Teen Advisory Board
Reading into the Heartstopper universe
by Poppy, Readings Teen Advisory BoardPoppy from our Teen Advisory Board takes a closer look at Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series adaptation; specifically, what is the key bookish character of Isaac seen reading throughout the television series – and would you enjoy the books, too?
All fans of the graphic novel series Heartstopper will be excited to read Alice Oseman’s latest volume (Volume 5), and just like me, will be rereading her books and rewatching the Netflix series adaptation in anticipation. But when they're…
Our Teen Advisory Board's favourite books of 2023
It's been a huge year of reading for our Teen Advisory Board. Below you can discover some of their favourite books from 2023, what their go-to summer break reads are, as well as the books they're hoping to buy, borrow or be gifted these holidays.
Favourite book of the year?
'At the beginning of this year, I picked up a beautiful copy of Jane Eyre, which had been given to me as a Christmas gift. Delightedly, I flew through…
An Introduction to classics
by Ione Rawlings, Readings Teen Advisory BoardIt is such a brilliant and exciting adventure to discover novels as a teen. After growing up on Tove Jansson, Enid Blyton and Harry Potter, I keenly await, as I get older, further broadening my tastes and knowledge, grappling with my mountainous to-read pile, and figuring out how on earth I’ll fit them on my bookshelf afterwards. I might have to resort to extreme measures, such as stacking them in great piles which intimidate visitors. Most of all, I’m…
Finding your inner artist through books
by Poppy, Teen Advisory BoardArt is everywhere around us, including in the books we read. To help find the perfect gift for the art lover in your life, or to unlock your own creativity, here are some personal favourites which might provide inspiration.
Prolific children’s author Peter H. Reynolds is probably already on your child’s bookshelf. But I think two of his picture books are as perfect for adults as they are for young readers. Ish shares the story of Ramon, a boy who…
Q&A with Megan Whalen Turner
Alicia from Readings Kids recently had the exciting opportunity to interview YA fantasy superstar Megan Whalen Turner and below is the transcript of what transpired.
Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to ask you some questions on behalf of Readings. Before I get into those I just wanted to tell you how much I love your books and how much they have meant to me. I began reading the Queen’s Thief series when I was 14 and…
What are the future classics of literature?
by Aalia Rashid, Teen Advisory BoardAs years go by, time after time, humans around the world are drawn to the same books, connecting us from every corner of the globe: some notable examples include plays, such as Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, classic novels such as Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, as well as Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, to name a few.
But why should we be chained to the books of our past…
Best fantasy recommendations for teens, from a teen
by Olivia Campbell, Teen Advisory BoardOlivia from our Teen Advisory Board has curated a selection of all-time favourite fantasy novels to tempt you.
Fantasy novels are totally immersive. They’re perfect for staying up late over summer (or during term!), to read on the tram home from school, or really, just to crack open in any situation! Below are four fantasy books I highly recommend escaping into.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
This is the book that made me fall in love with fantasy; strange…
Melissa Keil meets The Readings Teen Advisory Board
Melissa Keil is one of the most talented romantic comedy writers for young adults today. We are delighted that her three stunning YA novels have been re-released with gorgeous new covers for a new generation of readers to discover. She recently visited our Teen Advisory Board and below is what they had to say.
'Her books read like a love letter to Melbourne, and you will find yourself falling in love with both the story and the city!’ — Aalia…
Meeting the name behind the book
by Poppy, Readings Teen Advisory BoardPoppy from our Teen Advisory Board reflects on how attending book launches, author signings and workshops can enrich your reading experience as well as be inspiring and educational.
Books can be so much more than something you read once and put on your shelf. Attending book launches, author signings and workshops can enrich your reading experience. It allows you to meet the creator behind the work, understand their point of view and motivate you to try something new.
I still…
The Teen Advisory Board discuss perceptions and expectations around different types of books
by Readings Teen Advisory BoardIn this blog, our TAB explore perceptions and expectations around genre by answering two questions.
Do you think all book genres and readerships are treated the same, or are some viewed as more worthy of our time and attention? Do you think as a society we value the right kinds of books?
Anahatt Kaur: As a society on the whole, I feel that we’ve stigmatised certain genres as 'trashy' or 'mind-numbing', while placing other genres on pedestals for their 'literary…
YA novels to read when you want to write
by Poppy, Readings Teen Advisory BoardAll writers need their inspiration, especially aspiring teen writers. In the four YA novels below, the main character is a teenager who writes to search for a personal or universal truth.
Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed
Samira Ahmed’s Hollow Fires is about Safiya Mirza and her journey pursuing the truth. As editor of her school’s newspaper, she believes journalists need to write facts not personal biases. However, when a 14-year-old boy is killed for no reason other than racism, she…
Contextualising Ukraine through literature
by Alina, Readings Teen Advisory BoardAlina from our 2023 Readings Teen Advisory Board has been working to contextualise Ukraine through literature.
As Ukraine is in the centre of a war near global proportions, its literature and art are drawn upon to sustain its cultural identity and presence in the world. From poetry in the soviet era, and authoritative texts on Ukraine's vital history, to fictional works by Ukraine's most dynamic writers, this list of books has been created to help deepen my own understanding, and…
Reading beyond YA
by Poppy, Readings Teen Advisory BoardStudying a novel in secondary school introduces you to new authors, new genres and new eras. Close analysis of a text can be a way to dive deep into a particular book over a term or two. But why stop there? Personally, I love a good coming-of-age YA novel. But in the past year, I’ve used the texts I’ve studied at school as a starting place to explore more widely in the shelves at the bookstore.
It had never crossed…
What our Teen Advisory Board are reading
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Caspian is reading The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
Last month I read The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman.
I’m a sucker for fantasy and a sucker for pirates so this book was perfect. The magic system was so unique and awesome with the spirits and sacrifices. The world…
Feeding vegetarian teens
by Poppy, Teen Advisory Board memberPoppy from our 2023 Teen Advisory Board has put these plant-based cookbooks through their paces and thinks they pass the test!
Running out of meal ideas for the never-ending hunger of a teen? Below are six delicious vegetarian dinners and snacks from three plant-based cookbooks, approved by a teenager for teenagers. They provide perfect energy boosting for studying, smile-making on test days or even just comfort food when necessary.
David Frenkiel and Louise Vindahl write the popular Green Kitchen cookbook…
Teen Advisory Board: what we're reading
by the Teen Advisory BoardWe are thrilled to have a new Teen Advisory Board joining us from April 2023 through to March 2024. They will be learning about the book industry, discussing their favourite books and blogging book recommendations over the coming year. Firstly, a handful of our members would like to share some of their favourite reads with you .
Ione is reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot)
In this heartfelt and stirring novel…
Our Teen Advisory Board interviews Lili Wilkinson
by Teen Advisory BoardOur outgoing Teen Advisory Board were delighted to receive, as one of their last books, a proof copy of the new fantasy novel by Lili Wilkinson, A Hunger of Thorns. The teens loved it and were excited by the opportunity to ask Lili some questions about her process and inspiration.
Have you been working on/thinking about this book while writing other books? Or is it a relatively new idea?
SO LONG. At least a decade, maybe longer. I’ve always…
The Teen Advisory Board interviews author Ann Liang
by Bonnie-Mai Smith, Teen Advisory BoardThe Readings Teen Advisory Board meets monthly to discuss all things bookish and chat with some amazing people in the industry. During a recent meeting, we had the chance to interview author, Ann Liang. After her smash hit debut, If You Could See The Sun, she's just released another great read, This Time It's Real. Here is an extracted version of our discussion with Ann, written and compiled by Bonnie-Mai Smith, and edited for clarity.
Bonnie-Mai: What did you…
Our Teen Advisory Board's favourite books of 2022
Summer is upon us, the perfect time to devour your way through a stack of addictive YA reads. What better way to get recommendations than to ask the members of the Readings Teen Advisory Board for their favourite reads of 2022?
Fern’s favourite: The Blood Traitor by Lynette Noni
The Blood Traitor is the perfect ending to The Prison Healer trilogy, and Noni maintains a high level of action that builds up to an unpredictable yet gratifying conclusion for this…
Our Teen Advisory Board interview Humanity's Moment author Joëlle Gergis
The Readings Teen Advisory Board was thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with Humanity’s Moment author Dr Joëlle gergis. Gergis is an award-winning climate scientist and was recently the United Nations IPCC Sixth Assessment Report lead author. Many of the teens spoke about how deeply her book resonated with them. Below are our their questions and Gergis' fascinating and generous responses.
Emma: While reading, I could definitely feel the passion you had for the topic of climate change. What…
The Teen Advisory Board recommend their favourite reads from The Readings Young Adult Prize shortlist
The Readings Young Adult Prize winner will be revealed in just under two weeks! In preparation, we asked our well-read Teen Advisory Board which of the Prize shortlist books they'd recommend and why.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT EACH SHORTLISTED TITLE? EXPLORE THE SHORTLIST HERE.
