Darby's top title: This UQP publication sophisticatedly demonstrates how DFV and poverty/homelessness can mutually reinforce one another, thus creating cycles of violence and disadvantage. It is also accompanied by a comprehensive set of teaching resources.

'Isaac is running from his old life when he steps off the bus in a small town. He doesn’t plan on sticking around and has nowhere to stay, but a local café owner's kindness offers him a chance to change his story. Then Isaac meets Sophie and learns he’s not the only one wanting to repaint his life.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Nate’s had it tough. An abusive father. His mother dead. He’s done things he regrets. But he’s never met anyone like Gem. She’s a tiny piece of wonderful and she’ll change everything he knows about himself. Is this the beginning of happiness? Or is there more hardship around the corner?' (Publisher's blurb

'A story of survival, resurgence, and what it means to be bigger than where you come from. With themes of friendship, coming-of-age, family abuse, survival, creativity, courage and diversity, Can the Real JR Stand Up, Please? is a warm-hearted hopeful story about being true to yourself and learning to be brave.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Sixteen-year-old Nate McKee is doing his best to be invisible. He’s worried about a lot of things—how his dad treats Nance and his twin half-brothers; the hydro crop in his bedroom; his reckless friend, Merrick. Nate hangs out at the local youth centre and fills his notebooks with things he can’t say. But when some of his pages are stolen, and his words are graffitied at the centre, Nate realises he has allies. He might be able to make a difference, change his life, and claim his future. Or can he?' (Publisher's blurb)

'Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music - because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence. When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?' (Publisher's blurb)

'Fifteen-year-old Matthew Cassidy is an up-and-coming rugby star. The talent scouts are circling him, his school team has reached the finals for the first time ever, and he's determined to one day play professionally. Despite everything, Matt really only wants one thing in life—a Dad. However, when Matt receives an anonymous card on his 15th birthday, he tracks down the mysterious writer and discovers his Dad is alive and in jail. Meanwhile, Matt is facing another dilemma: a crush on blue-eyed Kelly Sinclair. The only problem is her boyfriend. Captain of an opposing team and Matt's mortal enemy, he regularly hurts Kelly. Matt tries to rescue her from a cycle of domestic abuse, but this is not as simple as it seems, as he tries to fight his own feelings for Kelly and the violent nature of her boyfriend.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Seventeen-year-old Iliad Piper is named after war and angry at the world. Growing up with a violent father and abused mother, she doesn’t know how to do relationships, family or friends. A love-hate friendship with Max turns into a prank war, and she nearly destroys her first true friendship with misfit Mia. Ily takes off her armour for nobody, until she meets Jared, someone who's as complicated as she is.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Tess is trapped in a desperate situation - her violent partner now threatening not just Tess, but their daughter as well. A chance meeting offers a way out, and a road trip back to the heart of Tess's past, and the family she's left behind. But can she ever trust again?' (Publisher's blurb)

Darby's top title: This book explores a difficult yet all to prevalent family dynamic; namely, one in which a child is subjected to domestic and family violence at the hands of a parent's new partner. Peony witnesses or is subjected to DFV on multiple occasions throughout the book but, with the help of a trusted friend, overcomes the adversity she faces.

'Peony lives with her sister and grandfather on a fruit farm outside the city. In a world where real bees are extinct, the quickest, bravest kids climb the fruit trees and pollinate the flowers by hand. All Peony really wants is to be a bee. Life on the farm is a scrabble, but there is enough to eat and a place to sleep, and there is love. Then Peony's mother arrives to take her away from everything she has ever known, and all Peony's grit and quick thinking might not be enough to keep her safe.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Wen Zhou is the daughter and only child of Chinese immigrants whose move to the lucky country has proven to be not so lucky. Wen and her friend, Henry Xiao - whose mum and dad are also poor immigrants - both dream of escape from their unhappy circumstances, and they form a plan to sit an entrance exam to a selective high school far from home. But when tragedy strikes, it will take all of Wen's resilience and resourcefulness to get herself and Henry through the storm that follows.' (Publisher's blurb)

'When eleven-year-old Ebony meets enigmatic Teena, they instantly become much more than the 'default' friends Ebony has grown used to having. Only when the girls come to trust one another fully do they unlock each other's troubling secrets, enabling their friendship to deepen. Running from the Tiger is a tale of trust, friendship and the power that can be found once we stop running.' (Publisher's blurb)

Darby's top title: Through the use of metaphor, this book conveys the importance of confiding in trusted adults during times of storm and stress. It simultaneously enables educators to address DFV in a sensitive manner and establishes them as trusted individuals who children experiencing DFV can turn to.

'Flick is just like any other youngster. She loves to chase butterflies and jump in autumn leaves. But life at the end of Holyrood Lane is often violent and unpredictable due to the constant storms that plague her home, causing her to cringe with dread and flee whenever they strike. Visually arresting, emotionally incisive, and ultimately uplifting, this beautifully crafted picture book provides a sensitive glimpse into one aspect of domestic violence and how it can affect young lives.' (Publisher's blurb)

'This book aims to help children voice their concerns and their fears, and to express these with an adult or adults they trust such as a family member, teacher, caregiver or the police. Too often children in these environments blame themselves for the violence in their homes and take on the burden of shame and guilt. This book aims to reassure children that family violence is never ever their fault and that there is also hope that things might change.' (Publisher's blurb)

The Rainbow Hijab follows the tale of a young girl who upon losing her favourite hijab uncovers the value it holds. Will things ever be the same without her colourful companion?

Young Charlie is a true-blue young Aussie, and so is his friend Khaled. They spend time together on their scooters, as well as chatting about the things that they share, and the things that make them different. My Muslim Mate, written by exciting new author Amal Abou-Eid, is the story of how, through talking and learning about each other's cultures, friendships can flourish and lives can work together harmoniously.

Tayta’s life changed a lot when she immigrated from Lebanon.  She learnt to speak a new language, got a job in a factory and learnt to drive a car.  But one thing that never changed, was the food she cooked for her family.

'On Sundays, Tayta prepares a traditional breakfast for her family.  As she cooks and prepares the food, the things she sees, the sounds she hears and the food she eats remind her of her childhood and her old life in Lebanon.

Night Lights recounts the childhood memories of cousins exploring their grandparents’ home deep in the Malaysian countryside. In a time without the glare and distraction of modern technology, they discover the brilliance of nature by moon and candlelight.

Like a turtle, Salih carries his home on his back. He must cross a raging sea in search of a safe home. Salih paints his happiest memories and sends them as messages in bottles.

