#LoveOzYA Throwback Thursday: Hating Alison Ashley
Throwback Thursday #LoveOzYA edition is our way of spreading the love of backlist Aussie books that you might have missed. We'll hopefully be posting a new book every second week, and we'd love you to join us!
Star's pick
Author: Robin Klein
Released: 01 October 1985
Publisher: Puffin Books
Add it to Goodreads
Erica has always believed herself to be the star of her sixth grade class. But then Alison Ashley shows up, and right from the start, seems to threaten Erica's position. Can these classmates ever see past their difficulties and find friendship?
why i chose it
This was one of the books we had to read in year eight English. I remember disliking the book at first, because the main character, Erica, was so annoying, but upon reflection, I realise she was just a girl who was threatened by Ashley. This book is also where I learned the word hypochondriac, so that’s something. I have a special edition copy of this book now, and I do want to read it again as an adult, rather than a 13 year old being forced to read it.Follow Star at Little Miss Star, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
What's your pick for this week? Share on your blog, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or in the comments below! Make sure you tag your posts with #AusYABloggers so we can share the love.
Top Five Tuesday - Kelly's Halloween Reads
This week Kelly brings us her Top 5 Reads For Halloween
Whether you're monster mashing, wishing Casper was a real boy or looking for something that'll have you hiding under the covers after seeing dead people, young adult has you covered. Today I'm sharing some of my favourite reads for Halloween! Or if you prefer, spooky books who strangely have black and white covers. Mostly.
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Creepy and gruesome in parts, you may want to sleep with the light left on. The book is told from Cas's point of view, and he doesn't hold back. He swears, he tells is straight and doesn't sugar coat his words. He also has never had any friends or connected with anyone, having chased ghosts all over the country.
It's a romanticised ghost story, despite the blood and gore.
Gap Year in Ghost Town by Michael Pryor
Throughout the quiet, darkened streets of Melbourne, eighteen year old Anton Marin searches for ghosts, delicately releasing their spirits from Earth by easing their passage.
Theatrical and charismatic, Gap Year In Ghost Town is wonderfully written with humour and finesse. Simply brilliant.
Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
An unreliable protagonist and a nonlinear narrative that blends present tense with the childhood psychiatric transcripts of a young girl who witnessed an abduction. It's incredibly atmospheric and places the reader within the narrative. Small Spaces is a compelling, unpredictable and consuming debut.
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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children was fantastical, a wonderfully rich and picturesque world that enchants and delights. As a young boy, Jacob was raised on the tales of mythical children who were extraordinary. Invisibility, levitation, creating, shaping and enchanting the children's home where taught by Miss Peregrine herself.
A whimsically eerie storyline of the curious and wonderful. Lyrically beautiful and immersive, I absolutely adored it.
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Every Breath by Ellie Marney
It follows the story of Watts and Mycroft as they investigate the murder of a homeless man outside of the Melbourne Zoo. While the police suspect it as little more than a cruel sporting kill from a twisted individual, Mycroft and his forensic obsession know it's not as simple and the two explore Melbourne while investigating who killed Homeless Dave.
Ellie Marney is a natural storyteller, creating realistic, flawed characters that will adhere themselves to readers. I simply adored the slow burning romance, the intensity of the attraction between Mycroft and Watts only added to the suspense. It was simplistic, beautifully written and cemented Ellie Marney as an instant favourite on my shelves.
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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children was fantastical, a wonderfully rich and picturesque world that enchants and delights. As a young boy, Jacob was raised on the tales of mythical children who were extraordinary. Invisibility, levitation, creating, shaping and enchanting the children's home where taught by Miss Peregrine herself.
A whimsically eerie storyline of the curious and wonderful. Lyrically beautiful and immersive, I absolutely adored it.
View on Goodreads
Every Breath by Ellie Marney
It follows the story of Watts and Mycroft as they investigate the murder of a homeless man outside of the Melbourne Zoo. While the police suspect it as little more than a cruel sporting kill from a twisted individual, Mycroft and his forensic obsession know it's not as simple and the two explore Melbourne while investigating who killed Homeless Dave.
