by Allison Tait | Feb 3, 2022 | Reading, Your Kid's Next Read
‘Consent’ is a word we’ve heard a lot about over the past few years and it’s a word that parents know they need to discuss with their kids from an early age. But how?
In her brand-new picture book, From My Head to My Toes, I Say What Goes, Australian author Charlotte Barkla takes children on a journey through everyday situations and shows that it’s okay to say ‘no’.
“As the Raising Children Network points out, children ‘need to understand that their body is their own and they have the right to say what happens to it’,” says Charlotte. “It’s not the easiest topic to discuss, but the good news is the foundations can be laid from an early age.”
Through a gentle, playful text, Charlotte’s book discusses consent and control for a young audience.
I might say YES to pillow fights;
a kiss when I’m tucked in at night.
I might say NO to climbing high,
a tickling game or a hug goodbye.
Bright illustrations by Jacqui Lee keep the tone upbeat and lighthearted but the message is clear and the book is a great conversation-starter for parents of young children.
More books about consent for kids under 10
“It’s never too early to start teaching consent and boundaries for children,” says Charlotte, who has generously created this list of more books that open up conversations on consent, for children under 10 years. Click the title to find out more about the book.*
How to Say Hello by Sophie Beer
For very young children, you can’t go past Sophie Beer’s ‘How to Say Hello.’ This board book provides young readers with lots of examples of ways to say hello, whether it be a smile, wave or high-five. (And Sophie’s illustrations, as always, are gorgeous.) My favourite spread features a child peeking out from behind his parent’s legs, to say hello ‘from somewhere we feel safe.’
Simple yet brilliant, this book is inclusive and vibrant.
Don’t Hug Doug by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
This picture book is lots of fun to read. It features a non-hug-loving boy called Doug, who much prefers high-fives. So, how do you tell who doesn’t like hugs? By asking, of course!
A great introduction to bodily autonomy.
No More Cuddles by Jane Chapman
Barry loves hugs, but sometimes he just wants to be left alone. Barry tries various things to stop others hugging him, and ends up falling into a solution (literally).
While this picture book doesn’t explicitly teach consent, it does provide a means for opening up a conversation on boundaries and communication.
Boss of Your Own Body by Byll and Beth Stephen, Teeny Tiny Stevies, illustrated by Simon Howe
Originally a song by the Teeny Tiny Stevies, this picture book is all about being the boss of your own body, and not of anyone else. A fun read-aloud, with lots of vibrant illustrations.
The song is lots of fun to listen to with kids, too. (Although you may end up with an ear worm.)
It’s My Body: A Book About Body Privacy by Louise Spilsbury
An informational, non-fiction picture book about body privacy. I like how this book talks about listening to your body – whether your body is telling you it’s tired when it needs a rest, when it’s hungry or full, or telling you when a hug feels good or bad. As a UK-published text it includes links to British websites and helplines, as well as notes for parents, carers and teachers.
Respect: Consent, boundaries and being in charge of YOU by Rachel Brian
This book was written by the co-creator of the “Tea Consent” video (which is worth a google if you haven’t seen it). In graphic novel format, this book is bright and fun. Readers learn about consent, setting boundaries and relationship dynamics.
This one is aimed at readers from 6+, but could even suit young teens.
Charlotte Barkla is the author of four books for children, including two picture books and the middle-grade Edie’s Experiments series.
Find out more about Charlotte and her books here.
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of middle-grade series, The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
If you’re looking for book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, and tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast!
*this website contains affiliate links. See contact page for details.
by Allison Tait | Oct 6, 2020 | Advice for Writers, podcast, Social Media for Writers, Writing
Starting a podcast takes time, devotion and, yes, sometimes a few tears. if you’re going to start a podcast, it helps to begin with a subject you love, AND with people you really like.
One More Page is a podcast for lovers of kids’ books, featuring children’s authors Liz Ledden, Kate Simpson and Nat Amoore. That’s them on the left in their cute t-shirts (note to self: get some merch!).
So when Liz Ledden reached out to write a guest post about all that is good about podcasting (and some tips on how to start your own podcast), I jumped at the chance.
