#AusYABuddyRead August : Legacy by Whiti Hereaka
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 July buddy read was Legacy by Whiti Heraka
This month’s questions have been supplied by the lovely Brooklynne @brookiegrrrl
1) Have you read Legacy? What did you think of it?
2) Did you enjoy it as a Historical Fiction? How about as a Fantasy novel? I thought it was an interesting blend of the two.
3) I really enjoyed the way it highlighted the drudgery and dullness that could be day time war while highlighting the brutality. What were your thoughts about how war was depicted?
4) The novel talks a lot about the colonisation of New Zealand and the racism that still persists. Was this something you found interesting?
5) Strong friendships are important in YA books. What did you think of the friendships that are built in this book?
6) What did you think of Riki's moral conundrums of becoming his own ancestor? What would you do in his place?
7) The book ends rather abruptly with a lot of unanswered question. What did you think? Is it how you would have ended the book?
8) Is there anything further that you wanted to discuss about Legacy?
9) Okay, last question! If you had to take the place of one of your ancestors, who would it be?
Comment down below and let us know your thoughts on Legacy, we'd love to read them.
#LoveNZYA Throwback Thursday (#2)
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: Under The MountainAuthor: Maurice Gee
Released: 1979
Publisher: Awesome Publisher
Add it to Goodreads
Beneath the extinct volcanoes surrounding the city, giant creatures are waking from a spellbound sleep that has lasted thousands of years. Their goal is the destruction of the world.
Rachel and Theo Matheson are twins. Apart from having red hair, there is nothing remarkable about them - or so they think. They are horrified to discover that they have a strange and awesome destiny. Only the Matheson twins can save the world from the terror of what is under the mountain.
why i chose it
With this Throwback Thursday we are throwing all the way back 40 years. Under the Mountain is a classic New Zealand middle grade/young adult novel that has horrified many young kiwis. I love how mature it treats young readers, with consequences and not shying away from horror. The villainous aliens that the Matheson's have to beat are truly terrifying at times.Overall this book ages well, with the lack of technology barely noticeable. Rally only the freedom that these 11-year-olds have to wander about or come in past midnight with only a minor reprimand shows the age.
If you haven't yet read this great book you really should check it out, as well as the excellent 2019 movie adaptation.
Snow Blog Tour
Pantera Press, together with the #AusYABloggers are celebrating the release of SNOW by Ondine Sherman. On tour, you will find Aussie and Kiwi bloggers, reviewers and Instagrammers sharing their thoughts on Snow, beginning on August 26th until August 30th 2019.
Tour Schedule
About the book
by Ondine Sherman
Published by Pantera Press
ISBN 978-0-6485084-2-7
Published July 15th 2019
Add to Goodreads
RRP $17.99
Sometimes you have to leave everything behind to find yourself.
Sky is travelling to Alaska to meet her father for the first time.
Far away from her friends back in Australia, she navigates the new relationship with her father and meets Jaxon, a local boy struggling with his own problems. In a cold, vast and beautiful place, they are isolated except for the wild animals who live there.
As Sky gets to know her father, she finally feels she has a chance of having a real family again. But her father has a secret that threatens everything Sky holds dear. Will she have to choose between family and her love of animals?
This is a heart-warming story in the coldest of places.
About the author
Ondine is the co-founder and managing director of Voiceless, the animal protection institute. She is a life-long animal advocate, passionate about promoting respect and compassion for all creatures. Ondine holds a BA in Communications and MA in Environmental Studies. She is an ambassador for Action for Dolphins and director of conservation NGO This is My Earth (TiME), and writes regularly about animal protection in the media.
Ondine grew up in Sydney and now lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and three children. Her mischievous street cats, loyal dogs and ex-battery chickens all keep her extraordinarily entertained.
Ondine grew up in Sydney and now lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and three children. Her mischievous street cats, loyal dogs and ex-battery chickens all keep her extraordinarily entertained.
