The Best of Aussie YA (3) The Tales Compendium

The Best of Aussie YA - Mini Series

some of the featured books...

About the mini series & best of Aussie YA current give-away

in case you missed it: 1 - Tye from The Book Gryffin

2 - Steph from My Girl Friday

I am so excited to have Jess from The Tales Compendium on inkcrush - wahoo! 

I was so stoked when I found her blog - not only do I love her style, but we share some of the same absolute favourite books (like Tomorrow When the War Began and Guitar Highway Rose - which I completely ADORE - and our love for the whimsically brilliant Jaclyn Moriarty)

1. The Aussie YA scene is so strong at the moment - with so many BRILLIANT titles that came out this year. What tops your list of favourite Aussie YA reads this year?

My absolute favourite book of the year was Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. I just couldn't put it down and it reminded me alot of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn (another favourite) but for art-minded people and of course, it was set in Australia! I will definitely be re-reading it again soon. Honourable mentions go to Swerve by Phillip Gwynne and Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood.

2. What books from previous years are on your all-time favourite Aussie YA list?

The Tomorrow series by John Marsden (1993) will always be a favourite, as well as Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty (2000) and Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry (1997). I read both Feeling Sorry for Celia and Guitar Highway Rose the year they were each released and am still re-reading them more than ten years later.

3. Any lesser known Aussie YA books/authors you adore?

Kate McCaffrey is a Western Australian author who writes amazing stories addressing very real problems for teens: Destroying Avalon (bullying), In Ecstasy (drugs) and Beautiful Monster (eating disorders).

Quick 5: Choose the book you'd recommend to someone in the mood for:

A tear jerker - Letters to Leonardo by Dee White

Awesome male POV - Swerve by Phillip Gwynne

Quirky and hilarious - Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood

A story that lingers - Grace by Morris Gleitzman

A book that you can't put down - Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Thank you thank you Jess :)

Isn't she the best? Check out her blog, all the way from Perth Australia 

The Best of Aussie YA (1) The Book Gryffin

The Best of Aussie YA - Mini Series

some of the featured books...

About the mini series & best of Aussie YA current give-away

To launch the mini series we have Tye:  The Book Gryffin - who runs a fabulous and informative blog, always  inspiring with a lovely lovely focus on some of the Aussie stuff. Any books she endorses, you'll love.  - one of my very favourite corners on the internet to hang out in :) 

1. The Aussie YA scene is so strong at the moment - with so many BRILLIANT titles that came out this year. What tops your list of favourite Aussie YA reads this year?

Tye: Oooooooooohhhhhhh! Could you have asked a harder question???? This is very difficult to answer, because I am SO proud of ALL our Aussie YA Authors! So. Trying to do the impossible and narrow it down to a few. Hmmmm. 

My TOP 3 this year would have to be: Five Parts Dead- Tim Pegler, The Pipers Son- Melina Marchetta and This Is Shyness- Leanne Hall.

2. . What books from previous years are on your all-time favourite Aussie YA list?

Tye: I LOVE this question!!! My top favorites EVER in Aussie YA are without doubt... On The Jellicoe Road- Melina Marchetta, The Beginners Guide To Living- Lia Hills, So Much To Tell You- John Marsden, Once- Morris Gleitzman, Game As Ned- Tim Pegler, Loathing Lola- William Kostakis and Saving Francesca- Melina Marchetta. These are titles I have re read many times and every single time, they never fail to ‘get’ me. They still pack the same punch on a re read as they did the very first time I read them. That to me is the mark of a truly great read.

3. Any lesser known Aussie YA books/authors you adore?

Tye: I would have to say Tim Pegler. It doesn’t seem to me that he has the following he deserves. He is such a beautiful author, his novels are so poignant. Not to mention, he is a truly lovely person. When he came to visit our school, he had the kids eating out of the palm of his hand. They adored him and still talk about that visit today. He is very humble and deserves to be given a bit of the rockstar treatment, though having said that I am sure he would HATE it! 

Another amazing Aussie author to watch, who is nowhere near as familiar as she deserves to be, is Lia Hills. Lia is an OUTSTANDING author and her book The Beginners Guide To Living is my absolute favourite YA Aussie Read this year, even though it was published in 2009.

4. What upcoming titles are you hanging out for?

Tye: Cannot wait for Angel Creek Sally Rippin, coming in March 2011. And I am always enthralled to see what the winning novel from the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing will be. This year gave us Leanne Hall- This Is Shyness. I am hopeful to see something new from our other amazing Aussies next year :)

Quick 5: Choose the book you'd recommend to someone in the mood for:

• Tear Jerker - The Beginner's Guide To Living - Lia Hills
• Awesome Male POV- Game As Ned- Tim Pegler.
• Quirky and hilarious- Six Impossible Things- Fiona Wood
• A story that lingers- On The Jellicoe Road- Melina Marchetta
• A book you cant put down- Grace- Morris Gleitzman.

Thank you ever so much Tye! 
Don't forget to check out Ty's blog 'The Book Gryffin'