Ellie Marney is a natural storyteller, creating realistic, flawed characters that will adhere themselves to readers. I simply adored the slow burning romance, the intensity of the attraction between Mycroft and Watts only added to the suspense. It was simplistic, beautifully written and cemented Ellie Marney as an instant favourite on my shelves.
View on Goodreads
Follow Kelly at Diva Booknerd, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
What's your pick for this week? Share on your blog, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or in the comments below! Make sure you tag your posts with #AusYABloggers so we can share the love.SLAY Review Tour
Hachette Australia, together with the #AusYABloggers are celebrating the release of SLAY by Brittney Morris. On tour, you will find Aussie bloggers, reviewers and Instagrammers sharing their thoughts on SLAY, beginning on October 128th and running until November 1st 2019.
Tour Schedule
| October 28th Shay's Pages Marvelous Bibliophile Sam The Fangirl Shannon A Jade | October 29th Shelle Reads Books A Sunny Spot Alliee Reads Book Book Owl | October 30th Ellee Rose Brooklyn the Bookworm Paper Fury A Reader |
| October 31st Dreaming of Cats Sarah Says Nic Book Panda | November 1st AusYABloggers Read3rz Revu Blog Manda The Glittery Nerd |
About the book
by Brittney Morris
Published by Hachette Australia
ISBN 9781444951721
Published October 9th 2019
Add to Goodreads
RRP $17.99 AUD
We are different ages, genders, tribes, tongues, and traditions... But tonight we all SLAY.
By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is a college student, and one of the only black kids at Jefferson Academy. By night, she joins hundreds of thousands of black gamers who duel worldwide in the secret online role-playing card game, SLAY.
No one knows Kiera is the game developer - not even her boyfriend, Malcolm. But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, the media labels it an exclusionist, racist hub for thugs.
With threats coming from both inside and outside the game, Kiera must fight to save the safe space she's created. But can she protect SLAY without losing herself?
About the author
Brittney Morris holds a BA in Economics from Boston University. She spends her spare time reading, playing indie video games, and enjoying the Seattle rain from the comfort of her apartment. She lives with her husband Steven who would rather enjoy the rain from a campsite in the woods because he hasn't seen enough horror movies. Brittney is was chosen as a Novel-In-A-Day participant 2016, is a four-time NaNoWriMo winner, and an active informal mentor in #PitMad and #DVPit. She is also a 2018 Pitch Wars mentor.Seventy-Seven Saturday (#5) The Land of Roar
Every Saturday we will bring you a short snippet from page 77 of a book. It might be a book one of us is reading or perhaps just the book closest to us.
The Rules:
- Pick up a Book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
- Turn to page 77(or 77% if you are on an e-reader)
- Find a Snippet, Sentence or Paragraph you like.
- Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram and link back to us (AusYABloggers) and use #77Saturday
Tash's Choice
Author: Jenny McLachlan
Released: 1st August 2019
Publisher: Egmont UK
Add it to Goodreads
"I keep trying to tell you , Arthur, a lot has changed in Roar.' He takes a step back from the forest. "" There's one more thing you should know about Crowky's scarecrow army....'
'What's that?'
'They're excellent at standing still.'"
Tash's Thoughts
This book has been on my TBR ever since I read the book deal announcement. I just started reading it (Oct 12th) and it has Peter pan feel to this book. This passage has only reinforced the idea that it's is inspired by Peter Pan. I'm curious to see how McLachlan makes this tale unique. I want to know who Crowky is and the speaker who is telling Arthur what has happened since he has been gone. Why is standing still so important????????Follow Tash at Blog, Twitter, and Goodreads
Seventy-Seven Saturday was inspired by The Friday 56 by Freda's Voice. If you decided to share your Seventy-Seven Saturday on your blog please link back to us and tag us on Twitter of Instagram @AsuYABloggers and #77Saturday
#LoveNZYA Throwback Thursday: Maddigan's Fantasia
Throwback Thursday #LoveNzYA edition is our way of spreading the love of backlist Kiwi books that you might have missed. We'll hopefully be posting a new book every second week, and we'd love you to join us!