Will someone find them and understand? Will Salih find a new home?

11-year-old Ali and 8-year-old Asiya are excited to welcome Ramadan this year with beautiful decorations at home. But then something unexpected happens which makes them return their store-bought decorations even before they get to use them. How will they welcome Ramadan now?

A warm, child-centred exploration of family, history and connectedness.

Six-year-old Asiya loves to go to Nanu's house. Best among all of Nanu's treasures is the big old chest filled with quilts that tell the stories of the women in Asyia's family.

A beautifully woven tale about the bonds of love, culture and memory.

Maryam and Sarah are two sisters who love Allah. Together with their mummy and their daddy, whom they love dearly, they will take you on an adventure; one filled with joy and endless laughter!

Discover the beauty of their home country. And uncover the values, beautiful and powerful, as taught by the Most Merciful.

This beautifully illustrated book is a great source of learning for young children exploring all about Islam and being a Muslim. With the use of child friendly language and captivating visuals, your little ones will enjoy learning all about Islam from A to Z. This alphabet book is a great way to engage children from all ages to discover and learn about Islam and Muslims.

Noura Saves the Planet is about a young girl who, while bored on her school holidays, is encouraged by her mum to go on an adventure in search of ways to better shape her world. Noura's understanding of "saving the planet" is challenged by the fact that she knows she can't venture too far from home, so she comes across good deeds that she can do locally.

Hawa and the Birdwatching Adventure is a heartwarming story about friendship and learning sabr, (patience). 

Join Hawa and her Lil Muslim friends as they go on an adventure in search of the rare Golden Winged Grosbeak bird. Will Hawa get a chance to spot the bird she’s been praying to see?

Lara Zany is Potts Court Primary School's offcial Friendship Matchmaker. She is certain her Friendship Rules work. She can take the Loneliest Loser (LL) and help them make a best friend. Until Emily Wong shows up and breaks all the Rules. Now Emily has challenged Lara to a competition and Lara's rules are about to be tested...

Layla's mind goes a million miles a minute, so does her mouth – unfortunately her better judgement can take a while to catch up! Although she believes she was justified for doing what she did, a suspension certainly isn't the way she would have wished to begin her time at her fancy new high school. Despite the setback, Layla's determined to show everyone that she does deserve her scholarship and sets her sights on winning a big invention competition. But where to begin?

Melek always finds answers, some are under her super hijab. For others she needs the help of newcomer Tien who draws fantastic worlds as an escape, or the dress-ups-guru Lily, and sometimes even soccer-mad Zac who NEVER agrees with her. Melek solves all problems, even rescuing Zac in the pool. And luckily her fashionista mother designs club colour-coded hijabs for footy fans. When it's the Book Character Parade, Melek can't find a book with a girl character in a hijab. With the help of her school friends, Melek makes one. Then Melek's next challenge is to arrange an Aussie Rules Girls' football match.

It's moving day! The chaos of moving to a new house and adapting to change can be daunting. But how can anyone focus on that when the new house has such a beautiful garden? And this is not just any garden. No. This garden has a secret - the mystery of the oak tree!

Eight year old Ibrahim and friends win a Quran competition, where the prize sees them scoring tickets to watch an exciting football game after their class is paid a visit by Hakeem Mohammed, a star football player from the California Spartans.

Read about the heroes during the Islamic Golden Age who made outstanding contributions to Science, Arts and Education. Learn about inspirational women who never backed down and left their mark in this world. Be inspired by people who were curious about the world until the day they died.

When their parents have to travel to Beirut unexpectedly, twelve-year-old Akeal and his six siblings are horrified to be left behind in Melbourne with the dreaded Aunt Amel as their babysitter. Things do not go well, and Akeal's naughty little sister, Huda, hatches a bold plan to escape. After stealing Aunt Amel's credit card to buy plane tickets to Lebanon, Huda persuades her reluctant favourite brother to come with her. So begins Huda and Akeal's hair-raising and action-packed journey to reunite with their parents half a world away, in a city they've grown up dreaming about but have never seen.

Ayesha and her friends Sara and Jess jump at the chance of accompanying Ayesha's uncle on a trip from Australia to Istanbul. But when Ayesha discovers a mysterious note as a result of visiting an old bookshop, their relaxing holiday starts to get a whole lot more complicated! Ayesha finds herself trying to uncover a hundred-year-old Ibn Arabi mystery, while trying to avoid creepy villains, and still making sure that she gets to eat the best doner kebab Istanbul has to offer. It's all in a day's sleuthing when you're Ayesha Dean. Lucky she can count on her best friends to always have her back!

(Note: This is book one in a series.)

Maryam Musa loves using her devices. A lot! Until one day her dad takes them all away and replaces them with this diary. Phone GONE! iPad GONE! Laptop GONE! Something weird is happening because suddenly EVERYONE from school stops communicating completely! Social media is totally DEAD!!

These summer holidays are full of drama and chaos and life without devices is proving to be more interesting than Maryam or her twin brother David could've ever imagined.

(Note: This is book one in a series.)

Welcome to my world. I'm Amal Abdel-Hakim, a seventeen year-old Australian-Palestinian-Muslim still trying to come to grips with my various identity hyphens. It's hard enough being cool as a teenager when being one issue behind in the latest Cosmo is enough to disqualify you from the in-group. Try wearing a veil on your head and practising the bum's up position at lunchtime and you know you're in for a tough time at school. Luckily my friends support me, although they've got a few troubles of their own. Simone is blonde and gorgeous but has serious image issues and Leila's really intelligent but her parents are more interested in her getting a marriage certificate that her high school certificate! And I thought I had problems ...

When Michael meets Mina, they are at a rally for refugees - standing on opposite sides. Mina fled Afghanistan with her mother via a refugee camp, a leaky boat and a detention centre. Michael's parents have founded a new political party called Aussie Values. They want to stop the boats. Mina wants to stop the hate. When Mina wins a scholarship to Michael's private school, their lives crash together blindingly. A novel for anyone who wants to fight for love, and against injustice.

(Teaching resources available.)

Meet Tariq Nader, leader of ‘The Wolf Pack’ at Punchbowl High, who has been commanded by the new principal to join a football competition with his mates in order to rehabilitate the public image of their school. When the team is formed, Tariq learns there’s a major catch – half of the team is made up of white boys from Cronulla, aka enemy territory – and he must compete with their strongest player for captaincy of the team.

Tara wears hijab even though her parents hate it, and in a swipe right world she’s looking for the ‘will go to the ends of the earth for you’ type of love. Or, she would be, if she hadn’t sworn off boys to focus on getting into med. Besides, what’s wrong with just crushing on the assassins, mages and thieves in the fantasy books she reads?

