Advertise on podcast: YA Book Stack

This episode features a conversation with Turkish-Australian author and editor Demet Divaroren about her dark fantasy novel Blood Moon Bride. Demet discusses the novel's long journey to publication, writing feminist speculative fiction, and the ways fantasy can be used to explore power, identity, resistance and belonging. This episode also includes a discussion of world-building, symbolism and magic systems in fantasy, the influence of family history on storytelling, and the role of speculative fiction in examining real-world issues such as misogyny, injustice and cultural erasure. The conversation explores the concept of "coming of age" across a lifetime, the importance of critical thinking and self-determination for young people, and the ways literature can provide a safe space for readers to engage with complex social and emotional themes.

This episode features a conversation with Torres Strait Islander and African American author and editor Jasmin McGaughey about her debut YA novel Moonlight and Dust. Jasmin discusses writing First Nations speculative fiction, the importance of representation in Australian classrooms, and how genre can create space for stories of culture, family, identity and belonging. The discussion references reading and text recommendations such as: Twilight series by Stephenie MeyerThe Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra ClareGhost Bird by Lisa FullerSpirit of the Crocodile by Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott TuckerWorks by Ambelin KwaymullinaWorks by Claire G. ColemanLooking for Alibrandi by Melina MarchettaThe Pearl of Tagai Town by Lenora ThakerThe Hunger Games series by Suzanne CollinsAlso discussed are the role of setting and place in shaping novels and character identity, the use of Creole and code-switching in Moonlight and Dust, and the creative challenges of balancing mystery, magic and emotional realism in speculative fiction. The conversation explores the influence of genre novels on young readers and writers, the collaborative nature of the publishing process, and the importance of students seeing themselves, their communities and contemporary Australian settings reflected authentically in stories.

This special IDAHOBIT episode includes a discussion with educator and writer Ernest Price about the importance of queer representation in classrooms and practical ways teachers can create more inclusive, engaging reading experiences for all students. It references reading and text recommendations such as: Good Young Men by Gary LonesboroughHighway Bodies and Euphoria Kids by Alison EvansWill Kostakis novelsGrowing Up Queer in AustraliaThe Sweetness Between Us and The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred SearleThe Family Law (SBS adaptation of Benjamin Law’s workThe Heights (ABC series)Too Much Lip by Melissa LucashenkoEllen van Neerven short stories, poetry and non-fictionI'm Not Really Here by Gary LonesboroughAlso discussed are: How identity can shape teaching, writing and text selectionThe importance of contemporary texts "with heart" that reflect students’ real lives and identities, not just traditional canon textsAdvocacy for diverse and queer representation in English classrooms, especially amid a current cultural and educational “backslide” toward conservative text choicesDiscussion of the role of English teachers in creating lifelong readers, balancing skills-based literacy with meaningful, engaging literatureThe power of own voices storytelling and the need for students to encounter LGBTQIA+ stories that go beyond “coming out” narrativesPractical strategies for teachers about working with allies, being open about positionality and willing to learnHonest discussion about teacher fear and hesitation, with encouragement to learn through the process. Classroom strategies for handling challenging moments, including setting boundaries around respectful discussion and repairing if harmful comments occurThe stakes of representation in terms of affirmation and visibility for queer studentsEmphasis on bravery and small actions as meaningful change