Brooklynne's pick
Title: Maddigan's FantasiaAuthor: Margaret Mahy
Released: 1st December 2005
Publisher: Harper Collins
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When twelve-year-old Garland Maddigan asks Timon and Eden where they have come from, she is overwhelmed by their answer: the future. In a post-apocalyptic time, Garland's family's traveling circus troop, Maddigan's Fantasia, leaves the city of Solis once a year to perform and earn a living. However, this year Solis has given the Fantasia the crucial task of obtaining a new solar converter, the only power source in Solis, because the old one is failing. Misfortune finds the Fantasia in their travels, and Garland's father dies in an attack by Road Rats. Then suddenly two mysterious boys, Timon and Eden, appear with their baby sister, claiming to be from the future - a world in which the Fantasia has failed in its mission and the evil Nennog has taken power. The boys have come to help the Fantasia, but danger has followed them across time. Can the Fantasia protect Timon and Eden, and succeed in their quest to save their world? Internationally renowned author Margaret Mahy spins a vivid tale of time travel, adventure, and magic that no reader will soon forget.
why I chose it
First off is there a more Kiwi author out there than Margaret Mahy. She is the most prolific and well-known children's and Young Adult author in New Zealand, and this book is a great example of why. This dystopian novel is action-packed and fun to read, especially as it clearly takes place in New Zealand. I found it entirely gripping and that was before the time travellers arrive. It's also been made into a rather successful TV series Maddigan's Quest, which stars a young Rose McIver.Top Five Tuesday - Sarah’s top five YA Comics
This week Sarah brings us her Top 5 YA Comics
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (Author & Artist)
I doubt anyone is surprised by this being the top of my list.
It is cute, queer, heartwarming and entertaining!
Two teen boys meet, grow as friends, one openly gay, the other not so much, and the ending leaves us with the hope they could be more.
The art is adorable, the characters are adorable, the plot is adorable - the whole darn thing is adorable.
Fence by C.S. Pacat (Author) & Johanna the Mad (Artist)
Fabulous fellows, intense fencing tournaments and even more intense friendships.
The first issue perfectly set up the tension between Nicholas and Seiji. And I even enjoyed the fencing, a sport I previously hadn’t given much thought to.
The artwork is beautiful! Clear, detailed and flows wonderfully.
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson (Author) & Adrian Alphona (Artist)
A Jersey teen, who happens to be Muslim, is suddenly and supprisingly bestowed with the mantel of Ms Marvel. Cue identity crisis, struggling to handle strange and strong new powers and the hijinks that come from teenagers trying to hide things from their parents.
I loved meeting Kamala Khan, who I think makes a fantastic Ms. Marvel.
Runaways, Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home by Rainbow Rowell (Author) & Kris Anka (Artist)
Rowell’s reboot of Vaughan’s original series and what a fantastic reboot it is!! As soon as I finished reading it I went and ordered the next two collections!
I don’t think you would need to have read all the previous series by Vaughan to enjoy Rowell’s reboot, she does summarise a little, but It makes it all that much more epic if you are already invested in the characters.
And of course we can’t have the start of the reboot without the start of the original!
Runaways, Vol. 1: Pride and Joy by Brian K. Vaughan (Author) & Adrian Alphona (Artist)
A group of teens who discover their parents are the villains, not the superheroes (of the marvel universe) and subsequently end up on the run for their lives.
Pride and Joy is the strong start of what turns into stellar series.
Runaways gets queerer as the series goes on, oh and did I mention there is a psychically linked Velociraptor! - oh yeah!
Seventy-Seven Saturday (#4) Scars Like Wings
Every Saturday we will bring you a short snippet from page 77 of a book. It might be a book one of us is reading or perhaps just the book closest to us.
The Rules:
- Pick up a Book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
- Turn to page 77(or 77% if you are on an e-reader)
- Find a Snippet, Sentence or Paragraph you like.
- Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram and link back to us (AusYABloggers) and use #77Saturday
Brooklyn's Choice
Title: Scars Like WingsAuthor: Erin Stewart
Released: 3rd October 2019
Publisher: Delacorte
Add it to Goodreads
The boy grips my hand so tight that I wince. He stands and, with a flourish of his wrist, bows.