'When a bomb threat on her first day of university throws her together with totally annoying party king and oh-so-entitled politician’s son Alex, things get complicated. Tara needs to decide if she’s happy reading about heroes, or if she’s ready to step up and be one herself.

Teenage sleuth Ayesha Dean is in Portugal, the land of delicious custard tarts, gorgeous sunsets, and piri-piri chicken. But a bungled good deed abruptly lands her on the wrong side of the law. If she tells all, she risks gaol. If she delves further into a mysterious death, she risks her life. If only this Australian could simply eat her way out of trouble. But no such luck.

This time Ayesha Dean is in WAY over her head!

Fifteen-year-old Sabiha has a lot to deal with: her mother's mental health issues, her interfering aunt, her mother's new boyfriend, her live-in grandfather and his chess buddy, not to mention her arrogant cousin Adnan. They all want to marry her off, have her become a strict Muslim and speak Bosnian. And Sabiha's friends are not always friendly. She gets bullied by girlfriends and is anxious about boyfriends, when she just wants to fit in. But two boys, Brian and Jesse, become the allies of this fierce and funny girl.

A hilarious and heartwarming memoir of growing up and becoming oneself in an Egyptian Muslim family.

Soos’ family is muddy. Their skin is brown – kids say Soos is mud-coloured. Their culture and religion are puzzling to those around them. In their white majority neighbourhood, Soos, Mohamed and Aisha are bullied by racists. Their parents are discriminated against at work.

Soos, the baby of the family – her name means ‘little tooth’ – is working out how to balance her parents’ strict rules with having friendships, crushes and a normal teenage life.

'One minute you're a 15-year old girl who loves Netflix and music and the next minute you're looked at as maybe ISIS.

The generation born at the time of the 9/11 attacks are turning 18. What has our changed world meant for them?

We now have a generation – Muslim and non-Muslim – who have grown up only knowing a world at war on terror. These young people have been socialised in a climate of widespread Islamophobia, surveillance and suspicion. An unparalleled security apparatus around terrorism has grown alongside fears over young people's radicalisation and the introduction into schools and minority communities of various government-led initiatives to counter violent extremism.

Muslim people in Australia come from over seventy countries and represent a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and experiences. Yet we are constantly bombarded by media stories feeding one negative stereotype. What is it really like to grow up Muslim in Australia? In this book, famous and not-so-famous Muslim-Australians tell their stories in their own voices.

(Teaching resources available.)

'Mr. Huff is a story about the clouds and the sunshine in each of our lives.

'Bill is having a bad day. Mr Huff is following him around and making everything seem difficult. Bill tries to get rid of him, but Mr Huff just gets bigger and bigger!

'Then they both stop, and a surprising thing happens . . .'

Teaching resources available.

'Piper wants to try lots of new things, but something always stops her – her monkey! Some monkeys are playful. Some monkeys are fun. Some monkeys are even helpful.

'Not Piper’s monkey. It’s very, VERY naughty! Everyone else can tame their monkeys. So why can’t Piper?

'Monkey Mind is a gentle story for children and adults about the worrying thoughts that cause anxiety.'

'When Max has a hard time starting his maths work, he's joined by someone new: Worry.

'But Worry doesn't give Max the help he needs. It feels like Worry will never leave, even when Max does what Worry tells him to! But with the help of some deep breaths and a vow to just try his best, Max can say goodbye for now to Worry, and hello to someone new...'

'If kids with anxiety could see their strengths, they would feel so much bigger than their anxiety. They would feel bigger than everything - as though a tiny, tip-toed stretch could have them touching the top of the world from where they are.

'This book is a reminder for all kids that everything they need to be brave, strong and brilliant is already in them.'

'Loppy the Lac has learned its whole life to look out for danger. Looking out for what can go wrong is all it knows - until Loppy meets Curly Calmster. Curly teaches Loppy that it doesn't have to look out for the everyday worst-case scenarios all the time.'

Teaching resources available.

'Under the Love Umbrella is a celebration of the enduring love that surrounds our children, wherever they are in the world. Inspired by the rhythm of the New York subway's L-train, the gentle rhyming text - accompanied by beautiful, vintage inspired illustrations - draws out the small things that can loom large in a little person's life, from big dogs to lost teeth, and from forgotten hats to friends who won't share.'

Teaching resources available.

'Arthur is a dog with a secret. More than anything in the world he loves to play his violin, but he’s too scared to do it in public because, well, what if he’s bad? What if people laugh? What if he makes a fool of himself?! WHAT IF?

'But the song in his head and the dream in his heart just won’t stay quiet. So, when he’s invited to take part in a jam session, he creates the ultimate disguise – a post box costume! And when it falls apart, Arthur doesn’t.'

Max is looking forward to his first sleepover at Grandpa's house. Snuggled in bed with his Old Ted and his torch, Max is woken by a terrifying noise.

'Follow Max and Old Ted as they hunt around the house, and come face to face with a most surprising monster ...'

'Glitch spends his life searching through mountains of mouldy mess at the dump. He wants to make the fastest billycart ever. This year, he will be competing in the Big Race! 

'But will his twitch stop him from winning?'

Teaching resources available.

'Girl on Wire is a simple yet brilliantly uplifting allegory of a young girl struggling to build her self-esteem and overcome the anxiety that many children feel as they grow – she walks the tightrope, afraid she will fall, but with the support of those she loves, her toes grip the wire and she walks forward, on her own, with a new confidence.'

Teaching resources available.

'Juliet's a worrywart, and no wonder! Her little sister, Oaf, follows her around taking notes and singing 'The Irritating Song' all day long. Her parents are always arguing about Dad's junk. Nana's so tired of craft lessons that she starts barbecuing things in the middle of the night. And Juliet's friends, Lindsay and Gemma, are competing to see which of them is Juliet's best friend. Juliet can't fit in any more worries!

'But then she makes a remarkable discovery. Behind the wallpaper in her new bedroom, Juliet uncovers an old painting of a very special tree. Nana remembers it well. It's The Worry Tree, and with the help of a duck called Delia and the other Worry Tree animals, Juliet just might be able to solve some of life's big problems.'

'An ordinary boy in an ordinary world...With no words, only illustrations, Small Things tells the story of a boy who feels alone with his worries, but who learns that help is always close by...A universal story, told simply and with breathtaking beauty, about dealing with sadness, anxiety, depression, heartache or loss, and finding your way in the world.'

