters and spiders and sleepwalking. Maybe a space station isn't the only thing heading straight for calamity. 7-9 booklist |
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885974 : Comedienne's guide to Pride, The by Thomson, Hayli When Taylor is accepted as a finalist for a diverse writers' internship at Saturday Night Live, it turns her life upside down. And if Taylor wants a shot at winning, she'll have to come out about both of her secrets- being a comedienne and a lesbian. The only thing keeping Taylor from self-combusting is her pining for Salem's most bewitching actress - out and proud classmate, Charlotte Grey. So when Taylor finds herself sitting opposite Charlotte to discuss a school project, Taylor's simmering need to tell everyone exactly who she is and what she wants burns hotter than ever . 7-9 booklist |
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1019755 : Dark Heir by Pacat, C.S. The Dark King has risen. Only a handful of heroes remain. The Hall of the Stewards is in ruins. Pursued by dark forces, Will and his allies must travel to the heart of the ancient world, forging new and dangerous ties, and revealing the shocking secrets of the past. But Will is carrying a dark secret of his own - his true identity. As the ancient world threatens to return, can Will and his friends fight their fate? Or will the truths they learn tear their world apart? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. 9plus booklist |
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1019863 : Eleanor Jones is not a murderer by Doak, Amy Eleanor Jones has just started at her ninth high school in less than five years. Since she and her mum are always moving on, Eleanor likes to stay on the outer, to stay invisible. So maybe it's just bad luck that the very first person she talks to at Cooinda Secondary College, Angus Marshall, is stabbed and left for dead the same day. The last message on Angus's phone is from Eleanor Jones. After being interviewed by the police, Eleanor realises they don't have all the facts and decides to investigate. In trying to understand what happened to Angus, Eleanor inadvertently becomes involved with an eclectic group of fellow students - all of whom have their own reasons to want to solve the mystery. As they slowly unravel Angus's secrets, Eleanor discovers the true meaning of friendship - and uncovers a danger lurking at the heart of the town... 7-9 booklist |
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660552 : Euphoria kids by Evans, Alison Ever since the witch cursed Babs, she turns invisible sometimes. She has her mum and her dog, but teachers and classmates barely notice her. Then, one day, Iris can see her. And Iris likes what they see. Babs is made of fire. Iris grew from a seed in the ground. They have friends, but not human ones. Not until they meet Babs. The two of them have a lot in common: they speak to dryads and faeries, and they're connected to the magic that's all around them. There's a new boy at school, a boy who's like them and who hasn't yet found his real name. Soon the three of them are hanging out and trying spellwork together. Magic can be dangerous, though. Witches and fae can be cruel. Something is happening in the other realm, and despite being warned to stay away, the three friends have to figure out how to deal with it on their own terms. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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582929 : Finder, The by Hendrick, Kate Since the disappearance of her identical twin sister nine years ago, 16-year-old Frankie has kept her distance from everyone. Despite the years that have passed, she spends her days scanning and searching for her sister. When the police fail to find an 11-year-old runaway, Frankie takes it upon herself to find her. Despite her best attempts to stay out of the public eye, this earns her a reputation as a 'finder'. Enter Elias - an extrovert with an extravagant sense of fashion and endless enthusiasm, who is looking for his birth mother. When Elias offers to employ a cash-strapped Frankie to track down his birth mother, she reluctantly agrees. What follows next is a journey of self-discovery as both Frankie and Elias uncover the things that truly define them. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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5297 : Flywheel, The by Gough, Erin 17 year old Delilah's crazy life is about to get crazier. Ever since her father took off overseas, she's been struggling to run the family's cafe without him and survive high school. But after a misjudged crush on one of the cool girls, she's become the school punchline. With all that's on her plate she barely has time for her favourite distraction - spying on the beautiful Rosa, who dances flamenco at the tapas bar across the road. Only her best friend Charlie knows how she feels about Rosa, but he has romantic problems of his own. When his plan to win an older woman's heart goes horribly wrong, Del is the only one who can help himl. All this leaves Del grappling with some seriously curly questions. Is it okay to break the law to help a friend? How can a girl tell another girl she likes her without it ending in humiliation and heartbreak? And - the big one - is it ever truly possible to dance in public without falling over? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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832843 : Gaps, The by Hall, Leane When sixteen-year-old Yin Mitchell is abducted, the news reverberates through the whole Year Ten class at Balmoral Ladies College. As the hours tick by, the girls know the chance of Yin being found alive is becoming smaller and smaller. Everyone is affected by Yin's disappearance - even scholarship student Chloe, who usually stays out of Balmoral dramas, is drawn into the maelstrom. And when she begins to form an uneasy alliance with Natalia, the queen of Year Ten, things get even more complicated. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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4511 : Harper effect, The by Bashford, Taryn Harper Hunter doesn't know how it came to this. Her tennis dreams are collapsing: her coach says she doesn't have what it takes to make it in the world of professional tennis. Her new doubles partner is moody, mysterious and angry at the world. What is he hiding? She is in love with Jacob, but he is her sister's boyfriend. Or, he was. Harper could never betray Aria with Jacob, could she? As Harper's heart and dreams pull her in different directions, she has to figure out exactly what she wants. And just how hard she's willing to fight to get it. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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596678 : Honeyman and the hunter, The by Grant, Neil Rudra is an Indian-Australian boy at a crossroads, poised to step into the world of adulthood and to discover his cultural heritage and how that might truly define him. A wonderful exploration of dual heritage, cultural identity, family and the power of storytelling. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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571391 : Ida by Evans, Alison How do people decide on a path, and find the drive to pursue what they want? Ida struggles more than other young people to work this out. She can shift between parallel universes, allowing her to follow alternative paths. One day Ida sees a shadowy, see-through doppelganger of herself on the train. She starts to wonder if she's actually in control of her ability, and whether there are effects far beyond what she has considered. How can she know, anyway, whether one universe is ultimately better than another? And what if the continual shifting causes her to lose what is most important to her, just as she is discovering what that is, and she can never find her way back? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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1019857 : If you tell anyone, you're next by Heath, Jack Jayden Jones is missing. Everyone thinks he ran away. His best friend, Zoe Gale, knows they're wrong. Zoe's search leads her to The 17 - a secret group chat, used by anonymous teens to blackmail the powerless. To join, you have to put on a mask and record yourself completing a challenge. The challenges are always illegal. Sometimes dangerous. Maybe deadly. Who are The 17? What have they done to Jayden? And what will they do to silence Zoe? A rollercoaster of suspense and twists from the author of the Liars series. 7-9 booklist |
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21095 : In the dark spaces by Black, Cally Tamara has been living on a freighter in deep space, and her kidnappers are terrifying Crowpeople - the only aliens humanity has ever encountered. No-one has ever survived a Crowpeople attack, until now - and Tamara must use everything she has just to stay alive. But survival always comes at a price, and there's no handbook for this hostage crisis. As Tamara comes to know the Crowpeople's way of life, and the threats they face from humanity's exploration into deep space, she realises she has an impossible choice to make. Should she stay as the only human among the Crows, knowing she'll never see her family again - or inevitably betray her new community if she wants to escape? 7-9 booklist |
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581428 : Inheritance by Wilkinson, Carole Forced to live with her grandfather at the remote family property that has been in her family for generations, Nic wonders how she will survive without mobile reception or Wi-Fi. She begins to explore the family home, finding cryptic clues that she hopes will lead to information about her mother who died on the day she was born. Nic finds something even better, a way to travel back in time, a way to find out about her ancestors. What she discovers though is a dark secret that still haunts the land and the people who live there. Can she change the terrible events of the past, is there some way to undo the atrocities of her ancestors? 7-9 booklist |
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676551 : It sounded better in my head by Kenwood, Nina When her parents announce their impending separation, Natalie can't understand why no one is fighting or at least mildly upset. And now that Zach and Lucy, her two best friends, have fallen in love, she's feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward. Where does she fit in now? And what has happened to the version of her life that played out like a TV show - with just the right amount of banter, pining and meaningful looks? Nothing is going according to plan. But then an unexpected romance comes along and shakes things up even further. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 7-9 booklist |
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628030 : Kindred: 12 queer #loveozya stories by Earp, Michael (ed) What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #LoveOzYA collection, twelve of Australia's finest writers from the LGBTQ+ community explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers, and the connections that form us. This inclusive and intersectional #OwnVoices anthology for teen readers features work from writers of diverse genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled. With short stories by bestsellers, award winners and newcomers to young adult fiction including Jax Jacki Brown, Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Benjamin Law, Omar Sakr, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Jen Wilde and Nevo Zisin. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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5330 : Last days of us, The by Nicholas, Beck Six months ago, Zoey's life went off the rails. After the tragic loss of her brother, she partied her way to oblivion, estranged her best friend, Cass, and pushed away her now ex, Finn. But when her destructive behaviour reaches dangerous heights, Zoey realises she needs to pull herself together and get her old life back, including her ex. There's just one complication: Finn is now dating Cass. Now, it's the last week of summer and Zoey, Cass and Finn are setting out on the road trip of a lifetime to see their favourite musician, Gray, perform live, joined by Finn's infuriatingly attractive bad-boy cousin Luc and his vibrant younger sister Jolie. Zoey thinks this is her chance to put things to rights and convince Finn they should get back together. But she wasn't counting on her friends' lingering resentment, Luc's disarming sincerity, and Jolie's infectious love for life to turn her plans upside down. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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14234 : Laurinda by Pung, Alice Laurinda is an exclusive school for girls. At its secret core is the Cabinet, a trio of girls who wield power over their classmates and some of their teachers. Entering this world of wealth and secrets is fifteen year old Lucy Lam, a scholarship girl, who has sharp eyes and a shaky sense of self. As she watches the Cabinet at work, and is courted by them, Lucy finds herself in a battle for her identity and integrity. 7-9 booklist |