Liz Ledden tells: 6 Things I’ve Learnt About Podcasting
Since co-hosting kids’ book podcast One More Page for nearly three years alongside fellow authors Kate Simpson and Nat Amoore, I’ve learnt a thing or two about this whole podcasting biz. Here are six standouts:
1/ It’s like your own personal masterclass … that you share with the world
Having a podcast about the children’s book world (One More Page) means you’re constantly asking people about things you’re curious about. And that presumably (and hopefully) listeners are, too. Obsessed with a certain author? Drill them for their creativity tips! Dream of working with a particular publisher? Ask them what they look for in a manuscript, or an author. There’s so much wisdom to be gained from podcasts, and the hosts have as much to learn as their listenership.
2/ It’s hard to listen to your own voice (like, really hard)
One of the most confronting things about podcasting, especially when starting out, is discovering what your voice ‘really’ sounds like. Which may then lead you down a rabbit hole of – why do I laugh like that? Why didn’t I say something different there? Can we just re-release that entire episode already?! But eventually, you do get used to it. (Except for that sentence, and that one too … Oh god, I hope no one heard that bit!).
3/ It’s kind of like a workplace
Being part of a podcast team is just like a workplace, minus the boss and regular pay packet. There’s the ‘watercooler’ (a WhatsApp chat mostly filled with ridiculous gifs) and to-do lists to tick off (yes, our very own KPIs). There’s also break-time banter (the pre and post-pod chat), dodgy office politics (It’s MY review copy! No, MINE!), and people behaving (or singing) badly at the Christmas party – except ours is recorded for anyone to hear. At least we can all declare ourselves ‘Employee of the Year’ – hooray!
4/ It’s also a bit like being a publisher
‘Sorry, it’s not right for our list’. Sound familiar, writerly people?! Yes, that age-old publishing rejection spiel is sometimes just as applicable to the podcast world. I’ve discovered how similar being a podcaster is to a publisher, in terms of people getting in touch:
– We have an endless stream of people emailing with requests (the ‘slush pile’).
– We sometimes need to take a raincheck on wonderful content (a fully booked publishing schedule).
– There’s the occasional mega-star we try to squeeze in no matter what (like when a celebrity kids’ book author comes knocking at a publishing house – hello, mega sales!).
– And just like publishers, we have a few odd bods offering content not really suited to One More Page (like writers who don’t follow submission guidelines or research a publisher first).
Sorry to say … it’s not right for our list.
5/ If something goes wrong, it’ll be at the worst possible time
Inevitably, any internet-dependant venture will face a tech fail or two. These, of course, are exclusively reserved for those high-profile guests you’ve waited your whole life to speak to. But that time you interview your pal from your writers’ group? It will go off without the slightest of hitches. Internet gods, why do you do this?! (Sidenote: It’s actually been a while since this has happened … knock on wood!)
6/ Grateful guests warm the heart
Some seasoned authors, illustrators and other bookish figures regularly do the publicity rounds. An interview here, a livestream there, maybe even a coveted TV spot. They’re glad to add One More Page to their repertoire, but it mightn’t necessarily be a life highlight.
However, every now and then, someone is stratospherically excited and grateful for some podcasterly airtime, whether we interview them, review their book or shout out to their latest venture.
And when someone tells us how much it means to them, it makes all the effort worthwhile.
Like the idea of podcasting?
Perhaps you have your own idea for a podcast (or don’t even mind the sound of your own voice!).
Here are a few things to consider if embarking down the podcasting path:
Why are you podcasting?
You don’t necessarily need a product or service to spruik, it might be to build your brand or further your career.
As authors, we’re able to mention our own books, so think about how you could tie in your existing ventures with your podcast. Of course, you may simply want to connect with likeminded people, but who knows what opportunities that could lead to?
What is your podcast about, and who is it aimed at?
If you have several audiences in mind (e.g. across age groups), how will your content cater to them? At One More Page, we imagine some kids might listen as well as adults who love kids’ books, like teacher librarians or writers. That’s why we keep our content G-rated, and also feature kids themselves on the show.
What will you call your podcast?
This sets the tone for your show, and requires a bit of research to avoid doubling up. But once you have a name you can set up everything from a website, to an email address, to social media accounts.
What about all the techie bits?
From establishing your format, writing your content and contacting potential guests, there’s a whole lot of behind the scenes work in putting a podcast together.
You’ll not only need a website host but an account with a podcast hosting site, which will upload your episodes to all the main podcast apps. Plus some quality headphones with a mic, a quiet place to record and recording software, too.
There’s a world of information a quick google search away to help you work it all out.
Have fun!
If the above sounds daunting, it’s mostly related to getting started. Once you’re up and running you can concentrate on producing your content, let the laughs roll and share your fun (and in our case, fandom) with the world!
Liz Ledden is a Sydney-based children’s book author and co-host of kids’ book podcast, One More Page. Connect with Liz on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
Her picture book Tulip and Brutus about friendship, differences and bugs is out now.
Her second picture book, Walking Your Human, is for dog-lovers everywhere and due out in February 2021.
Find out more about One More Page podcast here.
by Allison Tait | Mar 26, 2020 | Advice for Writers, The Business of Writing, Writing
There’s a lot of talk on the internet at present about the bind that debut authors find themselves in, trying to launch their first book when the usual things like launch parties, author talks, writers’ festival and other literary fun are not available.
And it’s been lovely to watch the author community throw itself behind those debut authors, trying to boost their launches online.
But what if it’s your second novel?
Second novels bring their own set of challenges, right from the moment the author types ‘Chapter One’ and then watches the cursor blink and blink and blink.
And now there’s the challenge of getting the word out about your book; hoping that your established readers find it, hoping that it will find its way into the hands of reviewers and bloggers.
Because the reality is that the biggest marketing push you’ll ever receive from your publisher is likely to be around your debut novel. That’s the moment of discovery, of excitement, of ‘could this author be the next big thing?”
After that, it’s one word at a time, one reader at a time, building on the foundations that are set up around that novel.
One author who knows all about this is Lauren Chater, whose debut historical novel The Lace Weaver was published in March 2019 and went on to become a bestseller.
Then Lauren had to write a second one, and discovered, as she shares below, that Second Novel Syndrome is real.
These are her tips for writing your way through it, which Lauren did, producing a second beautiful historical novel called Gulliver’s Wife.
5 things to know about writing your second novel
After publishing their first book, most authors experience a strange sense of loss. The excitement of the launch and all the accolades that go along with it can trick us into thinking that if things aren’t constantly happening, we aren’t making progress in our career. It can leave us feeling as if the world has moved on and left us behind.
More experienced authors will tell you that the antidote is to ‘write the next book’. This is sensible advice but following it can prove tricky – as I learnt when I set about working on my second novel, due for release on April 1st this year (but popping up in shops and online already!).
Here are my tips for surviving the dreaded second novel syndrome (and getting through to the other side with your sanity mostly intact).
Lower your expectations
Your first draft will be bad. It won’t matter that you have written and published a book before. It won’t matter that you’ve read widely or done workshops or undertaken mentorships.
When you start writing another book, all the skills you thought you’d mastered the first time around will mysteriously vanish and you’ll be left facing the same challenges which plague most writers: self-doubt, procrastination and the fear of rejection.
Only by overcoming these difficulties can you elevate your book to a publishable standard and one of the best ways to achieve this is to let go of the idea of perfection and allow yourself to write a really shitty draft (or two).
At the end of the day, the truth is that published or not, we are all novices of the craft but with each book we write, we will hopefully get faster and better at editing ourselves.
Read (everything)
I know some authors dislike reading books by other authors while they’re working on a novel but I find it reassuring.
While I was writing Gulliver’s Wife, I read both fiction and non-fiction. There are so many moments of self-doubt during the writing process that I found it incredibly comforting to know that other authors forged through the dark, difficult hours and reached the other side.
There’s also the added bonus of picking up tips on structure, voice and rhythm from some of the best in the business.
Trust your editor
This one is so important. Your editor is your best friend, whether you know it or not. They can tell you what’s working and what isn’t and like any best friend, they keep all your secrets (aka your bad prose) and never reveal those secrets to anybody else!
Because of the way publishing schedules work, you will probably have less time to polish your next book to the same level you did with your debut novel (assuming you have a contract).
On the plus side, the second time around you’ll have a working relationship with an editor who has years of experience under her belt. Listen to your editor, trust their advice. They know what they’re talking about.
Resist the hype
The first time you write a book, it’s as if you’re living inside a beautiful bubble.
Then your book gets published and suddenly, you’re painfully aware of so many things you never knew about – how sales are tracking in Neilsen Bookscan, the nervous energy/terror that comes from delivering a talk in front of dozens of people at a book festival, the importance of advance reviews.
All of these things come with their own challenges. But perhaps the most challenging thing to wrap your head around is the sudden weight of expectation – the perception that you, as an author, now have a readership and a publisher who are counting on you to deliver the goods – again.