Brooklyn's Thoughts
Scars Like Wings' has been one of my newest book purchases and I'm highly looking forward to immersing myself in it! After reading this quote, I'm even more curious!Follow Brooklyn at Blog, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
Seventy-Seven Saturday was inspired by The Friday 56 by Freda's Voice. If you decided to share your Seventy-Seven Saturday on your blog please link back to us and tag us on Twitter of Instagram @AsuYABloggers and #77Saturday
#LoveOzYA Throwback Thursday - Looking For Alibrandi
Throwback Thursday #LoveOzYA edition is our way of spreading the love of backlist Aussie books that you might have missed. We'll hopefully be posting a new book every second week, and we'd love you to join us!
name's pick
Author: Melina Marchetta
Released: 05 October 1992
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Add it to Goodreads
Josephine Alibrandi is seventeen, illegitimate, and in her final year at a wealthy Catholic school. This is the year her father comes back into her life, the year she falls in love, the year she discovers the secrets of her family's past and the year she sets herself free.
why i chose it
I remember reading Looking for Alibrandi for year nine English and I absolutely loved it. I found it so relatable, even though I’m not Italian, or lived anywhere near Bondi. This book was one of my favourites of the year (which is saying something, because 2000 was the year I discovered Harry Potter). I absolutely loved the family dynamics in this book, and the fact that Josephine ‘sets herself free’. As a 14 year old reading this book, that’s exactly what I wanted to do, too. (I also remember hating that the film changed things so she and her boyfriend actually stayed together? I thought they were better off broken up.) Just writing this is making me want to read this incredible book again! .Follow Star at Little Miss Star, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
What's your pick for this week? Share on your blog, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or in the comments below! Make sure you tag your posts with #AusYABloggers so we can share the love.
The Spooky Scary Book Tag
1. What goes bump in the night? Name a book that has legitimately scared you while reading it.
Sarah: Well I tend to stay away from any books that I think will scare me. I'm not a fan of horror movies and such. But the last book I read that gave me nightmares was Ballad for a Mad Girl by Vikki Wakefield. And I loved it.
Brooklynne: I'm not sure many books legitimately scare me that often, I think the closest would have been Wilder Girls, by Rory Power. I'm not sure if I had any fingernails left at the end of this book.
Tash: Honestly, I more then likely to get scared by someone tapping me on the shoulder then reading a book. If I had to name a book, hmmm You ? I haven't gotten scared reading a Young Adult book
Star: Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein - that book was so eerie and creepy and SO hecking good. It's a book I STILL think about to this day.
Brooklyn: Risk by Fleur Ferris. It scares me that they're such disgusting monsters in the world that relentlessly take the lives of young girls without a second thought.
Kait: What the Woods Keep by Katya De Becerra
2. Jack O’ Lanterns and Classic Costumes: A book you always reach for during Halloween time.
Sarah: I don't have a go to book, but I have a go to movie: Hocus Pocus.
Brooklynne: Without a doubt The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, I grab it every year and it is just so perfectly atmospheric.
Tash: I don't have a particular book that I . I try to read more paranormal/horror around this time of year like Carry On, or V.E. Schwab books for example
Star: I don't reach for a book, but I do enjoy re-watching The Craft movie every year.
Brooklyn: Not so much nowadays, because I don't really have the time to reread as much as I'd like - but I used to always reread Halloween Party by Agatha Christie!
Kait: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
3. Black Cats and Magic Mirrors: A book you love that is laced with superstition and/or magic.
Sarah: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins - Actually the whole Hex Hall series, but Demonglass was my favourite.
Brooklynne: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab, has so much fun ghost and spirits mythology.
Tash: Lady Helen and the Dark Day club -without going into too much detail. There is a lot of superstition and magic involved. It gets dark really fast and honestly scandalous....
Star: These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling. It's the first one in hopefully a series, I know she's writing book 2. It's witches like I've never really seen them before and it's super queer, which is even more awesome. AND it's set in Salem - what more could I want?
Brooklyn: I assume Harry Potter is acceptable? I mean, it was the first story completely laced with all the wondrous magic throughout!
