Book Lists: Top 5 YA Dystopian Fiction

Many teenagers gravitate toward dystopian fiction because it helps them unpack real-life issues through the safety of an imagined world. Here are my Top 5 YA dystopian fiction novels:

12 Curly Questions with author Seth Malacari

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

I’ve been slowly teaching myself piano. It’s never too late to learn a new skill!

2. What is your nickname?
Malarkey, which is a play on my surname but also fairly fitting. I talk a lot of nonsense.

 
3. What is your greatest fear?
The dark, especially when there are strange noises in the dark and I’m all alone. Luckily I have a very tiny dog to keep me safe.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Unapologetically queer stories that inspire young people to be themselves.

12 Curly Questions with author Lynette Noni

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I fell off my horse when I was 16 and broke a bone in my neck. It’s actually a funny(?) story since I hurt my knee bad enough to need an x-ray, but since my neck was stiff as well, they checked that, only to find it was where the worst damage was, not my knee!

2. What is your nickname?
When I was studying at uni, one of my housemates affectionately called me 'splinter-butt' because I was so bad at making decisions that it was as if I was always sitting on the fence. Thankfully, that nickname didn’t get used by anyone else, haha. To my friends and family, I’m just Lyn — nice and simple!

12 Curly Questions with author Cristina Sanders

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’ve got a second-degree black belt in karate.

2. What is your nickname?
Fastest uphill runner in the world (haha, I wish)

3. What is your greatest fear?
Dying. I can get over pretty much anything else.

12 Curly Questions with author Caroline O'Donoghue

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I once got in a fight with the band Little Mix!

2. What is your nickname?
Most of the people close to me call me Car or Caro.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Losing my dog while on a walk.

KBR Spreading the Merry 2020!

In the immortal words of Monty Python's Life of Brian*, 'Whenever life gets you down, Mrs Brown, and things seem hard or tough. And people are stupid, obnoxious, or daft, and you feel that you've had quite enough. Just re-member that you're standing on a planet that's evolving, revolving at 900 miles an hour...' 

Many of us would be forgiven for wanting to forsake our planet and mankind this year with an insistent and desperate need to escape. While some of the freedoms we've always taken for granted were abruptly removed, reading and books remained the balm that staved isolation, buoyed hope and promised better times to come, not to mention kept us and our kids all smiling. So what better question for our KBR team this year than to share their standout reads for 2020; both for kids and adults. Read on for some brilliant highlights. We hope these help brighten your year and fill you with cheer. Merry Christmas from the entire crew of Kids' Book Review!

Guest Post: Claire Zorn on The Necessity of Nonsense

It’s a difficult time to be a child these days. Like the rest of us, children find their lives flooded with imagery and information, a lot of which is highly troubling for a young mind. Studies have found that children are experiencing higher rates of anxiety than ever recorded. Primary school teachers report spending more time looking after the mental health of their students than they do behaviour management. 

Cover Reveal: The Astrid Notes by Taryn Bashford

The Astrid Notes is the exciting new YA novel by Queensland author, Taryn Bashford. We first met Taryn when she introduced us to her debut novel, The Harper Effect, two years ago.

This is but a taste of what's to come...
 
Astrid Bell
Dutiful daughter. Classical singer. Secret pop songwriter. And suffering from stage fright.

Jacob Skalicky.
Trust Fund Kid. Indie singer. Immensely gifted performer. And refusing to sing again.

Are they polar opposites? In his grief and fury at the world, Jacob certainly thinks so.

But when Jacob loses everything and Astrid uncovers a shocking family secret, they may need each other to make sense of their lives.

Today we are tingling to reveal the cover of her forthcoming book due out in July. Here it is...

Announcement: KBR's CBCA Notables Shortlist Picks

Last month, the CBCA Book of the Year 2019 Notables were announced. Perhaps you've even read a few. Maybe you've come across some of these titles in our reviews. In case you weren't aware, the CBCA Book Week theme this year is Reading Is My Superpower. The KBR crew are firm believers of this; how could we not be when each children's story we encounter has the power to transport, enlighten, enthrall, entertain and mystify.

To celebrate the Notables List we asked each of our team members to think about their favourite award category and predict which of the long listed titles would be shortlisted in the announcements next Tuesday. And because it never hurts to have an extra superpower or two up your sleeve, we asked our reviewing team heroes what their's would be. Here are our picks and powers. What are yours?

Review: Stone Girl - Connie's YA Book of the Month

Inspired by true events, Eleni Hale's debut YA novel is a heartbreaking account of how 12-year-old Sophie's world disintegrates after she is left alone in the world and a ward of the state.

Following the trauma she witnessed with her mum, and unwanted by her father, she is made a ward of the state with the assurance of a 'nice' permanent foster home. Slowly, this reality seems unlikely as Sophie is shuffled from one unstable group home of 'homes kids' to another. In these homes, most of the kids have histories of abuse, neglect and are regularly assigned a new social worker.

Sophie follows the paths of the older kids in the homes and finds relief in drugs, alcohol, cigarettes. She keeps her emotions locked away where no one can hurt her anymore. Any aspirations of attending school again are dashed as is her abandoned love of reading and learning.

Review: Paper Cranes Don't Fly

Paper Cranes Don’t Fly, a debut novel by nineteen year old student Peter Vu, is the winner of the 2018 INKY Awards.

This is not an autobiography, although it is based on the author’s life experiences. Nor is it another sad story about a boy dying of cancer (there are parts that will need tissues). 