Paradoxically, in order to write well, second-time authors need to forget that those pressures exist. You can’t create something brave and beautiful if you’re worrying too much about what others think.
My advice is to write what you’re passionate about. Remember why you wanted to tell this story and try to forget about external pressures. You’ll be glad you did!
Share with others
Now that you’re a seasoned professional (ha!) and have some experience with the editing process, you might want to consider sharing your work with a group of trusted readers or your writing group (if you have one).
When I first started writing, I found it hard to accept feedback about my work. Everything felt very raw and while I appreciated my friend’s feedback, there was always this voice of doubt sitting at the back of my mind, telling me I would never be able to produce anything better. Of course, I know now that voice is a liar.
Asking for feedback is not only a fantastic way of improving your work, it’s kind of liberating. What? I hear you ask. How can having someone scribble in red pen all over your lovingly crafted prose make you feel better and not worse?
Well, you’ll just have to trust me when I say that starting over – again and again and again – actually builds up your sense of confidence. Every time you kill one of those writing darlings that made you sound clever/insightful/talented, you show that doubting voice how much you are prepared to sacrifice for the good of the story and how confident you are in your ability to make more.
Asking for feedback from members of your writing group is a great way to shortcut this process. And let’s face it, nobody is going to be harsher on us than our editor anyway…
Bonus tip!
My final tip for pushing through the hard yards of Book 2.0 is to make sure you give back to the literary community.
One of the wonderful things to come out of publishing a book is how the process exposes you to artists, editors, writers and creators.
The industry is often kind to debut novelists (thank you!) and writing festivals, book launches and online media channels are all great ways to meet people who understand exactly what you’re going through.
When it comes to writing your second book, this community becomes even more vital. So make sure you’re giving as well as taking. Buy books by Australian authors, cheer on their success and send messages of support.
When it’s time to celebrate the publication of your second book, these people will be the ones cheering for you!
Lauren Chater’s latest novel, Gulliver’s Wife, is out now. It tells the story of Mary Burton Gulliver, midwife and herbalist, whose husband is lost at sea… and returns three years later, fevered and talking in riddles. Find out more about Lauren and her books here.
Would you love more writing tips and advice? Check out my book So You Want To Be A Writer: How To Get Started (While You Still Have A Day Job), co-authored with Valerie Khoo and based on our top-rating podcast.
Buy it here!
by Allison Tait | Feb 27, 2020 | Reading, Writing, Writing for kids, writing tips for kids
Last year, I wrote my first-ever funny story for publication in Total Quack Up Again, an anthology of funny stories in support of Dymock’s Children’s Charities. Regular readers might remember this post about the experience.
One of the editors of the anthology was Adrian Beck who, along with Sally Rippin, did a brilliant job of assembling a line-up of some of Australia’s top children’s authors to donate a story for the project, as well as writing his own.
So when it came time to find someone to write me a guest post full of amazing tips for kids who want to write funny stories, Adrian was my go-to guy.
As well as his work with Quack Up, Adrian writes funny action-packed adventure stories for kids, the latest of which is Derek Dool Super Cool: Bust A Move, the first in a brand new series, illustrated by Scott Edgar, about a kid who is desperate to be SUPERCOOL.
If anyone knows how to find the funny, it’s Adrian Beck.
Just read his tips and you’ll see…
HOW TO WRITE FUNNY STORIES AND DOMINATE AT LIFE
Okay, so you’ve decided to write a comedic masterpiece. All of us are funny in our own way, right? As an added bonus, some of us are also funny looking (I’m a redhead, for instance), so this whole thing should be a cinch!
Well, yes.
But also NO!
But also YES, especially if you follow my nine and a half tips for FINDING the FUNNY!
1. Reveal your deepest darkest secrets! And use them in your stories. That’s the thing about writing – you can pretend that you just ‘made it all up’, when secretly it’s based on reality.
Did you know that Jacqueline Harvey is actually a seven-year old-girl in boarding school, or that Hazel Edwards keeps a hippo on her roof or that Andy Griffith’s bum really does go psycho?
Think of the most embarrassing things that have ever happened to you. Remember how they made you feel. Then exaggerate!
2. Put yourself in a funny mood. Read other funny books, listen to funny music and watch funny TV shows.
When I was writing the first Derek Dool book, I listened to 1980s band Madness nonstop. Their songs like, ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘House of Fun’ always get me in a silly mood. (Well, sillier mood).