'Eleven-year-old Jack suffers terrible headaches as he worries that his grandmother will soon die, his mother's boyfriend will move in—or leave—and especially that the school bully will get revenge for Jack's ill-timed joke at his expense.’

(This is book one of a series of four, all following the main character Jack.)

'Blue was no ordinary girl. For starters, her name was Blue. But what was truly extraordinary about Blue was the fact that she hadn't laughed for 712 days. Not a hee hee, a ho ho or even a tiny tee hee.

'According to Dr Boogaloo, music can cure anything. (Of course, you need the right dose of the right music. No point listening to a jive if you're in need of some boogie-woogie, and you can't just substitute a toot for a blow!) But no laughter was definitely a case for alarm.

'Can Dr Boogaloo compose a cure before Blue loses her laughter forever?'

Teaching resources available.

'Griffin Silk is an uncommon sort of boy, from an uncommon sort of family. The warm, loving home he shares with his father, grandmother and five big sisters (The Rainbow Girls) is marked by the aching absence of his mother and baby sister. Where have they gone and will they be coming home again?'

'Twelve-year-old Sarah makes lists. It helps her remain in control when her life is on hold. But what sort of life does she want when the choice is between eccentric elderly aunts and her sophisticated glamorous stepmother? A wonderful portrayal of families with all their idiosyncrasies.'

'I’ve been making lists ever since I could write. It relaxes me. By writing my worries down, I feel as if I’m removing them from my mind and leaving them on the paper. My secret worry list is the big boss of lists. Right now, there are 23 worries on it.

'New school. New town. 23 worries. Can Michaela Mason handle it?'

This is followed by Michaela Mason's Big List of Camp Worries.

'Trailing her orange suitcase, and a heart full of worry, thirteen-year-old Agatha is about to go home. She has been in and out of foster care for years now, but her latest new life lived with naval precision with Katherine, Lawson and their dog, Chief, has proved to be the salvation that Agatha needed. She has new friends, a sense of place, and space to breathe.

'But when the social worker says it's time to return to her parents, her world comes crashing down. Home has always made her anxious and ashamed and she can't understand why now she is being forced to go back. Is it possible to find a way to love her parents without having to live with them?'

'Welcome to Moopertown! In Moopertown, everyone is special – in their own special way!

'This fun, funny and affirming series will entertain children of all ages. In each book we are introduced to a new Mooper – Musical Markus, Nervous Nellie, Dramatic Dom and Giggling Gertie. At first they seem to have a really silly trait – Markus loves to sing…all the time, Nellie is always nervous, Dom is overly dramatic and Gertie just can’t stop giggling – but it’s these very traits that eventually transform these Moopers to superhero status!'

'Growing up by the beach in Newcastle in 1989 means footy, sandcastle competitions and school. Michael’s dad’s a journalist and his small world gets bigger as he starts to pay attention to the news. His interest turns into anxiety and obsession as Michael begins to see the world as a dangerous place that is fast collapsing around him. When the Berlin Wall comes down, most see it as a sign of change and freedom but Michael isn’t convinced. But when an earthquake hits his home town, Michael discovers that the worst that can happen is not always as bad as your fears.'

'Ever since Esther Solar’s grandfather was cursed by Death, everyone in her family has been doomed to suffer one great fear in their lifetime. Esther’s father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the basement in six years, her twin brother can’t be in the dark without a light on, and her mother is terrified of bad luck. The Solars are consumed by their fears and, according to the legend of the curse, destined to die from them.

'Esther doesn’t know what her great fear is yet (nor does she want to), a feat achieved by avoiding pretty much everything. Elevators, small spaces and crowds are all off-limits. So are haircuts, spiders, dolls, mirrors and three dozen other phobias she keeps a record of in her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.'

Teaching resources available.

'I have questions I’ve never asked. Worries I’ve never shared. Thoughts that circle and collide and die screaming because they never make it outside my head. Stuff like that, if you let it go—it’s a survival risk.

'Sixteen-year-old Nate McKee is doing his best to be invisible. He’s worried about a lot of things—how his dad treats Nance and his twin half-brothers; the hydro crop in his bedroom; his reckless friend, Merrick.

'Nate hangs out at the local youth centre and fills his notebooks with things he can’t say. But when some of his pages are stolen, and his words are graffitied at the centre, Nate realises he has allies. He might be able to make a difference, change his life, and claim his future. Or can he?'

'Ben and Grace Walker are twins. Growing up in a sleepy coastal town it was inevitable they'd surf. Always close, they hung out more than most brothers and sisters, surfing together for hours as the sun melted into the sea. At seventeen, Ben is a rising surf star, the golden son and the boy all the girls fall in love with. Beside him, Grace feels like she is a mere reflection of his light. In their last year of school, the world beckons, full of possibility. For Grace, finishing exams and kissing Harley Matthews is just the beginning.

'Then, one day, the unthinkable. The sun sets at noon and suddenly everything that was safe and predictable is lost. And everything unravels.'

'Introducing Rob Fitzgerald: thirteen years old and determined to impress the new girl at school, but it's a difficult task for a super-shy kid who is prone to panic attacks that include vomit, and genuine terror that can last all day. An anonymous texter is sending Rob challenges and they might just help. Or not.

'Beautifully moving and full of heart and humour, A Song Only I Can Hear is a delightful novel about dreaming big, being brave and marching to the beat of your own drum.'

Teaching resources available.

'Grace is questioning everything she thought about herself, and has opted not to join her clique of judgemental friends for schoolies, instead tagging along with her brother Casper and his friends. Casper, an artist, is trying to create the perfect artwork for his uni application folio. Overachieving, anxiety-ridden Noah is reeling from a catastrophe that might have ruined his ATAR result. And Elsie is just trying to figure out how to hold their friendship group together.

'On the first night of the trip, they meet Sierra, a mysterious girl with silver-grey hair and a magnetic personality. All of them are drawn to her for different reasons, and she persuades them to abandon the cliched schoolies experience in favour of camping with her on a remote, uninhabited island. On that island, each of them will find answers to their questions. But what does Sierra want from them?'

'Since Ava lost Kelly, things haven’t been going so well. Even before she gets thrown out of school for shouting at the principal, there’s the simmering rage and all the weird destructive choices. The only thing going right for Ava is her job at Magic Kebab.

'Which is where she meets Gideon. Skinny, shy, anxious Gideon. A mad poet and collector of vinyl records with an aversion to social media. He lives in his head. She lives in her grief. The only people who can help them move on with their lives are each other.'

Teaching resources available.