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23691 : Lifel1k3 by Kristoff, Jay On an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap. Seventeen-year-old Eve isn't looking for trouble--she's too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, she's on the local gangster's wanted list, and the only thing keeping her grandpa alive is the money she just lost to the bookies. If she's ever had a worse day, Eve can't remember it. Her discovery of a handsome android named Ezekiel--called a "Lifelike" because they resemble humans--will bring her world crashing down and make her question whether her entire life is a lie. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic sidekick Cricket in tow, Eve will trek across deserts of glass, battle unkillable bots, and infiltrate towering megacities to save the ones she loves...and learn the truth about secrets of her past. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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751179 : Listen, Layla by Abdel-Magied, Yassmin Layla has ended the school year on a high and can't wait to spend the holidays hanging out with her friends and designing a prize-winning Grand Designs Tourismo invention. But Layla's plans are interrupted when her grandmother in Sudan falls ill and the family rush to be with her. The last time Layla went to Sudan she was only a young child. Now she feels torn between her Sudanese and Australian identities. As political tensions in Sudan erupt, so too do tensions between Layla and her family. Layla is determined not to lose her place in the invention team, but will she go against her parents' wishes? What would a Kandaka do? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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4409 : Living on Hope Street by Divaroren, Demet Living on Hope Street is a glimpse of modern day Australia through the lens of a single street and the families that make their lives along it. Kane will do everything he can to save his mother and his little brother Sam from the violence of his father, even if it means becoming a monster himself. Mrs Aslan will protect the boys no matter what, even though her own family is in pieces. Ada wants a family she can count on, while she faces new questions about herself. Mr Bailey is afraid of the refugees next door, but his worst fear will take another form. And Gugulethu is just trying to make a life away from terror. On this street, everyone comes from different places, but to find peace they will have to discover what unites them. A deeply moving, unflinching portrait of modern Australian suburban life. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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916596 : Lorikeet tree, The by Jennings, Paul Emily loves the bush and the native animals on her family's reforested property, particularly the beautiful rainbow lorikeets that nest in one of the tallest trees. But then her father is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and Emily's world enters a tailspin. Her twin brother, Alex, refuses to accept the truth. His coping mechanism is to build elaborate additions to his treehouse in the superstitious belief that it will avert disaster - leaving Emily to deal with harsh reality on her own. When Alex secretly adopts a feral kitten, going against everything that's important to Emily, the siblings' emotions reach boiling point - with potentially dangerous consequences for them all. 7-9 booklist |
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720733 : Lost soul atlas, The by Fraillon, Zana Twig is all alone after his dad goes missing. But when he meets Flea, a cheerful pickpocket, the pair become fast friends. Together, Twig and Flea raise themselves on the crime-ridden streets, taking what they need and giving the rest to the even-poorer. Life is good, as long as they have each other. But then Twig wakes up in the Afterlife. With just a handful of vague memories, a key, a raven, and a mysterious atlas to guide him, he tries to piece together what happened, and to find his way home . . . 7-9 booklist |
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43484 : Moonrise by Crossan, Sarah Joe hasn't seen his brother for ten years and it's for the most brutal of reasons. Ed is on death row. Now Ed's execution date has been set and this might be the last summer they have together. A novel that uses the beauty of lyrical verse to represent the ethical issues surrounding an ugly part of the American justice system but more importantly it is a story about knowing who someone is beyond the public perception of their guilt. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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876985 : Other Side of Tomorrow, The by Lawrence, Hayley What if you thought you had forever... To live your life. To tell your story. But what if forever was taken from you? When your tomorrows are counted, all you have is this moment. And this story you wish was never yours to tell. When Abby traded her life in the city for a wholesome new life on the coast, it was meant to be a fresh start for her family. Behind them was the sickness and sadness of the past. But sickness doesn't always play by the rules. And as Abby's past threatens to swallow her future, she is forced to decide what is most important. What she will fight for. And she will fight. For however many days she has left. Topics /
