Good on Ya, Aussie Writers

Mon, July 23, 2012

Good on Ya, Aussie Writers

Hi, Australia.

How you doin’ down there, mates? Let’s have a little talk, shall we?

You have some explaining to do.

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR YA WRITERS DOWN THERE!?

I need to know. Because, lord almighty, it must be some good stuff. Your writers are insane. INSANE. I can’t even comprehend how many amazing examples of young adult fiction are coming out of your beautiful country right now.

I mean, to me, these are the hallmarks of ALL the Aussie books I’ve read thus far:

- Gritty
- Honest
- Hot
- Hilarious

So, like, let’s export this stuff, right? We need more of your books available in U.S. bookstores, first and foremost. Then we need to find out how you’re making this happen and replicate it.

Examples:

- Jaclyn Moriarty (The Year of Secret Assignments)
- Melina Marchetta (Jellicoe Road)
- Kirsty Eagar (Raw Blue)
- Laura Buzo (Good Oil aka Love and Other Perishable Items)
- Markus Zusak (I Am the Messenger)
- Cath Crowley (Graffiti Moon)

Gah. I can’t comprehend all the good on that list.

So, yeah, cheers and thank you for making so many good books. And, please, I beg of you, let me know what else I’m missing. If there are Aussie reads out there that are anywhere near as good as what I’ve read so far…bring ‘em on!

Anna Reads young adult book blog

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Posted by: Anna • In: aussie

18 Comments

kate.o.d said:

sitting here feeling rather smug now. we DO have a pretty amazing list of australian YA authors, don’t we?

(did you know that markus’ book was actually just called The Messenger in australia? most people don’t realise that, and i definitely prefer the original title as it doesn’t spoonfeed the ending to the reader so much)

you must check out this upcoming YA Championship, which is going to see the best Aus YA titles from the last 30 years going head-to-head to see which is the best: http://www.killyourdarlingsjournal.com/2012/07/announcing-kyd-ya-championship/

some personal favourites? ‘secret scribbled notebooks’ by joanne horniman, ‘finding grace’ by alyssa brugman, ‘notes from the teenage underground’ by simmone howell. and so many more!
kate.o.d recently posted..KYD YA Championship

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
kate.o.d said:

sorry, just realised you said no links. hope this one is ok – it’s not spam!

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Natalie @ Quirky Vintage said:

I am an Aussie I wonder if this means that any of my writing will turn out as good as these guys… Oh well, I can dream can’t I? I’m extremely proud too Kate O.D.!
Natalie @ Quirky Vintage recently posted..Review: Crescendo by Becca Ftizpatrick (Hush Hush #2)

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Tara @ Hobbitsies said:

I LOVED Graffiti Moon but I haven’t read any of these others yet Thanks for officially starting my Aussie must-read list
Tara @ Hobbitsies recently posted..Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Sash from Sash and Em said:

Basically, YES. I love me some Aussie books.

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Anna said:

Anything by Belinda Jeffrey. She is up there with the best of them. Brown Skin Blue us particularly astonishing

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books said:

I’ve read 2 out of the 6 you’ve mentioned – so I guess that means I need to read the rest? And yes, I agree – LOVE the writing done by Australian authors. It’s SO GOOD.
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books recently posted..Book Review: Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Ginny said:

My favorite (so far) Aussie book is Fury by Shirley Marr. I have Preloved by her sitting on my shelf too. She is awesome!
Ginny recently posted..First Line Friday {9}

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Alyss said:

What about South African books? Spud by John van de Ruit is really good. It’s about a twelve year old boy going to boarding school during the Apartheid, around the time Nelson Mandela is released. Funny and insightful

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Magan @ Rather Be Reading said:

Anna, have you read all of Melina’s other books? Including the Finnikin/Froi books? My fave is The Piper’s Son – hands down of hers. LOVED IT. I still have to read Finnikin and Froi, but I’m excited to see what she does in a different genre.
Magan @ Rather Be Reading recently posted..Magan: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Michelle said:

Agreed on the Aussie Authors!!! I really liked the Ashbury/Brookfield books… esp The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie! I need to read Saving Francesca cause I heard good things about it!

The list of Favourite Aussie YA Books on Goodreads is currently making my to-read list blow up
Michelle recently posted..Books Out This Week 7/23

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Noemy said:

You need to read the ‘Tomorrown when the war began’ series by John Marsden. Favorite contemporary series EVER (or should it be best referred to as post apocalyptic mmmm…don’t know…it’s about a group of teens who decide to go camping for the week-end and when they come back they discover that their country has been invaded and decide to fight back) !!!!

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Layne said:

The Year of Secret Assignments very well be one of my favorite books. And NO ONE talks about it!! Totally agree with all the Aussie amazingness up there. Can’t wait to read Good Oil (Love and Other Perishable Items) . Great post!

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
We Heart YA said:

GAH, YES. We’ve read JELLICOE ROAD, GRAFFITI MOON, and BOOK THIEF, and they’re all stunning. Perhaps we should move to Australia? ;P
We Heart YA recently posted..Twitter Tuesday

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Lori said:

I don’t think I’ve read one book by an Australian writer that I didn’t absolutely love! Melina Marchetta is one of my top favorite authors. I’ve read one of Jaclyn Moriarty’s and loved it. I need to read her others.
Lori recently posted..Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds or Settings

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Maria said:

I’m a firm believer of the idea that Aussie writers by definition are better than all other writers. Something in the water maybe?

Like some other comments suggest: more Marchetta if you haven’t already. I also like “The Beginners Guide to Living” by Lia Hills. Published in the US this year I think?

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Rebecca said:

Great list, Anna! If an Aussie and would recommend A Straight Line To My Heart by Bill Condon. It’s AMAZING. Enjoy

P.S – Melina Marchetta is fabulous. Love her books!
Rebecca recently posted..Review: Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012
Barbara said:

I figured this out a few days back, when I realized my fav YA authors this year are Melina Marchetta and Margo Lanagan. I also love the work of Ali Lewis.

Any serious ideas why Australia is churning out such brilliance in young adult fiction? Is there a school to be commended? A support system? An attitude? I am seriously searching for the YA lit chromosome here!

Meanwhile I am back at Lanagan’s Black Juice…

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Posted on: Mon, July 23, 2012