2021 Shortlisted FICTION FOR YEARS 7-9 RESOURCES
Draekora by Lynette Noni
“I swear by the stars that you and the others slain tonight will be the first of many. Of that you have my word.”
With Aven Dalmarta now hiding in the shadows of Meya, Alex is desperate to save Jordan and keep the Rebel Prince from taking more lives.
Training day and night to master the enhanced immortal blood in her veins, Alex undertakes a dangerous Meyarin warrior trial that separates her from those she loves and leaves her stranded in a place where nothing is as it should be.
As friends become enemies and enemies become friends, Alex must decide who to trust as powerful new allies—and adversaries—push her towards a future of either light… or darkness.
One way or another, the world will change…
Lynette Noni launches Draekora (includes video)
The Good Reading Podcast interview with 3 young fans (podcast)
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
Seventeen-year-old Keralie Corrington may seem harmless, but in fact, she's one of Quadara's most skilled thieves and a liar. Varin, on the other hand, is an honest, upstanding citizen of Quadara's most enlightened region, Eonia. Varin runs afoul of Keralie when she steals a package from him, putting his life in danger. When Varin attempts to retrieve the package, he and Keralie find themselves entangled in a conspiracy that leaves all four of Quadara's queens dead.
With no other choices and on the run from Keralie's former employer, the two decide to join forces, endeavoring to discover who has killed the queens and save their own lives in the process. When their reluctant partnership blooms into a tenuous romance, they must overcome their own dark secrets in hopes of a future together that seemed impossible just days before. But first they have to stay alive and untangle the secrets behind the nation's four dead queens.
Astrid Scholte talks about Four Dead Queens (video)
Four Dead Queens excerpt from Penguin Random House (sound file)
Official book trailer (video)
Premier’s Reading Challenge 7-9 #587903
Liars: Lockdown by Jack Heath
ARMED MERCENARIES invade a hospital and start taking hostages. Some school students barricade themselves in a surgical theatre. But the mercenaries are HUNTING an injured man . . . and hes in there with them. Jarli, creator of the Truth app, is one of the students TRAPPED in the hospital. All the phones are jammed. The building is locked down. No help is coming. The mercenaries work for Viper, a ruthless and deadly criminal. Jarli and his friends have outwitted Viper beforecan they do it again? The TRUTH is deadly . . .
Liars: truth app teacher’s notes
Liars: truth app book trailer (video)
Jack Heath talks about Liars (video)
Jack Heath’s top 6 writing tips
Premier’s Reading Challenge 7-9 #638647
One would think the deep by Claire Zorn
Sam stared at the picture of the boy about to be tipped off the edge of the world: the crushing weight of water about to pummel him. Sam knew that moment exactly, the disbelief that what was about to happen could even be possible. The intake of breath before the flood.
Sam has always had things going on in his head that no one else understands, even his mum. And now she’s dead, it’s worse than ever.
With nothing but his skateboard and a few belongings in a garbage bag, Sam goes to live with the strangers his mum cut ties with seven years ago: Aunty Lorraine and his cousins Shane and Minty.
Despite the suspicion and hostility emanating from their fibro shack, Sam reverts to his childhood habit of following Minty around and is soon surfing with Minty to cut through the static fuzz in his head. But as the days slowly meld into one another, and ghosts from the past reappear, Sam has to make the ultimate decision … will he sink or will he swim.
One would think the deep teacher’s notes
CBCA acceptance speech for “The Protected” (video… start at 3mins in, transcript also available)
Premier’s Reading Challenge 7-9 #2906
Sick Bay by Nova Weetman
Two very different Grade 6 girls meet in their school sick bay. Meg is a loner. Grieving over the death of her father, and struggling with changes at home, she wears slippers to school and hides out in sick bay to avoid other kids.
New girl Riley, is a Type 1 diabetic and already popular. She doesn't want to go to sick bay, but sometimes she has to if she's having a high or a low. As Meg and Riley are forced to spend more and more time together in the cramped sick bay room, they start to uncover each other's secrets and find the courage to be who they really are.
Just Kids Lit interview with Nova Weetman (transcript)
Nova Weetman reads an excerpt from Sick Bay (video)
Premier’s Reading Challenge 5-6 #639349
Sister Heart by Sally Morgan
A young Aboriginal girl is taken from the north of Australia and sent to an institution in the distant south. There, she slowly makes a new life for herself and, in the face of tragedy, finds strength in new friendships.
Poignantly told from the child’s perspective, Sister Heart affirms the power of family and kinship.
Kids’ book review 10 quirky questions (transcript)
ABC podcast with Sally Morgan about Sister Heart (podcast)
Premier’s Reading Challenge 7-9 #6910
The art of taxidermy by Sharon Kernot
Lottie collects dead creatures and lovingly cares for them, hoping to preserve them, to save them from disintegration. Her father understands—Lottie has a scientific mind, he thinks. Her aunt wants it to stop, and she goes to cruel lengths to make sure it does.
And her mother? Lottie’s mother died long ago. And Lottie is searching for a way to be close to her.
The art of taxidermy teacher’s notes
Interview with Sharon Kernot (transcript)
Premier’s Reading Challenge 7-9 (9+) #593283
The edge of thirteen by Nova Weetman
Clem Timmins can’t wait to see her best friends after being apart all summer holidays. But when they get back together, things have changed. Bridge is boy-crazy and acting like a different person. Ellie is wearing a bra and having a real-life romance. Clem feels left behind. When she makes friends with Tom, suddenly everyone’s gossiping about whether they’re going to be a couple. Clem’s got no interest in having a boyfriend. Or does she?
At school camp, Bridge crosses the line and Clem has to make a decision. Can she keep growing up with her friends when they’re growing apart?
The edge of thirteen teacher’s notes
Booktopia interview with Nova Weetman (transcript)
Nova Weetman talks about The edge of thirteen (video)
Premier’s Reading Challenge 7-9 #751211
The other side of the sky by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Prince North’s home is in the sky, in a gleaming city held aloft by intricate engines, powered by technology. Nimh is the living goddess of her people on the Surface, responsible for providing answers, direction—hope.
North’s and Nimh’s lives are entwined—though their hearts can never be. Linked by a terrifying prophecy and caught between duty and fate, they must choose between saving their people or succumbing to the bond that is forbidden between them.
The other side of the sky teacher’s notes
QBD interview with Amie and Meagan (video)
Premier’s Reading Challenge 7-9 #750972
Untidy towns by Kate O’Donnell
Seventeen-year-old Adelaide is sick of being expected to succeed on other people’s terms. She knows she just has to stick it out at school for one more year and then she’ll be free. Instead, she runs away from her fancy boarding school back to her sleepy hometown to read and dream.
But there are no free rides. When Addie’s grandad gets her a job at the local historical society, she soon finds out that it’s dusty and dull, just like her new life. Things change when she starts hanging out with Jarrod, a boy who seems full of possibilities. But it turns out he’s as stuck as she is. And Addie realises that when you want something in life, you’ve actually got to do something about it.
First Word interview with Kate O’Donnell about bookselling (sound file… interview starts at 4:20)