Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Wednesday March 20th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Award winners. We all purchase award winners for libraries but what are the titles that really work with young people?

We asked our members to share relevant Award Listings they have found to be successful in helping them choose titles for their libraries. As always, you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us and we had a great deal of fun!

This was our second book club meeting for 2024, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who attend and contribute to these informal and informative meetings. It was also the final book club meeting for our wonderful outgoing Executive Officer – Dr. Susan La Marca. We thank Dr. La Marca for her wonderful and tireless contributions to making our SLAV online book club such a valuable resource for our members. We also welcomed our new incoming Executive Offficer – Pam Saunders. We very much look forward to Pams future book club topics and meetings. Find details about our next meeting HERE.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Deb at The Younger Sunas an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Padlet with Links to Awards discussed can be found HERE. 

New Titles shared by Deb from the Younger Sun 

YA

• One by One They Disappear Mike Lucas
• I hope this does Not Find You Ann Liang
• Birdy Sharon Kernot
• Wombats go to Wizards Wharf Maddie Frost
• Lily Halfmoon Xavier Bonet
• My Aunt is a Monster Reimena Yee
• Australian Middle Years
• To and Fro Anton Clifford Motopi
• Losing the Plot annaleise Byrd
• Cora seen and heard Zanni Louise’
• Leo and Ralph Peter Carnavas
• Andromache Between the Worlds Gabriel Bergmoser
• Overseas Middle Years
• Whisperwicks Jordan Lees
• The Swifts Beth Lincoln
• Ferris Kate Di Camillo

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday February 15th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Books Worthy of Reconsideration. We asked members to share with us titles we may have forgotten or overlooked and as always, our members had so many wonderful contributions to share with us and we had a great deal of fun!

This was our first book club meeting for 2024, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who attend and contribute to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you all at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Find details about our next meeting HERE.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Deb at The Younger Sunas an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

 Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Titles Discussed:

• The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín
• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• The Story Of Tom Brennan by J.C. Burke
• Five Parts Dead by Tim Peglar
• Wizard of Earthsea series by Ursulas Le Guin
• Anne of Green Gables by Anne Montgomery
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
• Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
• Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
• A Simple Gift by Steven Herrick
• All the Green Year by Don Charlwood
• Ash Road by Alan Marshall
• Zeroes by Scot Westerfeld
• Warhorse by Michael Morpurgo
• Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
• The Bogan Mondrian by Steven Herrick
• Simone Howells novels
• Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
• Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden
• One by Sarah Crossan
• Robert Muchamore’s Cherub Series
• Screaming Staircase by Jonathon Stroud
• Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
• Cath Crowley’s novels
• Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo
• Rick Riordan’s Various Series
• Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
• The Enemy by Charlie Higson
• Sabriel by Garth Nix
• Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman
• Sally Lockhart Trilogy
• Mr Monday Series by Garth Nix
• Tamora Peirce’s novels
• The Rangers Apprentice Series by John Flannagan
• Spooks Apprentice by Joseph Delaney
• Drac and the Gremlin by Alan Baille
• Kate DiCamillo’s novels
• The Famous Five and Secret Seven Series by Enid Blyton
• I Am David by Ann Holm
• The Long Walk by Kerry Greenwood
• When We Were Two by Robert Newton
• Twopence to Cross the Mersey by Helen Forrester
• The Silver Sword by Ian Serailler
• The Black Dog Gang by Robert Newton
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis
• Slightly True Story of Cedar B Hartley by Martine Murray
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
• Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Allyse Near
• Books Shared by Deb from The Younger Sun  
• Outlaw Girls by Nova Weetman and Emily Gale
• Lani and the Universe by Victoria Careless
• Smoke and Mirrors by Barry Jonsberg
• Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr
• Eleanor Jones is not a Murderer by Amy Doak
• Into the Mouth of a Wolf by Erin Gough
• A Small Collection of Happiness by Zana Fraillon
• Children’s and Young Adult Titles read over the break
• Dana Swartz – Anatomy: A Love Story
• Travellers Along the Way: a Robin Hood remix by Aminah Mae Safi
• Rebels of Mt Buffalo by Helen Edwards
• The Frugal Wizards Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson
• Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms (graphic novel)
• Vanessa Len -Never A Hero
• Holly by Stephen King

Adult Titles discussed

• What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
• (Bronwen Ch’Ng)
• Holly by Stephen King
• Madukka the River Serpent by Julie Janson
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt,
• The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
• The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander
• Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doeer
• Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
• Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
• Gender Queer: A Memoir A graphic Novel about the complexities of gender identity
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• The Benevolent Society of Ill-mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
• Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
• Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Lisa Evans The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer
• Helen Dunmore Zennor in Darkness
• Philippa Gregory Normal Women
• Barbara Kinsolver Demon Copperhead
• Paul McCartney Lyrics.
• Gunflower by Laura Jean McKay
• We Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
• Vital Organs by Suzie Edge

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday November 12th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Short Stories and Short Books. We asked members to share short story collections or short books that work well with their students. As always, our members had so many wonderful contributions to share with us and we had a great deal of fun!