Feeling Sorry for Celia - Throwback Thursday
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!
Feeling Sorry for Celia
Title: Feeling Sorry for CeliaAuthor: Jaclyn Moriarty
Released: January 1st 2000
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Add it to Goodreads
Dear Ms Clarry,
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join our Society.
We have just found out about your holiday. It is so impressive! You had four assignments, an English essay and a chapter of Maths to do. And you didn't do one single piece of homework! Fabulous!
Also we have a feeling that you have a History test today. And you're trying to study now? On the bus? With the Brookfield boys climbing onto each other's shoulders to get to the emergency roof exit? And with Celia about to get on the bus at any moment? And you think that's going to make a difference!!! That's really very amusing, Elizabeth. We like you for it. You're perfect for our Society and we're very excited about having you join.
Yours sincerely,Society of People who are Definitely Going to Fail High School(and Most Probably Life as Well!)Life is pretty complicated for Elizabeth Clarry. Her best friend Celia has disappeared, her absent father has reappeared and her communication with her mother depends entirely on fridge notes. And now, because her English teacher wants to rekindle the Joy of the Envelope, a Complete and Utter Stranger knows more about Elizabeth than anyone else.But Elizabeth is on the threshold of change. She is about to lose a friend, find a friend, fall in love and taste wine that smells like compost. A lot can happen in the time it takes to write a letter...
why i chose it
I first read this book when it came out in the year 2000, and I absolutely fell in love with it.
This was my first venture into books being told in ways other than straight up narration. This book is filled with letters, and notes, and possibly other ways of communication that aren’t narration, and it had me hooked from start to finish.
I remember loving this book so much that I am pretty sure I read it twice in the same weekend I got it. And I definitely remember reading it a bunch more since then.
I did want to read this book again before writing this throwback Thursday post, but I haven’t managed to get there, yet.
I still highly recommend this book, though.
Follow Star at Little Miss Star Blog, 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.
I Am Change Blog Tour
Walker Books, together with the #AusYABloggers are celebrating the release of #LoveOzYA title I Am Change by Suzy Zail.
On tour, you will find Bloggers and Instagrammers from Australia sharing their thoughts on I Am Change, beginning on August 19th and running until August 23rd, 2019.
Synopsis:
They told her that her body belonged to men and her mind didn’t matter. They were wrong.
“What if I don’t want to marry?” Lillian held her breath. She had never said the words out loud. “Not want to marry?” Her aunt frowned. “What else would you do?”
Set in a Ugandan village, Lilian has learned to shrink herself to fit other people’s ideas of what a girl is. In her village a girl is not meant to be smarter than her brother. A girl is not meant to go to school or enjoy her body or decide who to marry. Especially if she is poor.
About The Book:
Inspired by the stories told to the author by young Ugandan women. Timely and salient - the rights of girls and women in African countries are only now being exercised. A moving story of one girls struggle.
200,000 million girls in developing countries don't have the opportunity to go to school. Their education is disrupted by poverty, child marriage, gender based violence and cultures which favour boys'education. I Am Change highlights the issues that these young women face.
Through Lilian, Suzy Zail gives readers a connection and a meaning to the young women's stories.
About The Author:
Suzy Zail has worked as a litigation lawyer, specialising in Family Law, but now writes full time. Among other titles, she has written her father’s story, The Tattooed Flower, his life as a child survivor of the Holocaust. Her first novel for young adults, The Wrong Boy, was short listed for the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards, the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, the WAYRBA, USBBY and YABBA awards. Her second novel with Black Dog Books, Alexander Altmann A10567, was a Notable Book at the CBCA Awards. She lives in Melbourne and has three children.
Tour Schedule
CONVERSATIONS 002: QUEER BOOK CHAT
Since I enjoyed the last queer book chat I did with Star so much, I thought I’d keep it going by chatting with one of the #AusYaBloggers newest members Brooklynne!