This episode includes a discussion of This Dream Will Devour Us by Emma Clancey, a young adult fantasy thriller that blends the author's passions for magic and medicine. It also references other reading and text recommendations such as: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienDeltora Quest by Emily RoddaRanger's Apprentice by John FlanaganBooks by Leigh BardugoBooks by Laini TaylorThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald  Mrs Dalloway by Virginia WoolfHow to Be Normal by Ange CrawfordAnomaly by Emma LordAlso discussed are: The commodification of magic, and how this metaphor opens up rich discussion about pharmaceuticals, access, privilege, and the ethics of who gets to control resources;The allure and danger of wealth, celebrity and influencer culture, and how young people can critically examine power structures without losing sight of their own values;The balance between queer joy and queer trauma in contemporary YA, and the importance of offering affirming, escapist narratives alongside stories that tackle hardship;How genre blending can hook reluctant readers while still allowing for sophisticated exploration of class, authority and power;The role of limitations in world-building, and how clear rules within a magic system strengthen tension and narrative satisfaction;Comparative possibilities with The Great Gatsby, particularly around glamour, illusion, class aspiration and the corruption of the “dream” across different historical contexts;And, as always, the value of championing contemporary Australian genre fiction in classrooms to engage students with stories that feel both grounded and relevant to their lives.

his episode includes a discussion of summer reading recommendations that includes: Tenderfoot by Toni Jordan Gary LonesboroughGraham AkhurstJared ThomasSalt River Road by Molly SchmidtOver This Backbone by Ya ReevesArborescence by Rhett DavisDusk by Robbie ArnottAndrea Nekic Is NOT Fine by Violeta BagiaWe Saw What You Started by Carla SalmonGus and the Burning Stones by Troy HunterCatch by Sarah BrillThis Stays Between Us by Margot McGovernThree Boys Gone by Mark SmithDiary of a Young Doctor by Ezzideen ShehabThe Hiding Place by Kate MildenhallI Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma WaltonPictures of You by Tony BirchSouthsightedness by Gregory DaySeed by Bri LeeThe episode also contains discussions around: Teachers benefit from reading YA themselves, not just for curriculum use but to stay connected to student interests, identify engaging texts, and model genuine enthusiasm for reading.Reading for work vs reading for pleasure, and how hard it is to balance the joy of reading with the obligations of reading for reviews, panels, writing, or teaching.YA in Australia is growing in diversity but still needs more representation, especially stories that reflect the rapidly changing demographics of Australian schools.Teachers should prioritise student engagement when selecting texts. Page-turners matter, reluctant readers need accessible books, and educators sometimes overthink “how to teach” a book before considering whether students will actually read it.Reasons why Three Boys Gone, Mark Smith's debut adult novel, will resonate with anyone working in schools today, and having to navigate the near-impossibility of perfect duty of care.

This episode includes a discussion of This Stays Between Us by Margot McGovern, a contemporary young adult horror novel that explores friendship, fear, and power. It also references other reading and text recommendations such as: Neverland by Margot McGovernNorthern Lights by Philip PullmanFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyBlade Runner (1982)The Chosen Vessel by Barbara Baynton (short story)Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan LindsayLake Mungo (2008)Talk to Me (2022)Also discussed are: The ways in which Margot has attempted to fill a gap in the market, including setting her horror novel in a distinctly Australian landscape;How reimagining the trope of the “final girl” can challenge the male gaze in horror by creating complex, emotionally authentic female protagonists;The exploration of friendship, secrets, consent, misinformation, and fear in the novel, and how these issues will resonate strongly with today’s students;Why its 48-hour timeframe, along with the use of foreshadowing, pacing, and symbolism, makes it ideal for studying narrative craft and genre conventions;Advocacy for open, supportive classroom discussions around trauma and consent, supported by clear content awareness;And, as always, the importance of teaching contemporary local texts to reflect and expand students’ understanding of Australian identity.

This episode includes a discussion of Desert Tracks, a time travelling novel about young people in central Australia, the historical legacy of racist policies and the relationship between history and the present. Also discussed are: Using time travel as a genre to connect past and present, allowing for a powerful entry point for exploring history;Working as a writing team, blending different backgrounds and voices to create authentic characters and perspectives;Depicting colonial violence in ways that remain age-appropriate while still respecting readers’ intelligence and lived realities;Why including Aboriginal English terms in literature can offer opportunities for students to appreciate linguistic diversity, explore local language revitalisation projects, and understand cultural exchange;Storytelling as a vehicle for truth-telling and reconciliation;Offering advice for teachers on using Desert Tracks as a springboard for meaningful conversations around racism, history, and First Nations stories, while drawing on endorsed teaching resources to create safe and respectful learning environments.