Plus, I binge-watched some of my favourite 1990s British sitcoms. All just to stay in the ‘funny zone’… And so that I can claim Netflix on tax.
3. I’ve come up with a totally original theory that I like to call the Big Bang Theory. I should trademark it. The gist is, you’ve got to start with a big bang! Set the tone early with a strong joke that indicates the style of the story to come. Forget all the flowery scene setting stuff.
Then, once you’ve started with a bang, keep the jokes coming. Most sitcoms try to include around six jokes a minute. I keep this in mind when rewriting and I try to maintain regular laughs. As most doctors will tell you, it’s good to stay regular.
4. Don’t be too cool for school. Funny stories don’t tend to get the praise that other stories get. So abandon all ambitions to win prizes. You’ll probably never be seen as the literary genius you truly are. But that’s okay. This means you can loosen up!
Therefore, why not embrace sound effects? Here are three hilarious noises you can use free of charge: Pffffffft! Rrrrrrreeep! Ffffwhoooooootha-plop!
5. Avoid bad adult advice! I call that BADult advice. Most adults are BORING! They wear long pants and think too much about mortgages and avoiding carbohydrates. Sometimes it’s best NOT to listen to them. Adults don’t have the same sense of humour as kids.
So go straight to the source and test your work on your target audience. They are always refreshingly honest.
6. Read it aloud. To kids if possible (see tip 5). There’s no better way to check if something is working than hearing it with your own ears. If possible, it’s even better to get someone to read it to you, like David Walliams. Although he can make most things sound funny so always take his performances with a grain of salt.
7. Create a kooky character. Now we’re getting down to the nitty gritty. Whatever that is. But, trust me, it will make your funny story easier to write if you come up with an extreme character.
Then use the tried-and-true device of a putting your character at odds with their situation. Make it the opposite to the norm. Eg a doctor who hates the sight of blood, a teacher who can’t stand kids, or a writer who makes lots of money.
8. Steal. Your friends have probably told you a story or two about the funny things that have happened to them. STEAL THESE STORIES!
But… and this is a big BUT (cos I like big buts and I cannot lie) change the story enough so that you make it your own.
Have a think about why their anecdote made you laugh and try to use that formula again and again.
9. Trust your first reaction. Once you’ve read something over and over you can begin to forget that it’s funny. You start questioning yourself: ‘Is this joke actually making me laugh?’ ‘Am I funny at all?’ ‘Would I like fries with that?’
These questions are not helpful. You ARE funny. Accept it. And you WOULD like fries with that.
9.5. Lastly, always – and as a redhead I cannot stress this enough – always wear sunscreen.
Now you have my nine and a half tips for FINDING the FUNNY, go forth and write your masterpiece! All I ask is that you please spell my name correctly in your dedication.
Derek Dool Supercool: Bust A Move by Adrian Beck (illustrated by Scott Edgar) is out on 3 March through Puffin Books.
Find out more about Adrian Beck here.
More writing tips for kids:
How to create remarkable characters
How to be more creative
The secret to a great story
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher.
You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here. If you’d like to learn more about writing from me, have a look at my Creative Writing Quest For Kids, an online course that takes you through the process of writing a great story from start to finish.
by Allison Tait | Nov 11, 2019 | Reading, Your Kid's Next Read
As a parent, it comes as no surprise to me that the most popular posts on my entire website by a country mile are these two:
21 tried-and-tested books for 13/14-year-old boys
15 more tried-and-tested books for 13/14-year-old boys (+ 13 expert choices)
Books for teens are hard! By the time we get to this point, the homogeneity of the Wimpy Kid/Treehouse years are well-and-truly behind us and kids splinter off, some diving headfirst into particular genres, some leap-frogging over YA into adult books, some putting books aside in favour of other pursuits.
But parents, teachers, librarians, friends, aunts, uncles and other interested parties do not give up trying to put quality, engaging reads into their kids’ hands. I know this because the Your Kid’s Next Read community is full of such parties, enquiring about books for their voracious readers, their reluctant readers and their over- or underwhelmed readers.
One such group that’s getting a lot of attention at present in the YKNR community are girls aged 13 and 14, particularly with Christmas on the way and parents keen to find just the right book for the teen in their lives.
To help, I turned to one of the most engaged and interested readers that I know, the lovely Jazzy of the Jazzy’s Bookshelf blog. Jazzy is 14 and is an experienced, thoughtful book reviewer, having maintained her blog since she was nine years old. She is also a fellow MS Readathon ambassador so she knows a thing or two about books and the power of reading.
I asked Jazzy to nominate brilliant books for 13/14-year-old-girls and she not only came up with ten terrific picks of her own, but canvassed her friends for 10 others to round out the selection.
Take it away Jazzy!
20 tried-and-tested books for 13/14-year-old girls
It Sounded Better in my Head by Nina Kenwood
Natalie is an 18-year-old girl who has just come out of school, with recently separated parents. She despises her appearance and has a skin disorder. She judges herself extremely harshly, which means that when problems keep piling onto her – the divorce, her first romance and friendship troubles – she can’t deal. What good could possibly come out of this?
I loved this book. The author Nina Kenwood has done a fantastic job in building Natalie’s character in a fascinating way, so I will be looking out for more of her novels in the future. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh.
Read Jazzy’s full review.
The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
When Lex’s brother Ty took his life, her entire world took a drastic turn for the worse. Lex’s mother turns to alcohol and both mourn Ty’s loss miserably. Lex breaks up with her boyfriend and pretends nothing is wrong; but within, she is a complete wreck.
Only the most amazing book would make me emotional and this novel certainly achieved just that. It was so realistic and heartbreaking. If you read this book, expect to get teary…
Read Jazzy’s full review.
Everless by Sara Holland
Imagine a time where blood is life’s currency. Where you can survive for hundreds of years – or die in your 20s.
Seventeen-year-old Jules Ember and her father lead miserable lives; they exist in a world where blood is money. The Gerlings rule, outliving others by melting blood coins into their drinks. Rent is payed through these coins and Jules and her father are behind on rent.
In an attempt to escape the relentless assault of poverty, Jules ignores her father’s warning and seeks work at Everless, the Gerlings’ palace. Jules discovers their merciless, greedy ways and uncovers some truths about herself.
Everless is an intense dystopian novel that keeps you gripped until the last page. I was entranced by Sara Holland’s style of writing, particularly the way she weaves detail into the story. It made Everless a lot more enjoyable and painted vivid imagery inside my mind.
Read Jazzy’s full review.
Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman
In the midst of a horrifying drought, 16-year-old Alyssa Morrow’s life is turned up-side-down from “The Tap-Out”. With water a rare commodity and her small Californian town rife with violence and crime, Alyssa is forced out of her house.
To avoid death by dehydration, she hits the road with her brother and the “freak” who lives next door. Picking up strangers on the way and watching the thirst bring out the worst in people, two questions remain; how long can they survive without water and where can they find it?
I enjoyed Dry because of the plausibility of the situation happening in real life. I was delighted by the way the tone constantly changed throughout the story; there were nail-biting scenes, sad moments and humorous parts.
Read Jazzy’s full review.
The Beauty is in the Walking by James Moloney
Jacob O’Leary of Palmerston is forced to live with cerebral palsy and is desperately waiting for a chance to prove himself. When livestock are murdered in his small Australian town, a newcomer is unfairly blamed and Jacob seizes the moment to fight for justice. Will he solve the Palmerston case, or fail and be forever ridiculed?
This is an entertaining and inspirational read and I admired how many obstacles Jacob overcomes. He experiences great personal growth and doesn’t give up on his fight for righteousness.
Read Jazzy’s full review.
The Anger of Angels by Sherryl Jordan
In medieval times a jester performs his new play, The Anger of Angels, which ridicules the Prince of Goretti. At the same time, his 17-year-old daughter Giovanna meets Raffaele and falls madly in love with him.
The play has dire consequences, wreaking havoc in everyone’s lives. People are dying and the prince is blackmailing the jester in order to get a hold of the script. Giovanna is forced to travel to Goretti and hand it over so as to stop the misery it is causing.
With love in the air and separation anxiety from her papa, Giovanna feels great pressure to complete her mission. The prince promises not to kill her, but Giovanna is untrusting. Will the prince be true to his word?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Anger of Angels. It is well-written and kept me hooked until the end. I would definitely vouch for this book if someone was looking for a medieval romance.
Read Jazzy’s full review.
Don’t Stop Thinking about Tomorrow by Siobhan Curham
Fourteen-year-old Stevie is having it rough. Her dad has passed away, leaving her mum severely depressed so she is unable to work. Stevie has a passion for her dad’s music and that is what gets her by in tough times.
