Australia Day Book List Part 3: Young Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction

As our national holiday, Australia Day is a day to reflect on our culture, landscape, identity and community.  Today I will share a long, but by no means comprehensive, list of books that, for me, reflect the diversity, challenges and strengths of our Australian culture. From places and people to events and activities, there is something in each of these books that is intrinsically Australian. These are all titles that I recommend frequently and enthusiastically.

Part 3 of my Australia Day book recommendations focuses on young adult fiction and non-fiction. KBR reviews are linked in the book titles where possible. I’d love for you to share your ‘must read’ Australian YA books in the comments. For more great YA titles by Australian authors, check out our regular #LoveOzYA update posts.

Freedom Ride by Sue Lawson (Black Dog Books)

Becoming Kirrali Lewis - Jane Harrison (Magabala Books)

Calypso Summer by Jared Thomas (Magabala Books)

One True Thing by Nicole Hayes (Random House)

The Tribe trilogy:
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina (Walker Books)
The Disappearance of Ember Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina (Walker Books)
The Foretelling of Georgie Spider by Ambelin Kwaymullina (Walker Books)

Green Valentine by Lili Wilkinson (Allen & Unwin)

Risk by Fleur Ferris (Random House)

Pieces of Sky by Trinity Doyle (Allen & Unwin)

The Reluctant Jillaroo by Kaz Delaney (Allen & Unwin)

The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer (HarperCollins)

The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil (Hardie Grant)

Head of the River by Pip Harry (UQP)

The First Third by Will Kostakis (Penguin)

The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick (UQP)

I Lost My Mobile at the Mall by Wendy Harmer (Random House)

Dust by Christine Bongers (Woolshed Press)

Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe (Text Publishing)

Finding Darcy by Sue Lawson (Black Dog Books)

Coming of Age: Growing Up Muslim in Australia edited by Amra Pajalic and Demet Divaroren (Allen & Unwin)

Australians All: A History of Growing Up from the Ice Age to the Apology by Nadia Wheatley (Allen & Unwin)