It is an inspiring novel in powerful language laced with humour that flows beautifully. It is full of warmth and unconditional love, and accents the strength and value of true friendship. 

A line-up of remarkable characters drive the story with their extraordinary and moving dialogue which maintains its superior level to the end.

Review: Shine Mountain

Everyone has gathered waiting for Pop to die. He has requested a party after he’s gone. So the family waits. He tells his granddaughter Ellie about the magical Button Box that has been kept under his bed for years and how it must be buried with him. And it is.

Pop’s lawyer knows the power of the Box from the Gleam country. He digs it up and steals away with it. Ellie sees him, but to avoid giving Oma more pain and suffering on this pain-filled day, she says nothing.

The Button Box carries a history of both good and bad happenings connected to its use. Nothing it could serve up or break apart could compare with the truths that Oma is forced to tell Ellie about her real identity. 

Look What I'm Reading! Robyn Burns

Robyn Burns, Co-ordinator Youth Services (Whitehorse Manningham Libraries)

After more than 30 years, I still find Children’s and Young Adult library services enormously varied and stimulating. Reading makes young people into better human beings, and libraries can literally change and even save lives! The community values are huge, and I love being part of that.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?
I’ve just finished The Tides Between, by Elizabeth Jane Corbett.

Video: Imposters

Imposters is a long-awaited novel from Scott Westerfeld. It's the first of four new books set in the dystopian future world of his Uglies series. Stay tuned for our review of Imposters soon.


Title: Imposters
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: September 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760528249
For ages: 15+
Type: Young Adult

Review: Brontide

To highlight Indigenous Literacy Day, #ILD, I couldn't go past Indigenous author Sue McPherson's latest novel, Brontide. Just 132 pages long, it's a short read that packs a punch!

Sue's coming-of-age story is a fictional yet realistic account of four teenage boys' lives in Taralune, on the Sunshine Coast. Rob, Pen and Jack are white Aussies and Benny Boy is Aboriginal. Sue beautifully portrays their storytelling in a simple interview-style narrative that reveals an underlay of depth and characterisation.

Told through a series of interviews with the boys aged 15-17, who are all interconnected in some way, each boy's narrative bends and weaves and the story comes together as a result of their sum storytelling. Their insights give the reader a glimpse into their diverse backgrounds, families, after-school activities and occasionally, dysfunctional home lives.

Look What I'm Reading! Sarah Steed

SarahSteed is a librarian, whose house has an entire wall of bookshelves (and then some more). 

Some of the books stored on them are favourites, some are yet to be read, and most are clear indications of specific hobbies or interests. 

The librarian in her means they are usually grouped thematically, despite a creative desire to try shelving them by colour.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?

It’s not strictly a children’s book, but is connected: The Art of Winnie-the-Pooh: How E H Shepard Illustrated An Icon by James Campbell.

Review: Temeraire

Temeraire, (also published as His Majesty’s Dragon in the US) is the first novel in the nine-book Temeraire series, by author, Naomi Novik.

This novel was highly recommended to me by a wonderful teacher-librarian, who knew I was seeking a novel with depth, intrigue and dragons, and immediately retrieved this novel for me from her Young Adult shelves.

Whilst Temeraire is listed for a general audience and has broad appeal to adults, it is also suitable, engaging and appealing to young adults and adolescents.

Before the first page has turned, the reader is drawn into the early 1800s, on a British Royal Navy Ship, mid-way through a battle.

We meet Captain Will Laurence and see that he is honourable, intelligent and battle-wise, with a crew prepared to fight for their Captain and Country.

Look What I'm Reading! Claire Saxby

Claire Saxby writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children. She has too many brothers but just the right number of sons. She lives in a house with too many bedrooms and just the right number of husbands. She finds inspiration all around her. Her latest books include Bird to Bird (illustrated by Wayne Harris, Black Dog Books) and Dingo (illustrated by Tannya Harricks, Walker Books Australia).

Which children’s book are you currently reading?

I have two enormous piles of books, one by my bed; the other in my office. I’m often reading more than one at a time. And then there’s research. But to answer the question: I’ve just finished Scythe by Neal Shusterman. It’s a YA future novel about a perfect world where there is no government, no numbering of years, no disease or aging, Oh my!

12 Curly Questions with author Eleni Hale

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 

I have boxes and boxes of diaries. This includes books, scraps of paper, backs of envelops anything I can get my hands on at the time. They begin when I was 10 or 11 years old and every so often I add more.

2. What is your nickname? 

As a teen I was called Birdy.

3. What is your greatest fear? 

Currently it’s webs spun across footpaths. Breaking one with my face and having a fat spider crawling on me has happened way too many times. I go nuts. Others laugh. It’s awful.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words. 

Action-packed, gritty, so-very-risky, authentic, punchy, character-driven.

Review: The Buried Ark

In the sequel to The Silent Invasion, the story picks up from the cliffhanger ending after Callie runs into the father she thought was dead. Grieving the absence of her beloved little sister Gracie and Matt, Callie has no choice but to follow her changed father deep into the Zone.

She senses her father's not the same person he was but has no other choice; she must trust him. Callie doesn’t know if Gracie is dead; she’s broken, exhausted and has no one else left. 

Throughout the trek back to her father’s base, she hears whispers and senses she may be part of the change but fights against it. When her father reveals that she has the genetic power to stop the change, they come after her.