Contemporary Australian YA /
7-9 booklist
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846099 : Otherwise known as Pig by Tilly, Catch Morgan Lodhi has been the target of bullies since he was in primary school. He seems to just attract them. He becomes known across the school as Pig and everyone around him find it easier to either ignore the bullying or just join in. High school is a battle ground but it is not without some pockets of kindness. Contains scenes of bullying which some readers may find confronting. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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23003 : P is for pearl by Henry Jones, Eliza Seventeen-year-old Gwendolyn P. Pearson has become very good at not thinking about the awful things that have happened to her family. But following a strange disturbance at the cafe where she works, Gwen is forced to confront what happened to her family all those years ago. And she slowly comes to realise that people aren't as they first appear and that like her, everyone has a story to tell. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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773923 : Perfect on paper by Gonzales, Sophie But when Brougham catches Darcy in the act of collecting letters from locker 89 - out of which she's been running her questionably legal, anonymous relationship advice service - that's exactly what happens. In exchange for keeping her secret, Darcy begrudgingly agrees to become his personal dating coach. The goal? To help him win his ex-girlfriend back. Darcy has good reason to keep her identity secret. If word gets out that she's behind the locker, some things she's not proud of will come to light, and there's a good chance Brooke will never speak to her again. Okay, so all she has to do is help an entitled, bratty, (annoyingly hot) guy win over a girl who's already fallen for him once? What could possibly go wrong? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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677707 : Peta Lyre's rating normal by Whateley, Anna Peta Lyre is far from typical. The world she lives in isn't designed for the way her mind works, but when she follows her therapist's rules for 'normal' behaviour, she can almost fit in without attracting attention. When a new girl, Sam, starts at school, Peta's carefully structured routines start to crack. But on the school ski trip, with romance blooming and a newfound confidence, she starts to wonder if maybe she can have a normal life after all. When things fall apart, Peta must decide whether all the old rules still matter. Does she want a life less ordinary, or should she keep her rating normal? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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4940 : Silent invasion, The by Bradley, James It's 2027 and the human race is dying. Plants, animals and humans have been infected by spores from space and become part of a vast alien intelligence. When 16-year-old Callie discovers her little sister Gracie has been infected, she flees with Gracie to the Zone to avoid termination by the ruthless officers of Quarantine. What Callie finds in the Zone will alter her irrevocably, and send her on a journey to the stars and beyond. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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4802 : Sky by Sherman, Ondine Friendship can be found in the unlikeliest of places. After her mother's death, Sky leaves her city life to move in with her aunt and uncle in a small Australian town. Life in a new place isn't easy, and Sky finds comfort in the friendship of a stray dog she meets along the way. But her new friends at school are another story, and as Sky struggles to fit in, she finds herself doing things that go against everything she believes in. When Sky stumbles on a case of animal cruelty, she is forced to question what's really important to her and who she wants to be. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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611375 : Song of the curlew by Zigomanis, Lazaros Luke Miggs wants more than small town life: the grind of chores on the family farm, playing lacklustre footy, beers with mates. Like maybe doing something about his crush on Amanda Hunt, a barmaid at the local pub who's smart, funny and ambitious. Or maybe playing footy in the big league. At eighteen it can't be too late, can it? There's his place in the Curlews, at least, although the team's little more than a bunch of battlers who play for the beers afterwards. If only they could take their footy seriously, like the reigning champions, the Little Reach Scorpions, who have dominated the competition for ten years. By the looks of this season, nothing is going to change. But when Adam Pride emerges from the night and tells the Curlews he wants to play for them, everything begins to change. A story of friendship, family, and coming of age, and how the choices of our past can come back to shape our future. 7-9 booklist |
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569197 : Thousand perfect notes, A: when passion turns to obsession by Drews, C G Beck, short for Beethoven, is the son of world famous ex-pianist Ida Magdalena Keverich. A stroke has left her without the ability to play, and so she places all her hopes, expectations, and efforts into turning her son into a musical prodigy. To Beck this has meant a life of emotional and physical neglect. He has no fitting clothes and struggles to find food to feed his younger sister. Beck's mother, the maestro, has a violent temper and Beck often comes to school with bruises and other signs of injury. In meeting August, a girl from his school, who is in many ways his exact opposite, Beck learns that life and music do not have to entail the suffering he is used to. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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916557 : Two Can Play That Game by Yong, Leanne Sam Khoo has one goal in life: create cool indie games. She's willing to do anything to make her dream come true - even throw away a scholarship to university. All she needs is a super-rare ticket to a game design workshop and she can kickstart her career. So when Jay Chua, aka Jerky McJerkface, sneakily grabs the last ticket, it's war. Knowing how their Australian-Malaysian community works, Sam issues him an ultimatum: put the ticket on the line in a 1v1 competition of classic video games, or she'll broadcast his duplicity to everyone. Thank you, Asian Gossip Network. Meeting in neutral locations, away from the eyes and ears of nosy aunties and uncles, Sam and Jay connect despite themselves. It's a puzzle that Sam's not sure she wants to solve. But when her dream is under threat, will she discover that there is more than one way to win? 7-9 booklist |