Brooklynne came on board a few months back and has been actively partaking in our tours and promotions right from the get-go.
Hi. I’m Sarah, one of the AusYABloggers group moderators and today I’ve asked fellow queer book blogger (she’s an American turned Kiwi), the above-mentioned Brooklynne, to chat to me on the group blog.
Brooklynne is a bisexual transwoman and all-round awesome person. I am a quiet bisexual who can no longer stand to be quiet (and some people think I’m awesome, love ya mum).
Sarah: I recently finished reading Heartstopper volume two. I adored volume one and two of this sweet and queer comic about two teenage boys finding each other, first through friendship, then through something more. In the first volume the boys met and have their first kiss. In the second volume one comes out as bisexual (the other is already out as gay) and the two start dating. SOOOO f***ing cute. But anyway, sorry I’m babbling - get to the point Sarah! In the second volume we are introduced to a trans girl side character, who has a straight boy interested in her – I am hoping that these characters are developed more and we get to get to know them and they can have a beautiful positive love story of their own. But it had me thinking about the lack of positive trans girl fiction. Actually, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since your tweet the other week where you mentioned how all you wanted was a trans girl/m romance novel where everything is soft and sweet and not once is the phrase "does this make me gay" mentioned. Just a guy meeting the hot girl and falling for her and I’m with ya! I want to read a story like that, GIMME GIMME GIMME.
In your years of reading queer fiction have you come across any positive trans girl fiction? and if so, what were the stories names/authors.
Brooklynne: Sadly I haven’t, but part of that is due to being a bit out of the book loop for a bit. Another part of that is subconsciously avoiding it after having read a few bad ones. The transgirl YA fiction that I have read so far has all been mostly from an outsider’s perspective and more about that person dealing with their friend or loved one’s transition. I kind of gave up hope until recently and found myself surrounded by positive Transboy stories. Although excitedly I did discover “If I Was Your Girl” By Meridith Russo* in doing some research for this chat and it seems to be what I’m looking for. I’m looking forward to reading that, as it is an own voices novel and will have to get back to you. Otherwise I really love the short story Light Bulb by Nevo Zisin which is in Kindred which features a trans character even though it is more about Mental Health and Depression. Also and while it’s not really a YA book but it is a classic trans fiction which has a great transgirl side character is “Stone Butch Blues” which is own voices as well.
Sarah: I can understand your avoidance. There is so much hurtful crap written by Cis authors. It is sad, no more than sad, it’s disgraceful, infuriating even, how lacking YA is in regards to positive trans girl characters. That’s why I was so happy when I came across the character in Heartstopper. I have been trying to read as much queer fiction as I can get my hands on and even still, I can feel the lack of trans characters. I’ve got If I Was Your Girl on my ASAP tbr!!
Light Bulb was my favorite story in Kindred. Some people didn’t seem to get it, but I felt a connection to the story deep down - but maybe that was me connecting to being in a dark place mentally.
Brooklynne: Exactly, which I think was poignant because trans people have a higher rate of mental health issues, like depression and anxiety. What has disheartened me lately I have to say, is that two well known YA authors wrote books about trans characters that received negative feedback either about the title or the blurb or the writing that they wrote, from the trans community. Instead of apologising and rewriting the book just dug their heels in deeper and insisted they were right, or they asked a friend. But thankfully we are getting overall better trans and nonbinary fiction out there.
A P.S. from Brooklynne* Since this chat I have read If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, It was disappointingly not what I was looking for, but was still a good Trans rep novel. Especially for cisgendered readers, I personally felt that too many concessions were made to provide an easy read to cis readers that I felt a little alienated at times. There are some great parts of this book though and I loved it till about the last third. I think it is an important and wonderful book overall but as a transwoman it wasn’t what I am looking for.*
Sarah: While we’re on the topic of under representation (or thereabouts). Alison Evan’s is the only Aussie author who I’ve noticed getting props for their non-binary characters. I love Alison’s books and think they are a fantastic author, but I am wondering if you’ve come across any others in your queer reading experience be they American or Kiwi.