This episode includes a discussion of How to Be Normal, as well as reading recommendations including: Someone Like Me: An anthology of non-fiction by Autistic writersObernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody Little Women by Louisa May AlcottLooking for Alibrandi by Melina MarchettaThe Complete Dramatic Works by Samuel BeckettVikki WakefieldHow It Feels to Float by Helena FoxLiving on Hope Street by Demet DivarorenWhen Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-FattahGhost Bird by Lisa FullerThe Skin I'm In by Steph TisdellBlood Moon Bride by Demet DivarorenStill Life with Tornado by A.S. KingThe Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula K. Le GuinAlso discussed are: The ways in which English teachers give students the frameworks to understand the people they want to be, in terms of critical thinking, feminist thought, anti-racism, etc.A defence of young adult novels as serious literature, capable of tackling complex issues like abuse, identity and resilience, in ways that resonate with students.The ways personal experiences (queerness, neurodivergence, family dynamics) can inform fiction, and shape more honest, nuanced representation.How schools can approach “dark” themes in text studies in way that is supportive, trauma-informed, and empowering.Using “normality” as a lens to interrogate social pressures and difference, and embrace diversity.How texts foster empathy, open dialogue, and give students language for experiences they may struggle to articulate otherwise.

This episode includes a discussion about booklisting with Prue Bon, and focuses on these titles: The Year the Maps Changed by Danielle Binks Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad Outlaw Girls by Emily Gale and Nova Weetman The Paperbark Tree Committee by Karys McEwen The Grandest Bookshop in the World by Amelia Mellor Please Don't Hug Me by Kay Kerr Future Girl by Asphyxia The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn Grace Notes by Karen Comer Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer Metal Fish, Falling Snow by Cath Moore One Hundred Days by Alice Pung Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller The Gaps by Leanne Hall Things a Map Won't Show You Where The Shoreline Used to Be Stuff I'm (Not) Sorry For by Maxine Beneba Clarke It's the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke How Decent Folk Behave by Maxine Beneba Clarke The Saturday Portraits by Maxine Beneba Clarke The End of the World is Bigger Than Love by Davina Bell

Chemutai Glasheen is a sessional academic at Curtin University, as well as a teacher and author. She writes fiction aimed at young readers, drawing inspiration from her background and passion for human rights and education. Her short story collection I am the Mau and Other Stories was published by Fremantle Press in 2023. Her creative work has appeared in various publications: Unlimited Futures, Meniscus Volume 9 Issue 2 and ACE: Arresting Contemporary Stories by Emerging Writers. She has held a writer-in-residence position at the Centre for Stories and has been invited to speak or present at events such as the Perth Writers Festival, the Disrupted Festival of Ideas, In Conversation: Human Rights, and the Great Big Book Club Tea Party. This episode includes a discussion of I am the Mau and other stories, as well as reading recommendations including: Unlimited Futures: Speculative, Visionary Blak+Black FictionCarpentaria by Alexis WrightAmal Unbound by Aisha SaeedI Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina LambChinua AchebeA Grain of Wheat by Ngugi wa Thiong'oAlso discussed are: Identity formation through connections with other people The value of stories about minority communities Themes of place and displacementThe appeal of the short story format for young readers (and the difficulty of the format for writers!)Exploring the balance between respecting and protecting cultural practices, while also accepting change when it is necessaryThe ways in which reading fiction can change opinion and help develop empathy and understanding