'On his fifteenth birthday, Monty is at rock bottom. Ignored by his parents, bullied at school, and with a brain that's prone to going walkabout, he's all by himself. Until he meets the black dog for the first time.

'It's just like any other dog, except that only Monty can see it. And it talks. And Monty's not sure whether it's a friend - or a foe. But the black dog gets him talking to pretty, popular Eliza Robertson for the first time. It takes him to places he's never been. And eventually it will take him, and the people around him, to the very edge.

'The Hounded is a book about depression and working out who you really are, from one of Australia's most prolific children's television writers.'

'If Michael Sweet thought his early teens were difficult he's in for a shock now he's eighteen and ready to start uni. The pressures of study making new friends and moving into a co-ed college are only the beginning. When Michael sets out to woo the girl of his dreams he gets more than he bargained for. It makes dealing with his drop-kick father and the antics of his madcap surfer mate Angus seem a breeze. But life is about to dish up some surprises that help Michael meet the challenges head on.'

'Tillie Bassett is sad, and she doesn’t understand why. Her parents and friends suggest very different, allegedly helpful, remedies. But it is the suggestion of her counsellor, Gilbert the Goldfish, that the answer may lie in finding the nature of happiness.

'As Tillie embarks upon her project she discovers that, when it comes to family and friends, nothing is quite as it seems. Secrets are uncovered, old tensions resurface, relationships tangle and untangle, and Tillie realises that everyone struggles balancing sadness and happiness, and living truthfully.' 

'When Amy’s mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad’s music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it’s okay — Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard-drinking, party-loving crowd to help ease the pain.

'The only solace is her music class, but even there she can’t seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.'

Gus LOVES wrestling. There's only one thing he loves more than wrestling and that's Mardi Gras when he and his sister get to dress up and parade through the streets with their mums while everyone claps. So when his mums ban him from wrestling because it's too violent, he ingeniously works out a way to combine his two loves and win over his mums again.

A funny book about growing up in a family with two mums inspired by Gus Skattebol-James' story in the award-winning documentary, Gayby Baby. Teaching resources available.

Charlotte Mars & Maya Newell worked together to produce the queer documentary film, Gayby Baby. Maya grew up with two mums. 

Phoebe wants to know why her Mummy and Mumma aren’t married. She’s mighty confused when Mumma tells her that the Prime Minister won’t let them – but she’s not going to let that stop her. Phoebe gets busy organising a surprise wedding and everyone is invited, even the PM! But will he make it to the party on time?

Authors and same-sex partners Natalie Winter and Roz Hopkins were inspired to create this book for their young daughter, as well addressing a gap within Australian youth literature.

‘Elvi, which one is your mum?’
‘They’re both my mums.’
‘But which one’s your real mum?’

When Nicholas wants to know which of Elvi’s two mums is her real mum, she gives him lots of clues. Her real mum is a circus performer, and a pirate, and she even teaches spiders the art of web. But Nicholas still can’t work it out! Luckily, Elvi knows just how to explain it to her friend.

Shortlisted for CBCA in 2021 Book of the Year Awards - Notable Book in 2021
Longlisted for International Awards - World Illustration Awards in 2020

Bernadette Green wrote Who’s Your Real Mum? after being asked the same question by her children, about their same-sex parents.

The Gender Fairy is a simple story about two children who find relief in finally being heard. It is a tale of two children who are taking their first joyful steps toward living as their true selves. It is an educational resource for all children and adults to understand what it might feel like to be a transgender child.

One sunny day, Errol finds that Thomas the Teddy is sad, and Errol can't figure out why. Then Thomas the Teddy finally tells Errol what Teddy has been afraid to say: 'In my heart, I've always known that I'm a girl Teddy, not a boy Teddy. I wish my name was Tilly.' And Errol says, 'I don't care if you're a girl teddy or a boy teddy! What matters is that you are my friend.'

A sweet and gentle story about being true to yourself and being a good friend, Introducing Teddy can also help children understand gender identity.

Nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2017

Who’s in your family? Frizzle and Me is the gently humorous story of a growing rainbow family. It’s a big deal when your family changes, but with plenty of love to go around, even the biggest changes can be wonderful! Teaching resources available.

My family doesn’t look like your family. We are unique in our own way. We can share our differences and count the ways we are the same. My family doesn’t look like your family is an Australian children’s book celebrating diverse families.

Written by Tenielle Stoltenkamp and illustrated by Go Suga, the book was created to reflect the different shapes and forms of families in our community.

This fun, inclusive board book celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family… LOVE. In its beautiful pages, many different families are shown enjoying happy, everyday activities. Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what’s most important in each family’s life is the love the family members share.

Longlisted for Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) - Children’s Picture Book of the Year in 2019

Growing up sounds terrible. No one has time to do anything fun, or play outside, or use their imagination. Everything is suddenly so serious. People are more interested in their looks and what others think about them than having fun adventures. Who wants that? Not Lora.

After watching her circle of friends seemingly fade away, Lora is determined to still have fun on her own. A tea party with a twist leaves Lora to re-discovering Alexa, the ghost that haunts her house — and Lora’s old imaginary friend! Lora and Alexa are thrilled to meet kindred spirits and they become best friends. But unfortunately not everything can last forever.

Winter's Tale is an illustrated book about a child called Winter, who has never had a proper home. A child who is looking for parents and a family, and a sense of belonging. A child who sees magic in graffiti and a blue hare in the moon. Who meets a girl with a skateboard and learns to fly; who finds a home, with the most curious of families. Winter's Tale is a story about finding your true self and your true home; about family and belonging; about art, magic and freedom.

Winner of Norma K. Hemming Award - Short Form in 2020

When a fierce quake strikes the remote island of Bluehaven, and her father disappears, Jane Doe is thrown headfirst into an epic quest to bring him home. Her father is lost in a place between worlds; a dangerous labyrinth of shifting rooms, infernal booby traps and secret gateways. With a pyromaniac named Violet and a trickster named Hickory by her side, lesbian heroine Jane is about to discover that this adventure is even bigger on the inside than it looks. Teaching resources available.

Winner of Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) - Australian Book of the Year for Older Children in 2019
Longlisted for Indie Awards - Children’s in 2019

Openly gay author, Jeremy Lachlan, wanted to show that queer kids exist and normalise the LGBTQIA+ experience beyond the ever-important coming-out stories. The Jane Doe sequel was also shortlisted for an ABIA award in 2021.

It's Hannah Bradford's first year of high school. As a 12-year-old transgender girl, Hannah has to navigate the challenges that come with starting a new school, and find the courage to live as her most authentic self.

Nominated for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards - Best Children’s Television Series in 2020

Zoom class finally gets interesting for 13-year-old Kiki when she discovers that her computer screen doubles as a portal into her crush's bedroom. A reflection on young queer love, the fantasies we create in our heads, and the lengths we go to to feel connected during isolation, this 6-minute kids' comedy short is sure to put a smile on your face.

Seventeen-year-old Jackson is living with his family on the Mish (former Aboriginal mission), hanging out with his mates, having problems with his girlfriend, teasing the tourists, and avoiding the racist boys in town. Jackson’s Aunty and cousins are visiting from the city for the summer holidays again. And this time Tomas, a mysterious boy, has come with them. While his mum and Aunty try to finish artwork, Jackson and Tomas grow close. As their friendship evolves, Jackson struggles with the changing shape of their relationship, self-acceptance and identity, and whether he’ll still be accepted by friends, family, and his Aboriginal community.

Shortlisted for The Readings Young Adult Book Prize in 2021

Gary J. Lonesborough has discussed how he drew from his own coming-of-age story, as an Indigenous teenager discovering his own sexual identity, when developing The Boy From the Mish. The book has been celebrated as an Own Voices story.

What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #LoveOzYA collection, twelve of Australia’s finest writers from the LGBTQIA+ community explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers – the connections that form us. This inclusive and intersectional #OwnVoices anthology for teen readers features work from writers of diverse genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled. Teaching resources available

Longlisted for Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) - Australian Book of the Year for Older Children in 2020
Shortlisted for Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction - Anthology Division in 2019

This anthology features many authors who openly express non-heterosexual identities and are recognised for their publications exploring sexual identity.

Peta Lyre is far from typical. The world she lives in isn't designed for the way her mind works, but when she follows her therapist's rules for 'normal' behaviour, she can almost fit in without attracting attention. When a new girl, Sam, starts at school, Peta's carefully structured routines start to crack. But on the school ski trip, with romance blooming and a newfound confidence, she starts to wonder if maybe she can have a normal life after all. When things fall apart, Peta must decide whether all the old rules still matter. Does she want a life less ordinary, or should she keep her rating normal? A moving and joyful Own Voices debut. Teaching resources available.

Shortlisted in CBCA Book of the Year Awards - Book of the Year: Older Readers in 2021
CBCA Book of the Year Awards - Notable Book - Book of the Year: Older Readers in 2021

Anna Whateley is an openly queer author who proudly writes Own Voices fiction.

A bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her school friends is hired by the hot new kid to help him get his ex back. Her advice, spot on. Her love life, way off. When Brougham catches Darcy in the act of collecting letters from locker 89 - out of which she's been running her questionably legal, anonymous relationship advice service - that's exactly what happens.

In exchange for keeping her secret, Darcy begrudgingly agrees to become his personal dating coach. The goal? To help him win his ex-girlfriend back.

Harriet Price has the perfect life: she’s a prefect at Rosemead Grammar, she lives in a mansion, and her gorgeous girlfriend is a future prime minister. So when she decides to risk it all by helping bad-girl Will Everhart expose the school’s many ongoing issues, Harriet tells herself it’s because she too is seeking justice. And definitely not because she finds Will oddly fascinating. As tensions burn throughout the school, how far will they go to keep Amelia Westlake – and their feelings for each other – a secret? Teacher resources available.

Shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awads (ABIA) - Australian Book of the Year for Older Children in 2019
Shortlisted for the Inky Awards - Gold Inky in 2019
Winner of NSW Premier’s Literary Awards - Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature in 2019

Henry is neurotic and insecure: academically gifted, but directionless. School captain, but largely unpopular, he navigates the social mires of the private school scene with difficulty and hilarity by hiding behind his enigmatic best friend, Lennon Cane. A photographer and football star, Lennon lives with his father. He is brilliant at most things, but highly emotionally guarded. After it becomes apparent that Len has always had feelings for Henry, the two fall in love, with both beautiful and disastrous consequences.

Dealing with key themes of friendship, LGBTQI+ rights, first love, and belonging, this is a coming-of-age, coming out story with a twist.

A gripping, dark enemies-to-lovers LGBTQ+ YA fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island home.

With the tide rising higher than ever before and the islanders whispering that Eva's magic is failing, she's willing to sacrifice anyone if it means saving herself and her city. When Thomas is chosen as sacrifice, Lina takes his place and the two girls are forced to spend time together as they wait for the full moon. But Lina is not at all what Eva expected, and the queen is nothing like Lina envisioned. Against their will, the two girls find themselves falling for each other. They must choose who to save: themselves, each other, or the island city relying on them both.

Invisible Boys is a raw, confronting YA novel, tackling homosexuality, masculinity, anger and suicide with a nuanced and unique perspective. Set in regional Western Australia, the novel follows three sixteen-year-old boys in the throes of coming to terms with their homosexuality in a town where it is invisible – and so are they. Invisible Boys depicts the complexities and trauma of rural gay identity with painful honesty, devastating consequence and, ultimately, hope. Teaching resources available.

Shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Book Prize in 2020
CBCA Book of the Year Awards - Notable Book in 2020
Winner of the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards - Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer in 2019

Ever since the witch cursed Babs, she turns invisible sometimes. She has her mum and her dog, but teachers and classmates barely notice her. Then, one day, Iris can see her. The two of them have a lot in common: they speak to dryads and faeries, and they’re connected to the magic that’s all around them. There’s a new boy at school, a boy who’s like them and who hasn’t yet found his real name. Soon the three of them are hanging out and trying spellwork together.

Anyone who loves the work of Francesca Lia Block and delights in Studio Ghibli films will be entranced by this gorgeous and gentle young adult novel about three queer friends who come into their power

What do you do when everybody says you're someone you're not? Alex wants change. Massive change. More radical than you could imagine. Her mother is not happy, in fact she's imploding. Her dad walked out. Alex has turned vegetarian, ditched one school, enrolled in another, thrown out her clothes. And created a new identity. An identity that changes her world. And Alex—the other Alex—has a lot to say about it.

Alex As Well is a confronting and heartfelt story of adolescent experience—of questioning identity, discovering sexuality, navigating friendships and finding a place to belong. Alex is a strong, vulnerable, confident, shy and determined character, one you will never forget. Teaching resources available.

Winner of Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards - Young Adults in 2014
Shortlisted for Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature - Young Adults Fiction in 2014

In this award-winning work of fiction, Ellen van Neerven takes her readers on a journey that is mythical, mystical and still achingly real. Over three parts, she takes traditional storytelling and gives it a unique, contemporary twist. In ‘Heat’, we meet several generations of the Kresinger family and the legacy left by the mysterious Pearl. In ‘Water’, a futuristic world is imagined and the fate of a people threatened. In ‘Light’, familial ties are challenged and characters are caught between a desire for freedom and a sense of belonging.