This was our final book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you all next year, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Jenny at The Younger Sun as an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

 Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Titles Discussed

• The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick
• The Little Wave by Pip Harry
• Life on the Refrigerator Door: a Novel in Notes by Alice Kuipers
• Foster by Claire Keegan
• Alice Oseman’s Novellas
• Minutes Of Series by Jack Heath
• Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link
• M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
• Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock.
• Only the Animals by Ceridwen Dovey
• I Am the Mau and Other Stories by Chemutai Glashee
• Dust Makers – edited by Penny Jaye and R.A. Stephens
• Off the Map by Scott Gardner
• Things a Map Won’t Show You and Where the Shoreline Used to Be Edited by Susan La Marca and Pam McIntyre
• Poe’s “Fall of the House of Usher”
• Astonishingly Good Stories by R.A. Spratt
• YOLO Juliet by Brett Wright and William Shakespeare
• Darcy Swipes Left by Courtney Carbone and Jane Austen
• OMG classics
• All in an Hour by Kate Chopin.
• The Pink Bow Tie by Paul Jennings
• The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury
• The Butler by Roald Dahl
• The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
• Bulletcatcher series by Chris Bradford the Mission Alert series by Benjamin Hulme-Cross
• The Defenders series by Tom Palmer (sport)
• Needle by Patrice Lawrence (realistic fiction)
• Firebird by Elizabeth Wein (war)
• Conkers series by Tom Palmer (war)

Aussie Nibbles of course for primary…have been re-issued as they were so successful. One title that was a bestseller for some reason, was “No Cat and that’s that” by Bruce Dawe illustrated by Andrew McLean.

• The Saturday Portraits – Maxine Beneba Clarke
• Tim Harris’ Exploding Endings have been amazing hook books for upper primary at my school.
• Smart Ovens for Lonely People – Elizabeth Tan
• The Mist by Stephen king
• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
• Unbreakable, Women share stories of resilience and Hope. Edited by Jane Caro.
• The Big Issue Presents Letter to my Younger self by Jane Graham
• Jon Scieszka – https://jonscieszka.com › guys-read – Commissioned and edited by real-life literature legend Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: True Stories is a brain-bending collection of essays, biographies, how-to guides …
• Other Short Collections – Growing up Wiradjuri / ed. by Anita Heiss.
• • Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
  • Growing Up Muslim in Australia
  • Growing Up Disabled in Australia
  • Growing Up African in Australia
  • Growing Up Queer in Australia

Quick Adult/YA Reads for Secondary Students

Disclaimer – some of the books on this list contain complex adult themes, we trust you to use your discretion when stocking these titles in your library, as you know your students and your school community best.

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
• We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson
• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
• Sula by Toni Morrison
• My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
• The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide, Eric Selland
• Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
• Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
• Crudo by Olivia Laing
• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
• Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori
• Crimson by Niviaq Korneliussen, Anna Halager
• A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon
• Indelicacy by Amina Cain
• Dolores by Lauren Aimee Curtis
• Strange Hotel by Eimear McBride
• Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami, Louise Heal Kawai, Jo Walker
• The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker
• The Death of Francis Bacon by Max Porter
• Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
• The Union of Synchronised Swimmers by Cristina Sandu
• Night Blue by Angela O’Keeffe
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells
• A Dream Life by Claire Messud
• People From My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami (Y), Ted Goossen
• The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-Eun, Lizzie Buehler
• Heatwave by Victor Jestin
• A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio, Ann Goldstein
• Nostalgia Has Ruined My Life by Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle
• Winter In Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
• Heaven by Mieko Kawakami, Sam Bett, David Boyd
• My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley
• Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
• Burntcoat by Sarah Hall
• A Slipping Down Life by Anne Tyler
• Leaving the Atocha Station by Ben Lerner (Y)
• Heartburn by Nora Ephron
• Napoleon’s Beekeeper by José Luis de Juan, Elizabeth Bryer
• Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

ADULT – What We Have Been Reading

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
• Women and Children by Tony Birch
• Question 7 by Richard Flanagan
• The Empty Honour Board by Martin Flanagan
• Exiles by Jane Harper
• Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
• So Late in the Day: Stories of Men and Women – Clare Keegan
• All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
• ‘The Inaugural meeting of the Fairvale book club’ – Sophie Green.
• Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
• The Librarianist by Patrick Dewitt
• Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
• All the Light we cannot See by Anthony Doer
• Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang