Aussie YA

Just me, listing some of my favourite Aussie YA authors and books
  • (In alphabetical order by surname)
  • Book links go the goodreads
  • Not necessarily a complete bibliography of each author, just my fave/recommended titles of theirs :)
For more Aussie YA books check out this list @ goodreads: Favourite Aussie YA Books


I grew up devouring Aussie YA and as I grew out of the (literal) YA age, it was my fave Aussie authors who kept me coming back to the genre ~ so much talent in our nation, hey. Aussie teens are blessed and I am insanely proud of the thriving Aussie YA scene we have. 

 This is not a complete list (constantly evolving) and it's completely biased towards my favourites ~ books I am nostalgic about and books I have recently met and fallen in love with <3

Randa Abdel-Fattah
Her writing is so funny and clever and touching and real and multi-cultural. You'll love her :) 


Sarah Ayoub
Her debut is smart and articulate, brave and honest, swoony and fun. I love her prose and her characters and the way her work appeals to teens of today.
A J Betts
Her characters are messy and complicated and hopeful and true. Betts writes books that are brave and honest and doesn't shy away from emotions that are raw and painful. Her books shine and linger and offer something unique and compelling for Australian teens.



 Maria Boyd
Only her debut available so far (can't wait to read more of her work). Will is from a male POV and is funny and spot-on at articulating a teen guys struggles and ambitions and life in general. Lots of poignant moments and parts where you feel sorry for Will who has the ability to spectacularly stuff things up. 


Alyssa Brugman
The synopsis of these two books didn't particularly draw me in - but I'm so glad I gave them a go - the writing is just beautiful (many crush-worthy sentences) and the characters are so wonderfully flawed it made me ache for them. I'm a life long fan :)


    Rebecca Burton
    The perfect blend of conflict and romance and friendship and general teen angst and coming of age (in a multiple POV read).
    Laura Buzo
    Her debut spoke to my soul and won me over and you must get your hands on this book. She is being compared to Melina Marchetta and I concur - mesmerising and funny and true and bittersweet. And I have the hugest crush on Chris. I loved Holier Than Thou just as much, if not more, and she is now firmly an absolute fave author of mine <3



    Emma Cameron
    Write such a delicious and genuine verse novel. I devoured it in a day and it's one of those books that still linger.

    Lucy Christopher
    Who debuted with the astonishingly haunting book Stolen. My review here - a psychologically powerful and engrossing read.






    Margaret Clark
    So she's written over 130 books... And a few of them really resonated with me as a teen. I seriously grew up reading my way through her stuff. I'll give a shout-out to the two below b/c they are super-cute and have awesome-funny-relate-able teen voice. Perfect for lower YA :) (and the Fat Chance series, haha, loved/love them)



    Cath Crowley
    I'd read some of her earlier work, but her novel Graffiti Moon just took my breath away completely. LOVE LOVE LOVE I dare you not to fall in love with it :)

    Marianne de Pierres
    Her Night Creatures series is dark and unique and intoxicating. Highly recommended reading for fans of dystopia/fantasy/adventure


    Kirsty Eagar
    whoa-crazy-good-awesome-powerful. Raw Blue is mesmerising and stunning and made me ache. An absolute fave and must-read for all fans of YA <3




    Nick Earls
    A staple in the Aussie YA scene. He's brilliant and funny and his older novels still resonate for todays teens.


    Anna Fienberg
    Her novel Borrowed Light is beautiful, whimsical and lingering. A notable with CBCA. Definitely worth your time. I loved this so hard when it came out... Truly gorgeous. 




    Jackie French
    ADORE her (she writes MG and children's picture books too). My favourite novel of hers is:


    Phillip Gwyne
    "Swerve is a rare and hilarious combination of road novel, rite-of passage for a sheltered private school boy, and subtle love story between grandfather and grandson" (judges comments from VPLA 2010). 
    Leanne Hall
    Whoah, crazy beautiful writing and something very very different. Impressive.



    Jonathan Harlan
    Oooh, this is an older title that I absolutely LOVE - set in Sydney, it's fun and sexy and funny with an outstanding male POV. One of my long time favourites.

    Pip Harry
    Pip Harry is one of those YA authors who capture the teen voice and experience so authentically and without condescension. Harry's writing is fresh and real and I expect she will go from strength to strength with each new work. Both her books are compelling, unique and memorable.



     Rhiannon Hart
    Fresh, addictive and swoony surprising fantasy. I LOVED her debut and am excited for this new Aussie series. For fans of Kristin Cashore, this is more fantasy-lite and very accessible. 
     Sonya Hartnett 
    One of my all time favourite authors. I've often wondered why she is shelved as YA as her work really transcends into all ages. My teen years were shaped by her books. Her stories are shocking and compelling and dark and original. Her writing is insanely literary - the combinations of words she uses to make a sentence sometimes takes my breath away. &lt;3 &lt;3 &lt;3 (I've only listed a few of hers, but any of hers are a guaranteed good read)
    Kate Hendrick
    Her debut, The Accident, is amazing.


     Steven Herrick 
    Herrick writes compelling, rhythmic, funny and sad verse novels. The characters are real  and his poems have a perfect rhythm. His books are impossible to put down, and the stories are ones that linger.


    Simmone Howell
    Simply awesome. Her books are truly a work of art and she's a stand-out Australian talent. 


    Rebecca James
    Gorgeous, evocative writing. Total Ausse vibe and setting. twist, unputdownable psychological thrillers with older YA (uni age) protags. James knows how to suck you in and keep you up all night.

    Barry Jonsberg
    This guy is funny and witty and fresh and he has the perfect voice for YA. Very impressed :) Good times.


    Melissa Keil
    Life in Outer Space is a refreshing and funny and completely heartfelt story. I loved this male POV book, perfect for a smiley, rainy day read.


    Margo Lanagan
    Confessing that Tender Morsels was not really my thing, but I still &lt;3 Lanagan wholeheartedly. Touching Earth Lightly is an older contemporary title that has lingered with me years. Highly recommended. And - read Black Juice (short stories) if only for the first story  "Singing My Sister Down" which will have you weeping after only mere pages. 

    Brigid Lowry
    Guitar Highway Rose is the kind of delicious brilliance that reminds me why I love to read. Just. Awesome.


     Melina Marchetta 
    Only one of my favourite authors of all time. What can I say about Melina Marchetta but to read her? She is the Queen of Aussie YA.
    Juliet Marillier
    I am so late to this party, but, mate, what a party it is! Working my way through her backlist now and savouring every morsel. Stunning fairy tale and folk lore retellings with characters that make you bleed (and also swoon a little, haha). I've started with the Seven waters series and they are breaking my heart and piecing me back together again. 

    Ellie Marney
    Splashed on the scene with her messy, zingy and complicated Melbourne-based (and then London, followed by small country-town) sleuthing series inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Fun, gritty and adrenalin pumping action. Also, be prepared for many moments of chemistry giving the series an upper YA vibe.

    Shirley Marr
    O.o For something wild and unexpected and fun...
     John Marsden 
    Grew up on this guy (like many other Aussie of my age, haha). His books spoke to my very teen soul and I can still remember the characters (okay, so I've done some re-reads, but that's indulgence, not from forgetting the power of the stories). The Tomorrow Series are my fave series of all time, I swear, Ellie and Homer and the gang are friends I grew up with. I feel fiercely protective of them.  


    Maureen McCarthy
    I've read all her work, and the ones below have stuck with me the most. She writes stories that linger with characters who have a lot to overcome. Particularly love When you wake - and it's plot with the IRA. Compelling and complex conflict. 
    David Metzenthen
    Such a strong male voice and perfect for guys and girls - I've always enjoyed his work but was truly blown away by his latest 'Jarvis 24' - winner of CBCA 2010 for Older Readers - I grinned my way through in awe. Brilliance.



    Lara Morgan
     Intriguing speculative futuristic fiction ~ I really admire the beginning of a fresh new Aussie series :D (will also appeal to mature MG readers)



    Jaclyn Moriarty 
    Jaclyn Moriarty is my favourite author. She's charming and whimsical and hilarious and true. I recommend Finding Cassie Crazy (The Year of Secret Assignments) to get you started. Although Celia is just as beautiful. After either one of those you will be addicted. You really must track her down. And then fall in love with her (her sisters, Liane Moriarty and Nicola Moriarty shine with the same brilliance).
     Kirsten Murphy 
    Her writing is just funny and real and compelling and exactly the kind of books I loved as a teen (and crush on as an adult). And Raincheck on Timbuktu has a whole plot line about Anne of Green Gables (!!!) ~ it's a long time and lifelong fave of mine. Track it down and gobble it up!
    Christie Nieman
    Her debut is a beautiful, compelling and utterly original story that marches to it's own exquisite beat. Loved it



     Tim Pegler
    One of my newest favourites. Brilliant. I was quite blown away by Five Parts Dead and I am ever partial to the dual timeline with a light house on an island... - LOVE



    Penni Russon
    One of my favourites and one of the best. Simple but compelling prose and unforgettable storylines.






    Lisa Shanahan
    Ahh, I love this. Write more, please :) Absolutely one of my favourites. Funny (laugh-out-loud) and also, sneakily, moving.
    Jessica Shirvington
    Total surprise love from me. Her ideas are fresh, characters flawed and likeable and her execution is engaging. Between the Lives is breezy and compelling. Her Disruption duology is a complicated but totally imaginable dystopianish high tech future. Also, she brings the swoon
    Tim Sinclair
    His debut novel is a verse novel about parkour. It's amazingly written, creative and compelling and just really really good. So recommended. 
    Rebecca Sparrow 
    Reading Rebecca Sparrow is just a whole heap of fun. I ADORE her. She's another Aussie stand-out and must read for me. 


    Penny Tangey
    So, I completely loved her debut - refreshing and innocent and funny and with it's own quirky beat this is a perfect book for teens.




    Vicki Wakefield
    Her debut (All I Ever Wanted) is shining and gorgeous and features one of my fave protags. Ever <3 Friday Brown s just as gorgeous and harrowing and startlingly moving.
    Paula Weston
    Seriously amazed by how much I love her Rephaim series. Smart and sexy and fun and swoony and so addictive. These angel books have the best Aussie vibe and characters you will fall in love with (Rafa, I mean, seriously!)


     
    Margaret Wild 
    Similar to the brilliance that is Steven Herrick. Astounding, gut wrenching novels in verse. I have converted the staff @ my school onto these books and all the teachers love them (who wouldn't really?). Wild is best known for her award wining children's picture books, but I am sending out vibes to her to write more for YA.
    Lili Wilkinson
    Funny and heart-felt and smart with everything you want in an unputdownable contemporary.
    • Pink (I thought I'd check out the first chapter around midnight, before turning out the light... four hours later... also, blurbed by John Green :)
    • Angelfish
    • A Pocketful of Eyes


    Gabrielle Williams
    Her debut novel is brilliant and has the makings of an Aussie YA cult classic. On my all time faves shelf. Do yourself a favour and don't miss out on this book!


    Fiona Wood
    Fiona is a scriptwriter who has worked on Neighbours, Home & Away and The Secret Life of Us (among others) and my newest author crush. Her debut is funny and addictive and one of the best books I've read all year. I wanted to go back to the beginning and read it all again as soon as I'd finished.
    Claire Zorn
    Zorn has blasted on to the Aussie YA scene with two very compelling and real novels. Love her fresh, engaging and real style. The Sky So Heavy is for fans of Tomorrow When the War Began and The Protected is one that may catch your emotions by surprise. So excited for more from Zorn. Both books featured in my top reads of (their respective) release years.

    Marcus Zusak
     Makes me oh-so-very proud to be an Australian.







    FYI: Aussie YA is available internationally. The Book Depository (UK and US) stocks many titles. Fishpondworld.com stocks all titles with free international shipping.



    (last updated Feb 2015)

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