Kait: The Diviners by Libba Bray
4. Witch’s Brew: Favourite witch character in any book/series.
Sarah: I went through a binge of reading the Charmed Comic Series's last year and no other witches thus far have taken the spot of the The Charmed Ones in my heart. I grew up wanting to be Pure, until she died, then to having the biggest crush on Phoebe. (I still need to watch the TV reboot that came out last year)
Brooklynne: Oh This one is hard because part of me wants to instinctively say Hannah from These Witches Don't Burn, but on second though I really love Danny from The Lost Coast. I think I have to go with Danny.
Tash: The Witch Who Courted Death - Casper is feminist as hell and I love her kick ass characters who support Casper.
Star: Hermione Granger, hands down. She's the most powerful witch and I am so in love with her.
Brooklyn: There's so many! But for this answer I'll choose Manon and The Thirteen from Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas.
Kait: Tea from The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
6. Haunted Graveyard: You’re all alone in a haunted graveyard, you get ONE book to give you comfort, which is it?
Sarah: I'd want something completely opposite from my surroundings, and something from my TBR list to keep my mind occupied. Ummm...lets go with...Making Friends with Alice Dyson by Poppy Nwosu.
Brooklynne: Hmm do I go dark, or light hearted. I think I'm going to have to go with something like Sky by Ondine Sherman, especially as it's on my TBR.
Tash: The Bone Season, as I can use to whack anyone that comes my way and have Warden to keep me company.
Star: One that will hopefully teleport me the eff out of there!! Hmm, if that doesn't happen, then probably The Princess Diaries book 1 - those books never fail to make me laugh.
Brooklyn: Can I choose all 7 Harry Potter books? ;)
Kait: Nevermore by Jessica Townsend
7. The Undead: Favorite supernatural creatures to read about (i.e. vampires, zombies, werewolves, etc).
Sarah: Werewolves - shapeshifters for sure! Zombies scare the crap out of me.
Brooklynne: I love reading about the various mythologies behind vampires, like heir orgin stories etc. I love books that specifically have unique takes on vampires.
Tash: Werewolves- They are alphas, don't mind a good fight . Plus you can find them in Young Adult to Adult. There is a werewolf out there for everyone, you just need to read the right book.
Star: Witches. There's SO much that can be explored and interpreted with witches. The magic systems alone are so fascinating to read about. Both Harry Potter and These Witches Don't Burn have magic and witches and couldn't be more different from each other. It's awesome.
Brooklyn: Witches, all the way! Though all of the above will always be enjoyable for me too!
Kait: Vampires! I love reading about vampires, especially the scary kind.
8. In the dead of night: Pick a book with a black cover.
Sarah: Right To Silence (Paranormal Detectives #4) by Lily Luchesi
Brooklynne: My version of The Knife of Never Letting Go has not only a black cover but black sprayed edges so it's the blackest black!
Tash: Ninth House, as the aesthetics and snakes are hot right now. The foiling makes the title stand out more.
Star: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.
Brooklyn: Serpent & Dove was the first choice that came to mind :)
Kait: The Island by M. A. Bennett
Thanks for taking the time to read the tag and get to know us all a bit better. Please let us know if you do the tag, we would love to come read it. Or you can post your own answers down in the comments!
Seventy-Seven Saturday (#3) Impossible Music
Every Saturday we will bring you a short snippet from page 77 of a book. It might be a book one of us is reading or perhaps just the book closest to us.
The Rules:
- Pick up a Book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
- Turn to page 77(or 77% if you are on an e-reader)
- Find a Snippet, Sentence or Paragraph you like.
- Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram and link back to us (AusYABloggers) and use #77Saturday
Brooklynne's Choice
Author: Sean Williams
Released: 2nd July 2019
Publisher: Allen & Urwin
Add it to Goodreads
Musical Instruments are defiitely alive. The guitar my father gave me seemed to shiver in my arms the moment I first strummed it. My black Schecter Omen now shook with sympathetic vibrations from the other instruments in the room
Brooklynne's Thoughts
This book has been on my TBR since Cait at Paper Fury reviewed it a few months ago. I was instantly drawn to the concept as I have had severe tinnitus in my left ear since I was 8 years old due to a childhood accident and mild tinnitus in my right ear from that same accident. I have been aware since I was 19 that one day I will be deaf. I'm also a musician playing the violin and love music. This passage has only increased my desire to read this book.Follow Brooklynne at Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads
Seventy-Seven Saturday was inspired by The Friday 56 by Freda's Voice. If you decided to share your Seventy-Seven Saturday on your blog please link back to us and tag us on Twitter of Instagram @AsuYABloggers and #77Saturday
#LoveNZYA (#5) Spark by Rachael Clark
Throwback Thursday #LoveNZYA edition is our way of spreading the love of backlist Kiwi books that you might have missed. We'll hopefully be posting a new book every second week, and we'd love you to join us!