Writer and editor, Ellen van Neerven is a descendant of the Mununjali (Yugambeh) people from Beaudesert; their father was Dutch. Neerven uses they/them pronouns and identifies as non-binary. They have created numerous works exploring sexuality and gender identity, including short stories in both Kindred : 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories and Meet Me at the Intersection anthologies.

Who will you rely on in the zombie apocalypse? Bodies on the TV, explosions, barriers, and people fleeing. No access to social media. And a dad who'll suddenly bite your head off - literally. These teens have to learn a new resilience. Members of a band wield weapons instead of instruments. A pair of siblings find there's only so much you can joke about, when the menace is this strong. And a couple find depth among the chaos. Highway Bodies is a unique zombie apocalypse story featuring a range of queer and gender non-conforming teens who have lost their families and friends and can only rely upon each other.

Alison Evans is an award-winning author of queer young adult fiction. Evans uses they/them pronouns. They have received numerous accolades and awards for their publications, including winning the 2018 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards - Prize for Young Adult Fiction for their novel Ida and being shortlisted for The Readings Young Adult Book Prize in 2019 for Highway Bodies.

Seventeen-year-old Bex is thrilled when she gets an internship on her favorite tv show, Silver Falls. Unfortunately, the internship isn't quite what she expected... instead of sitting in a crowded writer's room volleying ideas back and forth, Production Interns are stuck picking up the coffee. Determined to prove her worth as a writer, Bex drafts her own script and shares it with the head writer—who promptly reworks it and passes it off as his own! Bex is understandably furious, yet...maybe this is just how the industry works? But when they rewrite her proudly lesbian character as straight, that's the last straw! It's time for Bex and her crush to fight back.

Jen Wilde is a best-selling queer & disabled young adult author. Wilde’s books are often widely praised for their inclusivity and wide range of LGBTQIA+ protagonist, alongside other diversity such as mental health and disability. Wilde uses she/they pronouns.

Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is a scrappy fencing wunderkind, and dreams of getting the chance and the training to actually compete. After getting accepted to the prodigious Kings Row private school, Nicholas is thrust into a cut-throat world, and finds himself facing not only his golden-boy half-brother, but the unbeatable, mysterious Seiji Katayama.

Melbourne-based writer C. S. Pacat identifies as queer and genderqueer and uses she/her or he/him pronouns. Pacat has received a number of accolades for her publications, which largely center around queer characters. Most recently Fence : Volume Three was shortlisted in the 2020 Ledger Awards.

A family favour their son over their daughter. Shan attends university before making his fortune in Australia while Yannie must find menial employment and care for her ageing parents. After her mother’s death, Yannie travels to Sydney to become enmeshed in her psychopathic brother’s new life, which she seeks to undermine from within. This is a novel that rages against capitalism, hetero-supremacy, mothers, fathers, families – the whole damn thing. It’s about what happens when you want to make art but are born in the wrong time and place. It will not be easily forgotten.

S. L. Lim has been quoted hating “compulsory heterosexuality” and identifies as a female-presenting queer. Lim became the first non-binary author nominated for the Stella Prize in 2021, after a decision in 2019 change the rules opening the award to non-binary authors. Lim uses they/she/he pronouns.

This brilliant collection of short fiction explores the shifting spaces of desire, loss and longing. Though it ranges across themes and locations – from small-town Australia to Hokkaido to rural England. Whether recounting the confusion of a child trying to decipher their father and stepmother’s new relationship, the surrealness of an after-hours tour of Auschwitz, or a journey to wintry Japan to reconnect with a former lover, Permafrost unsettles, transports and impresses in equal measure.

S.J. Norman is a proud Indigenous Australian of both Wiradjuri and European heritage. A cross-disciplinary artist and writer, Norman has received several accolades for their work, including a commendation for the Peter Blazey Fellowship for their piece Blood from a Stone in 2020. Norman identifies as a non-binary transgender person and use they/them pronouns.

Everything Danny has ever done, every sacrifice his family has ever made, has been in pursuit of this dream - but what happens when the talent that makes you special fails you? When the goal that you’ve been pursuing for as long as you can remember ends in humiliation and loss? Twenty years later, Dan is in Scotland, terrified to tell his partner about his past, afraid that revealing what he has done will make him unlovable. Haunted by shame, Dan relives the intervening years he spent in prison, where the optimism of his childhood was completely foreign.

Christos Tsiolkas, the son of Greek migrants, is an openly gay author. Themes of sexuality can be found in many of his publications, including Barracuda and Loaded. Tsoilkas’ latest novel, Damascus, has been present in a large number of literature awards, winning the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards - Fiction in 2020. Tsiolkas uses the pronouns he/him.

When Saffron Coulter stumbles through a hole in reality, she finds herself trapped in Kena, a magical realm on the brink of civil war. There, her fate becomes intertwined with that of three very different women: Zech, the fast-thinking acolyte of a cunning, powerful exile; Viya, the spoiled, runaway consort of the empire-building ruler, Vex Leoden; and Gwen, an Earth-born worldwalker whose greatest regret is putting Leoden on the throne. Can one girl – an accidental worldwalker – really be the key to saving Kena? Or will she just die trying?

Foz Meadows is a genderqueer fantasy author, essayist and poet. Meadows was a finalist in the 2018 Norma K. Hemming Award - Long Work for An Accident of Stars and was a winner for the 2018 Norma K. Hemming Award - Short Fiction with Coral Bones. She has recently made a book deal for a queer fantasy romance, A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, to be published in 2022. Meadows uses she/her pronouns.

There is nothing more important than love and refuge. Egypt, 1941: Only hours after disembarking in Alexandria, William Marsh, an Australian corporal at twenty-one, is face down in the sand, caught in a stoush with the Italian enemy. He is saved by James Kelly, a childhood friend from Sydney and the last person he expected to see. William is sent to supervise an army depot in the Western Desert, with a private directive to find an AWOL soldier: James Kelly. Soon William and James are thrust headlong into territory more dangerous than either could have imagined.

Nigel Featherstone is a widely published author, writing adult fiction, creative journalism and short stories. He has been both longlisted (HNSA Historical Novel Prize 2020) and shortlisted (Queensland Literary Awards - Fiction Book Award 2019) for his queer war novel, Bodies of Men. Featherstone calls himself a “lifelong queer” and uses the pronouns he/him.

