Ready to meet your next read? Teen Breathe has teamed up with writer, book blogger, and avid reader Emily Waller to bring you our latest book recommendations.
THE GREATEST THING BY SARAH WINIFRED SEARLE (RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 13+)
Year 10 was already challenging for student Winifred, and doing it without her two best friends after their transfer to a private school made things even more complicated. Luckily, Winifred isn’t alone for long: she meets April and Oscar, fellow students stumbling through the complexities of adolescence. The trio begin writing zines, finding refuge in crafting stories that reflect their own emotions. But little do they know; Winifred has a secret – one that could jeopardise their friendship. A charming coming-of-age graphic novel that explores identity, love, and companionship.
MY SPARE HEART BY JARED THOMAS (RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 13+)
After her parents split, seventeen-year-old Phoebe finds herself moving from her city home to Willunga, a country town that couldn’t be further from the life she once knew. Now living with her father and his health-fanatic partner, Phoebe does her best to adjust to her new school – forging friendships and even finding a place on the local basketball team. But as her mother’s drinking habits continue, the world around Phoebe begins to unravel, and she isn’t sure how much longer she can pretend everything is okay. An engrossing tale spanning themes of family, courage, and confrontation.
YESTERDAY CRUMB AND THE STORM IN A TEACUP BY ANDY SAGAR (RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8+)
Yesterday Crumb has never fit in. Born with fox ears and relegated to working in the circus, Yesterday fears she faces a bleak and lonely future. But her world is flipped upside down when she is taken in by Miss Dumpling, an eccentric Tea Witch, and given a job at Dwimmerly End – a walking teashop filled with magic. It’s here Yesterday learns she’s a strangeling with a shard of ice in her heart… But she better watch out, a mysterious figure is after her. A spellbinding opening to a fantastical series imbued with wonder, hope, and adventure.
BLOOD TO POISON BY MARY WATSON (RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 12+)
Seventeen-year-old Savannah is destined to die young, thanks to a family heirloom passed down her bloodline. In the months before her death, Savannah is cursed with an untameable anger – typical of Hella girls being pushed ever closer to the brink of no return. Savannah knows she must make a move if she has any hope of surviving. But the answers she seeks lurk deep within the South-African underbelly – dangerous territory swarming with menacing veilwitches on a mission to steal Savannah’s power for themselves. An immersive fantasy bursting with magic and mayhem.
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Intrigued by the art of storytelling from a young age, Emily is a passionate creative writer currently working on her debut novel. To read more of Emily’s bookish musings, check her out on Instagram @littlewaller