Tash's pick
Title:Spark (Spark)
Author: Rachael Craw
Released: July 1st 2014
Publisher: Walker Book Australia
Add it to Goodreads
Evie doesn’t have a choice.
One day she’s an ordinary seventeen year old, grieving for her mother. The next, she’s a Shield, the result of a decades-old experiment gone wrong, bound by DNA to defend her best friend from an unknown killer.
The threat could come at home, at school, anywhere. All Evie knows is that it will be a fight to the death.
And then there’s Jamie. irresistible. off-limits.
why i chose it
This a favourite amongst the mods on the team and there is a good reason why. Spark is the book that made Craw known in the Australian and New Zealand community. Craw's debut hit the market at the right time, appealing to sci- fi fans just a little over five years ago It's cleverly written with a plot twist that you won't see coming. It's addicting and honestly still one of the best sci-fi books I've read from a local author. It stood the test of time so far and holds its place in a genre that can be lacking locally.The concept of the story may capture readers attention, but there is much more to this book. Craw pay attentions to the readers' wishes and wants when it comes to reading YA and makes sure to address one of the biggest wants of them all.
One of the big highlights of this book and the series overall is the family dynamics. It's refreshing to see parents in the picture and actively involved in the story. It flows naturally and isn't forced, which helps with the plot and the heavy world building in this book.
There is much thrown at readers, but Evie and her interest in Jamie drives this book home and makes you want to find out what happens next.
What's your pick for this week? Share on your blog, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or in the comments below! Make sure you tag your posts with #AusYABloggers so we can share the love.
Top 5 Tuesday: Kait's Top 5 Underrated #LoveOzYA Books!
This week Kait brings us her Top 5 underrated #LoveOzYA books!
Wraith by Shane and Alex SmithersWraith is a brilliant and imaginative sci-fi. It's filled with humor and realistic characters. Plus the cover is gorgeous.
James can fly, though his landings need some work. However, that’s the least of his problems when he crash lands into a city in the clouds. Soon James is drawn into a race against time to find the SAFFIRE, a new technology designed to save the city from the effects of climate change. Finding his way home seems impossible but with the help of Aureole, a young girl determined to save her city, James just might be able to fly away and help save the city in the process.
What the Woods Keep by Katya De Becerra.What the Woods Keep is a dark and creepy fantasy sci-fi mix. I recommend it if you’ve been sleeping too well at night. It’s a book for those who love unbreakable friendships, mysteries, creepy towns, science, and mythology.
On her eighteenth birthday, Hayden inherits her childhood home—on the condition that she uncovers its dark secrets.
Hayden tried to put the past behind her, and it worked. She’s getting ready for college, living in a Brooklyn apartment, and hanging out with her best friend and roommate Del. But now it’s all catching up with her: her mother’s mysterious disappearance a decade before, her father’s outlandish theories about a lost supernatural race, and Hayden’s own dark dreams of strange symbols and rituals in the Colorado woods where she grew up.
As soon as Hayden arrives at her hometown, her friend Del in tow, it begins: Neighbors whisper secrets about Hayden’s mother; the boy next door is now all grown-up in a very distracting way; and Hayden feels the trees calling to her. And among them, deep in the woods, Hayden will discover something incredible—something that threatens reality itself.
Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
Small Spaces is a haunting and gripping thriller. I needed to know what happened! My theory was wrong but that's what happens when a book has as many epic twists as this one.
The Shadow Girl by John Larkin
The Shadow Girl is a book that will make you re-examine the way you look at the world and just how horrible it can be. The Shadow Girl is tragic, but at the same time the light of hope shines through. This book reminds me that even if the world is dark there is still good, especially in places where you don’t think to look.
Chess Raven Chronicles by Violet Grace
A beautiful story of love, friendship, and discovering yourself. A unique setting and fast paced plot you won't be able to put this down.