Benjamin Law considers himself pretty lucky to live in Australia: he can hold his boyfriend's hand in public and lobby his politicians to recognise same-sex marriage. But as the child of migrants, he's also curious about how different life might have been had he grown up in Asia. So he sets off to meet his fellow Gaysians.

The characters he meets - from Tokyo's celebrity drag queens to HIV-positive Burmese sex workers, from Malaysian ex-gay Christian fundamentalists to Chinese gays and lesbians who marry each other to please their parents - all teach him something new about being queer in Asia.

Benjamin Law is an author, essayist, screenwriter and broadcaster. Well-recognised for his writing exploring queer and cultural themes, his essays and columns have appeared in countless popular publications. He has also appeared as a panellist on the ABC television program Q&A. Law uses he/him pronouns.

In this extraordinary memoir, Magda describes her journey of self-discovery from a suburban childhood. Haunted by the demons of her father's espionage activities in wartime Poland and by her secret awareness of her sexuality, to the complex dramas of adulthood and her need to find out the truth about herself and her family. She addresses her own frailties and fears, and asks the big questions about life, about the shadows we inherit and the gifts we pass on. Teaching resources available.

Magda Szubanski is a nationally recognised performer, actor and comedian, who has also authored children’s books and essays. An avid LGBTQIA+ activist, Szubanski was the recipient for the 2019 Order of Australia - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the performing arts as an actor, comedian and writer, and as a campaigner for marriage equality. Szubanski is openly gay and uses she/her pronouns.

Visceral and energetic, Sakr’s poetry confronts the complicated notion of “belonging” when one’s family, culture, and country are at odds with one’s personal identity. Braiding together sexuality and divinity, conflict and redemption, The Lost Arabs is a fierce, urgent collection from a distinct new voice.

Omar Sakr is an award-winning Arab-Australian poet and writer, born to Lebanese and Turkish Muslim migrants. His poetry has been widely published in Australia and overseas. Sakr’s writing has been featured in numerous anthologies and his non-fiction and critical work has appeared in countless other publications. Sakr identifies as bisexual and uses he/him pronouns.

Meet Nevo: girl, boy, he, she, him, her, they, them, daughter, son, teacher, student, friend, gay, bi, lesbian, trans, homo, Jew, dyke, masculine, feminine, androgynous, queer. Nevo was not born in the wrong body. Nevo just wants everyone to catch up with all that Nevo is. Personal, political and passionate, Finding Nevo is an autobiography about gender and everything that comes with it.

Nevo Zisin is a Melbourne-based queer, non-binary, Jewish writer and activist. They run school and professional development training workshops around transgender identities and is one of the only transgender marriage celebrants in Australia. Their autobiography, Finding Nevo : How I Confused Everyone, was a winner of the Australian Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature - Older Readers in 2018. Zisin uses they/them pronouns.

Rallying was written alongside Quinn Eades’s first book, All the Beginnings : A Queer Autobiography of the Body, and before he began transitioning from female to male. A collection very much concerned with the body, and the ways in which we create and write under, around, without, and with children, this collection will resonate deeply with anyone who has tried to make creative work from underneath the weight of love.

Quinn Eades is a researcher, writer, and award-winning poet whose work lies at the nexus of feminist and queer theories of the body, autobiography, and philosophy. In 2018, he was working on a collection of fragments written from the transitioning body, titled Transpoetics : Dialogically Writing the Queer and Trans Body in Fragments and was a Tracey Banivanua Mar Research Fellow. His book Rallying won the Mary Gilmore Award for best debut poetry. Eades uses he/him pronouns.

“I marked the day in my adolescent diary with a single blank page.
The mantle of “queer migrant” compelled me to keep going – to go further.
I never “came out” to my parents. I felt I owed them no explanation.
All I heard from the pulpit were grim hints.
I became acutely aware of the parts of myself that were unpalatable to queers who grew up in the city.”

Compiled by celebrated author and journalist Benjamin Law, Growing Up Queer in Australia assembles voices from across the spectrum of LGBTIQA+ identity. Spanning diverse places, eras, genders, ethnicities and experiences, these are the stories of growing up queer in Australia. Teaching resources available.

Twenty-two First Nations people reveal their inner reflections and outlooks on family and culture, identity and respect, homophobia, transphobia, racism and decolonisation, activism, art, performance and more, through life stories and essays. The contributors to this ground-breaking book not only record the continuing relevance of traditional culture and practices, they also explain the emergence of homonormativity within the context of contemporary settler colonialism.

There's more to being queer than coming out and getting married. This exciting and contemporary collection contains stories that are as diverse as the LGBTQIA+ community from which they're drawn. From hilarious anecdotes of an awkward adolescence, to heartwarming stories of family acceptance and self-discovery, the LGBTQIA+ community has been sharing stories for centuries, creating their own histories, disrupting and reinventing conventional ideas about narrative, family, love and community.

Curated from the hugely popular Queerstories storytelling event.

Two young queer Chinese men who have feelings for each other connect over the phone just as one of them is preparing to be married to a woman.

As the screening of the film at the Rhode Island International Film Festival noted, there is an estimated gay population of more than 30 million in China, 'many of whom marry unknowing people of the opposite sex due to family and societal pressure. These marriages inevitably end up in tragedy. This film aims to support for and to foster a critical understanding of gay marriage. It discusses how the tradition's principles and virtues need to be reinterpreted, reassessed and transformed to reflect perspectives in all sexualities.'

Grieving the death of her mother, Beth wakes one night to find a portal to the past in the forest surrounding her family home. Swept away by visions of her idyllic upbringing with her three siblings and two loving Mums, Beth becomes mesmerised by the past, unable to see the dangers that lie ahead.

Artist Emma (aka Cloudy) and musician River have a relationship built on openness, freedom and fluidity, but the challenges of loving more than one person are put to the test when they move in together. When Emma is commissioned to exhibit at the gallery of her other lover, Zara, she chooses to focus the show on her relationship with River, exploring the timeless bond they share, the messy situations they find themselves in, the joy and the pain of their boundary pushing relationship.

Cloudy River asks whether you can truly be there for each other in an open relationship whilst pursuing the individual freedoms the relationship is founded on.

Set sometime in the not-too-distant future, after the worldwide crisis of 2020, Mandy is a 17-year-old Filipino Australian. In her final year of high school and dealing with her parents impending divorce, she navigates a world driven by a new normal of isolation and fear. Added to this she has a crush on her tutor Serena. Meanwhile, a young girl from the backstreets of Manila tells her story.