Ravi and Melissa recommend Sugar Town Queens by Malla Nunn
Ravi: Sugar Town Queens is an important book that people need to read. It explores race, class, friendship and family in order to illustrate what…
Teen Advisory Board: what to read after Heartstopper
by AnanyaWe’ve all read Heartstopper, but what should you read next? Whether we related to the themes, the characters, or just loved the vibes; here are some books that we think you’ll enjoy after you’ve read the popular webcomic turned television series.
Read below for some personal recommendations or browse our full list of suggested reads here.
Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
Perfect on Paper is the perfect rom-com any YA reader could ask for. It’s also the…
Books so good we wish we could read them again, for the first time
by Bonnie-Mai SmithAs book lovers, we all know the feeling of finishing a new favourite and realising it is now over and feeling devastated. While revisiting a beloved novel is a treat in itself, discovering a new favourite for the first time is unmatched. The Teen Advisory Board has compiled the books we’d give anything to relive it again as if it’s the first time!
The Museum of Broken Things by Lauren Draper
With lots of laughter and tears, this debut perfectly…
A message from the outgoing Teen Advisory Board
Well, that’s a wrap.
It feels anticlimactic for the Teen Advisory Board of 2021/22 to sign off this way, given the incredible highs we’ve had these past few months. From meeting acclaimed authors to attending book launches, there’s been such an amazing array of activities on offer, it scarcely seems possible to identify the highlights.
Our first meeting was a blur, meeting each other for the first time and learning all about everyone’s likes and dislikes, the things that make…
October recommendations from our Teen Advisory Board
Our Teen Advisory Board have been busy reading and letting us know what they’re loving; below, you can read June recommendations from five of our fantastic 2021 board members. You can also browse the favourite books by favourite authors collection – compiled by the entire board – here.
Teen Advisory Board Member Tahlia Malojer is reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk, and Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu.
Imagine a world where looks are…
Our Teen Advisory Board's favourite reads of 2021 so far
We asked our Teen Advisory Board members to let us know which book stands out as exceptional amongst everything they’ve read so far this year. Below are the books they’ve loved the most and you can browse our more extensive collection of their favourite reads here.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
This novel is the book to read! A Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai in the criminal underworld?? Sign me up!
— Aurelia Orr
Yolk…
Reflecting on coming-of-age stories during the pandemic
by David DodsonTeen Advisory Board member David Dodson has been reflecting on coming-of-age stories and how they relate to the world young adults are facing right now.
More than 18 months since the start of the fiery, plague-ridden, nightmare-scape otherwise known as the global pandemic, I think we can all agree that the last few years have been pretty transformative. It’s been a challenging time for many people, although especially for younger Australians, whose rites of passage have been rudely interrupted by…
June recommendations from our Teen Advisory Board
Our Teen Advisory Board have been busy reading and letting us know what they’re loving; below, you can read June recommendations from five of our fantastic 2021 board members. You can also browse the favourite books by favourite authors collection – compiled by the entire board – here.
Claire Heazlewood is reading House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland.
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland: this book was full of writing as smooth and beautiful as the cover art. The…
A beginner's guide to Cassandra Clare
by Claire HeazlewoodIf you’ve ever browsed the young adult section at the bookshop, you may have seen a Cassandra Clare book. In fact, you may have seen many.
Cassandra Clare is the author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles books, a massive franchise which spans four series and multiple collections of short stories. For this reason, getting into her universe can be a bit daunting if you don’t really know what you are doing. But by the end of this guide, you’ll be able…
May recommendations from our Teen Advisory Board
Our Teen Advisory Board have been busy reading and letting us know what they’re loving; below, you can read recommendations from three of our fantastic 2021 board members. You can also browse the favourite books by favourite authors collection – compiled by the entire board – here.
Aurelia Orr is reading The End of the World is Bigger Than Love by Davina Bell & Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
I can barely put to words how I feel after…
A beginner's guide to Lynette Noni
by Claire HeazlewoodOne day, a few years ago, I walked into my local bookstore and picked up a copy of Lynette Noni’s first novel, Akarnae. Intrigued, I bought it and read it. Ever since, I have been immersed in the worlds of Lynette Noni. She is a #1 bestselling author – and for good reason. So, now that you know you really should be reading her works, where do you start? This guide is here to help!
If you want to…
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