Small Spaces is a haunting and gripping thriller. I needed to know what happened! My theory was wrong but that's what happens when a book has as many epic twists as this one.
Tash Carmody has been traumatised since childhood, when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. At the time nobody believed Tash, and she has since come to accept that Sparrow wasn’t real. Now fifteen and mute, Mallory’s never spoken about the week she went missing.
As disturbing memories resurface, Tash starts to see Sparrow again. And she realises Mallory is the key to unlocking the truth about a dark secret connecting them. Does Sparrow exist after all? Or is Tash more dangerous to others than she thinks?
The Shadow Girl by John LarkinThe Shadow Girl is a book that will make you re-examine the way you look at the world and just how horrible it can be. The Shadow Girl is tragic, but at the same time the light of hope shines through. This book reminds me that even if the world is dark there is still good, especially in places where you don’t think to look.
The unnamed narrator escapes the dangerous imploding world of her parents and wider family in order to survive. Not wishing to be chewed up and spat out by the red light district she hides out in her local church, spends her weekends in the sand dunes on a Central Coast beach, and—with the help of her aunt's credit card—has the occasional stay in a five-star hotel. Most of her time on the run, though, she spends on the trains—generally sleeping in the shunting yards. When the trains become too dangerous she manages to find a derelict house in a leafy suburb and moves in with the possums and resident ghosts, ready to prove once and for all that she can take care of herself.
Chess Raven Chronicles by Violet GraceA beautiful story of love, friendship, and discovering yourself. A unique setting and fast paced plot you won't be able to put this down.
Chess Raven is a hacker who has grown up with nothing and no one. Her parents died when she was three and her foster care situation turned out badly – very badly. But on her sixteenth birthday, her life is turned upside down.
Chess learns her mother was Queen of the Fae and her father was a brilliant physicist. The unique blend of her mother’s fairy blood and her father’s humanity gives Chess – and Chess alone – the ability to unlock a mysterious vessel that will unleash unimagined powers – with devastating consequences. Thrown into a new world where nothing is at it seems, Chess must work out who to trust as vying forces race to control her. Or kill her.
Reunited with her childhood friend Tom Williams, an enigmatic shape-shifting unicorn, Chess discovers love for the first time and is prepared to risk her life for it. But first she must learn to overcome a fear of her own power and stop waiting for other people to save her. She is the one she's been waiting for.
Seventy-Seven Saturday (#2) Frankly In Love
Every Saturday we will bring you a short snippet from page 77 of a book. It might be a book one of us is reading or perhaps just the book closest to us.
The Rules:
- Pick up a Book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
- Turn to page 77(or 77% if you are on an e-reader)
- Find a Snippet, Sentence or Paragraph you like.
- Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram and link back to us (AusYABloggers) and use #77Saturday
Kelly's Choice
Title: Frankly In LoveAuthor: David Yoon
Released: 10th September 2019
Publisher: Penguin
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They cherry picked what they wanted from American culture, but for the most part they built this little Korean bubble to live in. They watch nothing but Korean shows, do business with nothing but Korean people, hang out with nothing but Korean friends.
Kelly's Thoughts
Frankly In Love is a book that explores the American Korean offspring of Korean immigrants. The own voices narrative ignites discussion of the pressure the children of immigrants face, caught between two cultures of their parent's homeland and the country often in which they were born.Follow Kelly at Blog, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
Seventy-Seven Saturday was inspired by The Friday 56 by Freda's Voice. If you decided to share your Seventy-Seven Saturday on your blog please link back to us and tag us on Twitter of Instagram @AsuYABloggers and #77Saturday
#LoveOzYa Throwback (#17) Bloodlace
Throwback Thursday #LoveOzYA edition is our way of spreading the love of backlist Aussie books that you might have missed. We'll hopefully be posting a new book every second week, and we'd love you to join us!