Hafiz is a football-loving refugee from Syria. After his friend is hurt in a terrifying accident, Hafiz’s parents had to send him away. He has been mistreated on the boat journey and arrives, scarred, in the UK.
Can these teens from two different worlds solve their problems together?
This is a thoughtful and utterly beautiful story of friendship that is literally begging for a sequel (or even better, a prequel).
Read Jazzy’s full review.
The Wonder of Us by Kim Culbertson
Riya and Abby are inseparable friends. They part when Riya moves from California to Germany. During that time, Abby’s parents divorce and she is left unsure of herself and upset. The next year, Riya invites her to fly to Europe and tour the main cities and towns, together. However, they seem more distant than ever and there now are hidden secrets between them…
I think this is an interesting novel. It has all of the elements of a good narrative drama – wonderfully-developed characters, romance, friendship and personal growth.
Read Jazzy’s full review.
Scythe by Neil Shusterman
In the future, technology has advanced – perhaps too much. Death is nearly inexistent, and pain is reduced. The only way to die is through a Scythe – which are cloaked, weapon-wielding killers appointed by the government as an attempt to stop overpopulation. Some scythes are compassionate and feel empathy for the people they glean (kill), while others are the complete opposite, and glean for fun.
For Citra and Rowan, being chosen to be apprentices to the same scythe is just the beginning of the journey of potential love, loss and murder.
I absolutely loved the futuristic ideas in this book, especially about death – I believe that one day, death could possibly be defeated, and this novel further explores this and the possible solutions.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Maddy is an 18-year old girl who has been kept inside for the majority of her life. The reason? She has a disease that could kill her if she is exposed to germs from the outside world.
Every day seems exactly the same as the last until a family moves in next door – with a son named Olly. Maddy liked him from the moment she saw him, but how can she ever see him – let alone fall in love with him – if she’s trapped inside her own home?
This beautiful romance is filled with real empathy and emotion.
Jazzy’s friends recommend
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
When talking about this book, there are so many things that can be said: the amazing writing, the plot that keeps you on your seat for the entirety of the book or the fact that once started you simply can’t put it down.
The real hero of this book, though, is the character: Celaena Sardothien is a character to whom you not only connect but who inspires the best in everyone and shows how bravery in the face of danger is one of the most important aspect of someone’s personality.
The author perfectly combines the use of tension throughout the book through the third person perspective and creatures that would scare anyone, as well as showing the lengths people will go through to get what they want. In a nutshell, betrayal, murder, romance, and an amazing storyline – what else could you need? –Abby, age 14
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
In fantasy books especially, I have always had a love for books that merge the world of magic with the mortal world and this book achieves it perfectly. Skulduggery Pleasant and Stephanie Edgley are the perfect team with a mixture of witty humour and the kickass fighting we all know and love.
The suspense created throughout the book is amazing and the characters truly made the book as enjoyable as it is with them being able to make you laugh one minute, and cry the next.
Although I could talk about this book for hours, overall, it is, and always will be, one of my most favourite books of all time and I suggest all teenagers to try this one on for size. –Abby, age 14
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Now, I could read this book over 20 times and I still would get shocked by the betrayal and romance that appears in the book. Jude is one of those characters which you cannot help but admire as she battles through hardships that most people wouldn’t be able to go through, showing how, even in an unknown world with everything stacked against you, being intelligent can be one of the only factors which keeps you alive. Her determination to do what she believes is right will have you cheering for her!
This is a book which I highly recommend as it blurs the line between the mortal world and the Fae Lands, right and wrong, and betrayal and romance, in total must-read. –Abby, age 14
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
This is the third book of the Harry Potter series. Throughout the series, we see the adventures of a boy who goes to a school for people who are born wizards and witches. In the school, they learn how to use their powers as well as being able to contain them in certain situations. The school also prepares them in using their powers as defence mechanisms against wizards who wish to abuse their magical powers for selfish reasons. One of these wizards is Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter alongside his friends has been trying to stop Voldemort from his schemes.
The series mainly focusses around the Harry and Voldemort rivalry, however, the Prisoner of Azkaban gives us an opportunity to dive into the life of Harry’s family. It gives an opening to a side plots that in the end, contributes to the main plot. It has a fresh story in it that gives us a break from a repetitive cycle of Voldemort planning something and Harry trying to stop him and it makes the overall plot rich in complexity. –Sarvani, age 14
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This book is a historical fiction set in a time where Hitler was gaining power over Germany. The main focus of the story is about what an average life of a young girl living in this time would look like. The girl has endured much tragedy and suffering in her life and in the book, we see her live through it and how she deals and copes with the pain she’s going through.
The book is written in a fresh perspective as well, as there are other plots that all come together in the end, like a puzzle. This book makes you burn with curiosity as the story fits together. –Sarvani, age 14
Series of Unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)
This book follows the story of three children who lost their parents in a fire. Their parents left them a massive fortune but a greedy man intends to steal it. In each book, the children go from place to place, and the families they live with try to protect them from this man, however, the children are mostly left to themselves.
Throughout the course of the series, they learn more about their history and the death of their parents. The books make us see things from a wide view. While the children’s perspective is what the book focusses on, it shows that there are always two sides of a story.
While reading the series, there are some good morals that can be carried in real life situations. It teaches us to work with our skill sets and the spirit and hope that can be achieved by solving problems rather than brooding on them. –Sarvani, age 14
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This book is in the science fiction genre. Regardless of this, the book is written in such a way that anyone can enjoy the book even if they don’t have a scientific background or previous knowledge. Humour is a big part of the book as some of the characters in the book are present for comedic relief.
It follows the adventures of man who is the only survivor of the Earth blowing up and he goes along with some beings from other planets and ends up having a tour of space. The concepts of science in the book are basic and are explained in an understandable manner.
This book also makes you appreciate the real wonders of the universe. There are numerous take home lessons that we learn throughout the course of the book and we see the characters develop from beginning to end as they learn these lessons. –Sarvani, age 14
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Roald Dahl
This is about the story of a rich man called Henry Sugar who’s wrapped up in his own world. He’s played poker and gambled in some of the biggest bars and hotels in the world. The day comes where he finds a doctor’s report on Imraat Khan, the man who could see without his eyes. Here, we are now thrown into another story on the journey of this man and how he came to achieve this.
The thoughts of Henry Sugar during this are made known to us, and we see that he has learned the values of finding an inner whole to yourself. His character develops from a shallow man to having a personality with depth and full of experience. The book tells a story in a way that in some moments, we can relate to Henry in learning these lessons.
This book is one of the few books that can build on your own character as you see things from both Imraat Khan’s perspective and Henry’s. –Sarvani, age 14
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
Babysitting younger siblings is one of the most arduous and tedious tasks that one must perform, however, for Che Taylor, a 17-year-old Australian boy, his duties are more difficult than most. Che’s parents are constantly moving them around the world for their work, leaving behind sporting clubs, schools, family and friends.
With the parentals away more than at home, Che is looking after his sister – a smart, talented, pretty girl; a psychopath. With dreams of his own, Che must balance his life with his sister’s trying to protect her from the world and protect the world from her dark and complex games.
With romance, competitions, friendships, family relationships, and the dark world a young psychopathic girl, this book is impossible to put down – a different twist at the turn of every page. –Molly, age 14
Something In Between by Melissa De La Cruz
Jasmine de los Santos has always done everything right. Popular, beautiful cheerleader with her life together more than most teenage girls, she had studied hard and was ready to reap the rewards of a full college scholarship. Then her whole world falls apart.
Being invited to a national awards night finally pushed her parents to reveal the truth; their visas had expired years ago. Her family was illegal. Everything Jasmine had worked for was out of the picture as the major threat of deportation loomed over her head every second of the day.
For the first time in her life, Jasmine does all the teen things she never had the opportunity to do in the past as she tries to discover where and even if she fits in to the American dream at all.
This is an extraordinary novel about family, friendship, romance and the determination to stay in a country that is trying to deport you. – Molly, age 14
Thank you Jazzy, Abby, Sarvani and Molly!
*Click on the title of each book to learn more about it or to buy on Booktopia
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of two epic middle-grade adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher, and my new book THE FIRE STAR (A Maven & Reeve Mystery).
You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here
Through a gentle, playful text, Charlotte’s book discusses consent and control for a young audience.
How to Say Hello by Sophie Beer
Don’t Hug Doug by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
No More Cuddles by Jane Chapman
Boss of Your Own Body by Byll and Beth Stephen, Teeny Tiny Stevies, illustrated by Simon Howe
It’s My Body: A Book About Body Privacy by Louise Spilsbury
Respect: Consent, boundaries and being in charge of YOU by Rachel Brian
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of middle-grade series, The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