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28907 : Undercurrent, The by Weston, Paula Eighteen-year-old Julianne De Marchi is different. As in - she has an electrical undercurrent beneath her skin that stings and surges like a live wire. She can use it-to spark a fire, maybe even end a life - but she doesn't understand what it is. And she can barely control it, especially when she's anxious. Ryan Walsh was on track for a stellar football career when his knee blew out. Now he's a soldier - part of an experimental privatised military unit that has identified Jules De Marchi as a threat. Is it because of the weird undercurrent she's tried so hard to hide? Or because of her mother Angie's history as an activist against bio-engineering and big business? It's no coincidence that Ryan and Jules are in the same place at the same time - he's under orders to follow her, after all. But then an explosive attack on a city building by an unknown enemy throws them together in the most violent and unexpected way. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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8935 : Unearthed by Kaufman, Amie & Spooner, Meagan When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. For Jules Addison the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance. In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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901579 : Waiting for the storks by Nannestad, Katrina It's the Second World War and Himmler's Lebensborn Program is in full flight when eight-year-old Zofia Ulinski is kidnapped by the Germans. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, just like the other Polish children taken from their families and robbed of their names, their language, their heritage. But when Zofia is adopted into a wealthy and loving German family, it is easier, it is safer to bury her past, deep down, so everything is forgotten. Until the Polish boy arrives. And the past comes back to haunt her. 7-9 booklist |
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774228 : Waking Romeo by Barker, Kathryn It's the end of the world. Literally. Time travel is possible, but only forwards. And only a handful of families choose to remain in the 'now', living off the scraps that were left behind. Among these are eighteen-year-old Juliet and the love of her life, Romeo. But things are far from rosy for Jules. Romeo is in a coma and she's estranged from her friends and family, dealing with the very real fallout of their wild romance. Then a handsome time traveller, Ellis, arrives with an important mission that makes Jules question everything she knows about life and love. Can Jules wake Romeo and rewrite her future? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. 9plus booklist |
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977794 : We didn't think it through by Lonesborough, Gary Jaime lives in Dalton's Bay with Aunty Dawn and Uncle Bobby. He spends his downtime hanging out with his mates, Dally and Lenny. Jamie's just an Aboriginal kid trying to find his way, but Mark Cassidy and the while lads take every opportunity they can to bully him and his friends. One night, Jamie, Dally and Lenny decide to retaliate...but things don't go as planned and the consequences are devastating. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. Can Jaime mend his relationships with himself, his friends, his family, and his future? Topics /
Aboriginal content /
Australian author/Illustrator /
Gender identity /
Contemporary Australian YA /
9plus booklist
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587842 : What I like about me by Guillaume, Jenna You know those movies where teenagers have the summer of their lives? This summer is probably not going to be that. Here lies Maisie Martin, dead from embarrassment, aged sixteen. The last thing Maisie Martin thought she'd be doing this summer is entering a beauty pageant. Not when she's spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone. Not when her Dad is AWOL for Christmas and her best friend starts going out with the boy she's always loved. But Maisie's got something to prove. And she's not going to let anything or anyone- including herself- hold her back. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above. 9plus booklist |
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9636 : You I've never known, The by Hopkins, Ellen Ariel has only a few small memories of her mother, who ran away years ago. Now aged, 17, she has lived in more towns than she can remember as her dad moves her across the country with alarming frequency. Finally settled with two friends, Monica and Gabe, Ariel wants to stay in one place. She is struggling with her feelings towards both her friends and aims to work out who she really is. On the other side of the country, Maya keeps a diary about her life, having run away from her own abusive mother and into the arms of a much older man, she is pregnant and practically alone. When both these worlds meet, both Maya and Ariel try to make sense of their lives. Usually ready by students in Years 9, 10 & above. 9plus booklist |
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587854 : You must be Layla by Abdel-Magied, Yassmin With her long skirt and headscarf Layla certainly stands out at her new high school. Everyone thinks they know her, just from a glance. But do they? And does Layla really know herself? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, and above 9plus booklist |