Erin Gough is a fiction writer living on Gadigal land in Sydney, whose award-winning work has been published globally. She is the author of three books for young adults: The Flywheel, which won the Ampersand Prize, Amelia Westlake, winner of the Readings Young Adult Book Prize and the NSW Premier’s Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult Fiction, and Into the Mouth of the Wolf, recently shortlisted for the DANZ Children’s Book Award for Young Adult Fiction and the CBCA Award for Older Readers. This episode includes a discussion of Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough, as well as reading recommendations including: An Open Swimmer by Tim Winton The Flywheel by Erin Gough Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough How to Survive 1985 by Tegan Bennett Daylight Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Heat and Light by Ellen van Neerven Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit Also discussed are: The power of audiobooks from a very young age (pre-independent reading)The importance of validating Australian literature by including it on the curriculumFinding the right story (and the right voice) as a writerThemes of social justice, climate justice, power and privilege, community, and loyalty and trust in young adult fictionProcessing grief about what's happening to the environment through literature, and realising that "the way through is together"The process of world-building when it comes to a familiar yet dystopian settingThe things an author writes that don't end up in the novel, and some techniques for developing character outside the pages of the bookThe changing nature of the young adult literary landscape in Australia over the last few years

This episode includes a discussion with Dr Lilly Brown, CEO of Magabala Books, as well as reading recommendations including: My Place by Sally Morgan Love Unleashed by Melanie Saward Dr Anita Heiss Story About Feeling by Bill Neidjie Desert Tracks by Linda Wells and Marly Wells Bindi by Kirli Saunders Black Cockatoo by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler Hairy Holes 2 by Brenton E McKenna Also discussed are: Books being more than just booksThe history and mission of Magabala Books, Australia's leading First Nations publishing houseEnsuring that schools are safe learning places for all kids, through the literature we teach and the values we uphold in the English classroomRacial literacy and tips for building educator confidence when it comes to teaching First Nations textsThe importance of National Reconciliation Week post-referendum, and how to meaningfully acknowledge this in schools The difference between cultural responsibility and the colonial burden

Kay Kerr is an autistic journalist and author who writes fiction and non-fiction that explores the oftentimes surreal life experiences of neurodivergent young people. She has published two Young Adult novels, and a narrative non-fiction book. Kay has a new novel coming out this year (2025) with Pan Macmillan called Might Cry Later, as well as an essay in the UQP anthology of autistic writers: Someone Like Me.  This episode includes a discussion of Love & Autism, Social Queue and Please Don't Hug Me, all by Kay Kerr, as well as reading recommendations including: Peta Lyre's Rating Normal by Anna Whateley Nina Kenwood novels The Skin I'm In by Steph Tisdell Also discussed are: Non-linear career pathsUsing romance texts in the classroomWriting diverse autistic characters, and using fiction to fight against outdated and monolithic understandings of what autism isThe potential of 'communication' as a narrative theme to unpack in a text study

Solli Raphael is an award-winning author, poet, advocate, and acclaimed keynote speaker. His latest book, Starlight, aims to guide self-discovery and expression in kids and teens. This episode includes a discussion of Starlight by Solli Raphael, as well as reading recommendations including: Window by Jeannie Baker Morris Gleitzman Deborah Abela Limelight by Solli Raphael Spotlight by Solli Raphael Robert Frost Maya Angelou Also discussed are: The experience of becoming a published author as a teenagerFinding joy in both classic and contemporary poetryInjecting more philosophy into the English curriculumThe importance of having conversations around identity

In this episode of YA Book Stack, Karys is joined by Keshe Chow (she/her), a #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy, romance, and speculative fiction. Born in Malaysia, Keshe moved to Australia when she was two years old. Currently she resides in Naarm (Melbourne) with her husband, two kids, one cat, and way too many house plants. They discuss Keshe's novel, The Girl with No Reflection as well as reading recommendations including: "Fauna of Mirrors" from The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis BorgeSix Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth LimVarious titles by Sue Lynn TanThe Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee BakerOf Flame and Fury by Mikayla BridgeSoulmatch by Rebecca DanzenbakerAn Ocean Apart by Jill TewI Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang Also discussed in this episode: The role of genre fiction within the English curriculumWorld-building, voice and character developmentChinese mythology, and themes of feminism and patriarchyThe importance of representation in text studies