Brooklynne: Interestingly it was reading a book by a non-binary author about a non-binary character that made me make the afforementioned frustrated tweet. That was “I Wish You All The Best” by Mason Deaver (this book is great and just made me wish that I had something similar that represented me), but also recently read Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy which not only has non-binary rep but has asexual, gay, and bi rep as well. Amy Rose’s Lost Coast also has non-binary character. Even though you didn’t ask, my favourite transboy book is a delightful magical realism book by Anna-Marie McLemore called “When The Moon Was Ours” which also has a Trans Woman storyline as well. And the Main character and his trans boyfriend are the absolute cutest in “The Past And Other Things That Should Stay Buried”. Also I might be Biased but I always recommend “f2m:the boy within” as a great book about Transitioning in the Australia/New Zealand area from a transboy perspective, although keep in mind it’s nearly 10 years old now.
Sarah: excuse me while I go add more books to my TBR :-). Actually I have Once & Future sitting on my shelf and I am DYING to read it. And looking up f2m:the boy within on goodreads, it looks brilliant. I’ve added it to my ASAP tbr! Fingers crossed I can track a copy down.
Brooklynne: I’m curious Sarah, looking to the future what upcoming Queer/Trans books, if any are you looking forward to? I’m personally counting the days to Reverie by Ryan La Sala because it includes a Drag Queen Sorceress!!! Like How can I not be excited for that. Anna-Marie McLemore has a new book which I’m always here for Dark And Deepest Red. Finally Mason Deaver’s second book The Ghosts We Keep is due out and after how amazing their first books was I’m hopeful.
Sarah: Drag Queen Sorceress! Yes please!
Before we started this lil chat, I had Dreadnought, George, If I Was Your Girl, Finding Nevo and Extraordinary Birds on my need it radar. In trying to find more books to recommend for this chat I've stumbled upon two comic series I want to try, Quantum Teens and Alters, and a few more books; Spy Stuff, The Art of Being Normal and Peter Darling. ANNNNND then there’s all your recommendations - Oh wow, I seriously need to take a few weeks off work and have a read-a-thon.
Sarah: What was the last queer story you read that you absolutely adored? For me it was Heartstopper and before that it was when I did a binge read of the Concrete Queer zines.
Brooklynne: Jeeze, why don’t you ask me what foot is my favourite, this is just as equally hard question. Jokes, it’s my left foot as it has the cutest pink toe. Not that you needed to know that. Anyway, I read a lot of queer or queer aligned fiction so there are a lot. The last I finished was “Wilder Girls” and while that affected me to my very core on a visceral level I’m not sure “adore” is the right term for it. I think “These Witches Don’t Burn” has to be the last I adored, which makes sense cause it’s Magical Realism, and very gay, plus added bonus of Transboy minor character. Before that would be “Once & Future” because it was very queer and also Pansexual King Arthur so what is not to love?
Sarah: omg I NEED to get Once & Future and These Witches Don’t Burn read. I can see both books sitting on my shelf staring at me with disapproval because I have yet to open them and devour their pages. AHHH there isn’t enough hours in the day.
Brooklynne: Once & Future is so worth it as is These Witches don’t Burn. And I feel you on the TBR, I recently got a cart for my all the books on my TBR that I physically own, and it’s getting pretty full already. I’m not sure what I will do when it fills.
Sarah: Yep! We both definitely need reading holidays - if only.
Here is a list of the books we mentioned in this chat and/or have on our TBR’s. This list is mainly YA, but there are one or two MG and NA titles in there as well.
You can find Brooklynne @ Twitter | Instagram | Book Blog
If you’ve read any of these books or have any recommendations, please leave a comment below. We’d love to know about your reading experiences and favorite reads.
Click HERE to read Conversation 001: Queer Book Chat.