Star's pick
Author: Kim Wilkins
Released: 04 March 2002
Publisher: HarperCollins
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Gina Champion is a 16-year-old detective...a psychic detective. Gina was quite young when she discovered a talent for knowing the history of an object when she held it, which is known as psychometry. Since then, she has honed her skills considerably. Gina's best friend, Vanessa, has landed a part in a play...the local theatre is to reopen after having been closed down for years. Rehearsals do not go well...the leading lady leaves when she sees pools of blood that disappear. Vanessa is promoted and Gina is persuaded to join, which she takes as an opportunity to explore the theatre and do some research at the library. The ghost certainly seems to have no intention of going away...Gina discovers that the theatre originally closed down because a young girl ran through the audience one night, bleeding profusely. As Gina follows the trail she realises that someone is trying to put her off. Is it Park Reeves, the creep who is making a play for Gina, when it is Vanessa who has a crush on him, or is it the pastor and his cronies, who have been trying to close this 'immoral' play down. Gina gets threatening phone calls and also sees that someone is watching her house.
why i chose it
I was 16 when I found the Gina Champion books at my local library, and while they didn’t have them all, I loved every single book in the series that I read.
They were fun, intense, captivating, and full of enough mystery to keep my teenage self on the edge of my seat.
I loved Gina’s character, and I loved her special ‘power’ of psychometry. It was new and exciting to read about especially post-Harry Potter when I wanted to read everything I could that was magical, or had magical elements to it.
This series was one of my favourites, and I remember the feeling of being absolutely sucked into the world of these books so intensely. I wish I had copies of my own so I could reread them as an adult. But I reread them again and again and again as a teenager, so that will have to suffice.
If your local library has these books, I encourage you to pick them up.
Follow Star at Little Miss Star, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads
What's your pick for this week? Share on your blog, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, or in the comments below! Make sure you tag your posts with #AusYABloggers so we can share the love.
AusYABloggers Buddy Read – Risk by Fleur Ferris
Previously we’ve held chats for our
monthly Buddy Reads over on twitter, but we know it’s hard for everyone to come
together at one time, with time differences all over OZ and NZ, so we’ve
decided to give a new format a try – a blog discussion post.
Our September buddy read was Risk by Fleur Ferris
Synopsis
Taylor and Sierra have been
best friends for their whole lives. But Taylor’s fed up. Why does Sierra always
get what – and who – she wants? From kissing Taylor’s crush to stealing the guy
they both met online for herself, Sierra doesn’t seem to notice when she hurts
her friends.
So when Sierra says Jacob Jones is the one and asks her friends to cover for her while she goes to meet him for the first time, Taylor rolls her eyes.
But Sierra doesn’t come back when she said she would.
One day. Two days. Three . . .
What if Taylor’s worrying for nothing? What if Sierra’s just being Sierra, forgetting about everyone else to spend time with her new guy?
When Taylor finally tells Sierra’s mum that her daughter is missing, Taylor and her friends are thrown into a dark world they never even knew existed.
Can Taylor find Sierra’s abductor in time? Or should she be looking for a killer?
So when Sierra says Jacob Jones is the one and asks her friends to cover for her while she goes to meet him for the first time, Taylor rolls her eyes.
But Sierra doesn’t come back when she said she would.
One day. Two days. Three . . .
What if Taylor’s worrying for nothing? What if Sierra’s just being Sierra, forgetting about everyone else to spend time with her new guy?
When Taylor finally tells Sierra’s mum that her daughter is missing, Taylor and her friends are thrown into a dark world they never even knew existed.
Can Taylor find Sierra’s abductor in time? Or should she be looking for a killer?
This month’s questions have been submitted by LittleMissStar
1) Have
you read Risk? If so, what did you think of it?
2) Have
you ever thought of yourself as being at risk online?
3) As
a teenager, did you ever participate in anonymous group chats like Taylor and
Sierra did?
4) Imagine
you are 15 years old. What do you think you would have done if you were Taylor
in this situation? Would you have told Sierra's mum that Sierra was missing
sooner, or not?
5) Have
you ever felt manipulated by a friend to do something you weren’t comfortable
with doing? What was the result?
6) Have
you ever met anyone from online? If so, what was the outcome?
7) After
reading this book, have you changed how you behave and interact with people
online?
8) What
do you think can realistically be done by parents, adults, and even younger
users of the internet to keep safe online?
9) Last
question. If you had to sum up your thoughts and feelings for Risk in one
paragraph, what would you say?
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