Featured here are a number of Indigenous authors of Young Adult literature whose work exemplifies the standard. They have been chosen due to their works' impact on audiences, its place as iconic in the nation's literature, and their own contributions to writing in Oceania.

'Alan Duff is a novelist, columnist, advocate and businessman. His first published novel, Once Were Warriors, was a huge success, and was subsequently made into a feature film. He has published several novels, and written for radio and as a newspaper columnist. Son of scientist Gowan Duff and Kuia Hinau (of Ngati Rangitihi and Tuwharetoa), Duff has been an outspoken commentator on Maori affairs, and was the driving force behind the Books in Homes scheme, which aims to make books available to underprivileged children at minimal cost.' (Sourced from New Zealand Book Council, http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writer/duff-alan/

A man of many talents, Alan Duff is a multi-award winning author whose work you would not expect to see in such a genre. He is best known for his debut novel Once Were Warriors (1990) which deals with substance abuse and domestic violence in Māori homes, a contentious topic, drawing both criticism and praise. Featured here are State Ward (1994) and Dreamboat Dad (2008); in the former, Duff takes from his own time in juvenile delinquent detention centres, and the latter is set in his hometown of Rotorua, and follows the experiences of a child and his absent father. 

Thomas is one of Australia's more prominent Indigenous authors in the genre. His works include Sweet Guy (2002), which follows a young man's introduction to university life and adulthood; Calypso Summer (2014), the story of a young Nukunu man taking responsibilities for the first time; and Songs that Sound like Blood (2016), a coming-of-age story of a young woman with a passion for music.

'Paula Morris (Ngati Wai, Ngati Whatua) is an award-winning novelist, short story writer and essayist from New Zealand. She writes fiction for adults and supernatural mysteries for younger readers. Paula’s short stories are widely published in journals, magazines and anthologies, and a number have been adapted for radio in both New Zealand and the US.

A frequent book reviewer, interviewer and festival chair, Paula holds degrees from universities in New Zealand, the UK and the US, including a D.Phil from the University of York and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.' (Sourced from author website, http://www.paula-morris.com)

Morris is one of New Zealand's best novelists whose supernatural young adult literature also manages to touch on romance, history, ethnicity, and race and class divides. Works featured here include the Ruined series (Ruined [2010] and Unbroken [2013]), which follow the story of Rebecca Brown, a girl who can sees ghosts; Dark Souls (2011) a suspenseful ghost story set in York, England; and The Eternal City (2015), where Laura Martin finds herself in the middle of a battle between ancient Roman gods.

The author of over 27 books translated into 6 languages in 9 countries, Pascoe's work and research is deeply involved in Indigenous history and language revival. Featured here are his two novels for younger audiences: Fog a Dox (2012), which won the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Award, and Mrs Whitlam (2016). Like many in the genre, both of Pascoe's YA books revolve around the themes of nature, animals, and rural life in Australia.

'Lani Wendt Young is a writer and successful self-publisher, who runs her own publishing company, Pasifika Books. She has written a popular series of young adult novels set in Samoa, the Telesā series, as well as Afakasi Woman: A Collection of Short Fiction (Pasifika Books, 2012). Her work has been published in journals such as JAAM, New Zealand School Journal and the Samoan school journal Folauga. Born and raised in Samoa, she is of Samoan, Māori and Palagi descent.' (Sourced from http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writer/young-lani-wendt/)

Born in Apia, Samoa, Wendt Young is one of Samoa and New Zealand's foremost contemporary authors. In her young adult trilogy Telesa (2011--2013), she incorporates Pacific mythology, romance, witchcraft, and suspense.