AustLit

A retelling of Snow White

'A wonderful emotional rollercoaster of a novel about two young men, each on a journey of discovery. It's part coming-out story, part falling-in-love story, part relationship breakdown story, part extended Greek family story. It's warm and funny, a little bit heartbreaking, and completely satisfying.

'Seventeen-year-old Harvey dreams of breaking free from his life. But when the relationship between his dads breaks down, he's hauled across Australia on a red-eye flight from Perth to Sydney to live on top of a café with the extended Greek family he barely knows - a family who are about to get some very sad news.

'Sotiris has achieved his dream. He's a published author at seventeen. But in reality, the dream … kind of sucks. When he meets a cute, wise-cracking bookseller named Jeremy, however, he discovers a new and unexpected dream. One he's not sure he's prepared for.

'Harvey's and Sotiris's stories converge on the same street in Darlinghurst, in this beautifully heartfelt novel about how our dreams shape us, and what they cost us.' (Publication summary) 

'People look at Tessa and see her biggest mistake.

'While everyone else her age is taking their bold first steps into adulthood, she's just trying to outrun a song that went viral when she was fourteen.

'But now - an opportunity. A profile as one of The Five Most Forgettable Internet Celebrities of the Decade So Far gives her the chance to right a wrong, and the courage to sing her greatest hit as it was originally written. But will it be enough to win back the person she hurt?

'An exclusive story for AUSTRALIA READS from one of Australia's leading YA writers.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Newbie gods Connor, Sally and Locky want to change the world - no biggie. But they're soon drawn into a centuries-old conflict that just might destroy the world they're striving to make better. Book 2 in the MONUMENTS fantasy duology from YA superstar, Will Kostakis.

'With the Monuments gone, there's nothing stopping the rebel gods from reducing the world to ruin.

'Well, newbie gods Connor, Sally and Locky are supposed to stop them, only they don't know how. While Sally searches for answers and Locky makes plans to change the world, Connor struggles to keep up appearances as an ordinary teenager. But soon he'll have bigger problems than his mum finding the giant sword hidden under his bed.

'Rebel Gods is the is the gripping conclusion to Monuments, a Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book 2019, from YA superstar, Will Kostakis. It's a heartfelt look at family, friendship and the parallel lives we lead.' (Publication summary)

'When Connor Giannopoulos discovers a Monument under his high school, he doesn't have any idea how much his life is going to change forever. It turns out that immortality and strength beyond his wildest dreams is a bit more responsibility than he bargained for.

'All 16-year-old Connor is trying to do is avoid his ex-best friend when he stumbles upon a trapdoor to a secret chamber under his school. But when Sally Rodgers breaks into the same secret chamber looking for an ancient being, things take an unexpected turn . . . and Connor's life will never be the same again.

'Along with the mysterious Sally and, later on, his new friend Locky, Connor discovers the Monuments - gods who have been buried for generations - who created the world and hid themselves away from humanity to keep everyone safe. But now they're exposed and vulnerable, and Connor isn't sure who, himself included, can be trusted with the knowledge and the power these gods have.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The Swimmer.

The Rebel.

The Nerd.

'All Ryan, Harley and Miles had in common was Isaac. They lived different lives, had different interests and kept different secrets. But they shared the same best friend. They were sidekicks. And now that Isaac's gone, what does that make them?

'Will Kostakis, award-winning author of The First Third, perfectly depicts the pain and pleasure of this teenage world, piecing together three points of view with intricate splendour.' (Publication summary)

'Stuff happens sometimes.

'Everyday stuff.

'At school, at home, with sport, with mates.

'For Ned it happened with a new teacher.

'For Sean it happened starting at a new school.

'For Michael it happened when he thought he was disappointing his parents.

'For Jack it happened when a game at recess went wrong.' (Publication summary)

'Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you're embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you've made.

That's how Billy's grandmother explains it, anyway. She's given him her bucket list (cue embarrassment), and now, it's his job to glue their family back together.

No pressure or anything.

Fixing his family's not going to be easy and Billy's not ready for change. But as he soon discovers, the first third has to end some time. And then what?

It's a Greek tragedy waiting to happen.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Fifteen-year-old Courtney Marlow didn't exactly think it through. She thought the offer to have her life broadcast on national television was the perfect solution to her family's financial troubles.

'She was wrong.

'Mackenzie Dahl, the show's producer, promised to show Australia a real teenager. Courtney was going to be a positive role model, someone on television without a boob job and an eating disorder.

'But as events in her life are deviously manipulated to create drama, Courtney begins to realise that "ordinary" does not translate to "entertaining".

'Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame via a little bit of Courtney - especially her conniving friend Katie, and her stepmother, Lola. But Courtney is not the pliant teenager everyone seems to think she is...' (Publisher's blurb)