Sarah and Star chatting about things they noticed during Pride month, the importance of F/F in LGBTQ+ books and being able to see yourself in characters and they also give some F/F reading recommendations.
Click HERE to read Conversation 001: Queer Book Chat.
Sarah and Star chatting about things they noticed during Pride month, the importance of F/F in LGBTQ+ books and being able to see yourself in characters and they also give some F/F reading recommendations.
#AusYABuddyRead July
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 July buddy read was The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
Synopsis:
She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.
But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?
As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.
This month’s questions has been supplied by the lovely Kait @elysian_words_
1) Have you read The Forbidden Wish? What did you think of it?
2) Did you enjoy it as an Aladdin retelling? I think it was a unique take on the story.
3) One of my favourite parts was the badass group of women in this book. Was it important for you to see women as fierce and powerful, protecting their people?
4) The world building is brilliant with the rich culture shining through, how did you find the setting portrayed. Could anything have been done better?
5) Strong friendships are important in YA books. What did you think of the relationships between the characters?
6) Are there any elements in The Forbidden Wish you felt strongly about or want to discuss further?
7) Okay, last question! If you had three wishes, what would you wish for.
Comment down below and let us know your thoughts on The Forbidden Wish, we'd love to read them.
Top 5: Star's top 5 #LoveOZYA books of 2019
1) How It Feels to
Float by Helena Fox
This book is so poetically written. It focuses on main
character, Biz, and her mental health problems. But it doesn’t do it in the
traditional sense. The way this is written, and the way that the mental health
topic is handled in this book means a lot to me, as someone with a lot of
mental health issues. It also shows one of the best friendships I have had the
pleasure of reading before between Biz and an older woman named Sylvia. This
book made me feel all of the things and I can’t recommend it enough.
2) Meet Me At The
Intersection edited by Rebecca Lim
Anthologies are something that I can take or leave, but this
anthology was just so wonderful.
There was so many different stories in this collection, and each was a pleasure
to read. This is one of the most
diverse books I have ever read, and I can honestly say there would be something
for everyone in here. There were short stories, poems, personal essays, and
more, and it was just amazingly compiled and I absolutely loved it.
3) The Boy Who Steals
Houses by C.G. Drews
I picked this book up when I did because of the
AusYABloggers book blitz they were hosting on Instagram, and I am so glad that
I did. This book deals with Sam, a boy who ‘steals’ houses. He’s homeless and
goes from empty house to empty house, essentially searching for something to
call home. One day, while incredibly sick, he makes the mistake of going into a
house that is actually occupied. The story deals with some heavier issues, and
it absolutely ripped my heart out in places, but this is a book I am so glad I
picked up because it’s just so wonderful.
4) Paris Syndrome by
Lisa Walker
I purchased Paris Syndrome last year and finally got around
to reading it this year. Happy, our MC, is obsessed with Paris. She’s meant to
be going there after she finishes high school with her best friend Rosie, but
Rosie has been a bit absent lately. Happy has built up Paris so much in her
head that a professor of a university diagnoses her with Paris Syndrome. Happy
has to navigate two new people in her life, both named Alex, while trying to
maintain her love for Paris at a healthier level. This was a really easy read,
cute in places, and just what I needed when I read it.
5) Making Friends
with Alice Dyson by Poppy Nwosu
If this book’s pink cover wasn’t enough to draw me in, I don’t
know what would’ve been. This book is so soft
and that’s literally the only way I can describe it. Alice Dyson doesn’t have
many friends. She likes being alone, is quite content not to be popular, or a
part of the ‘in’ crowd. After a viral video makes her the centre of attention,
Alice finds herself dealing with unwanted attention, but also unwanted
friendship advances from a boy called Teddy Taualai.
Hi there. Do you have a Top Five you want to share?
We know we would love to read them!
We are asking for our readers to share their bookish Top Five’s for the group blog.
We are hoping to get enough interest to make this a regular post – email your Top Five ideas to australianyabloggers@gmail.com to be featured.
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