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
WYLAH: THE KOORIE WARRIOR BY JORDAN GOULD AND RICHARD PRITCHARD
Recommended for ages 8+
Wylah, a Peek Whurrong girl from the Maar Nation, radiates determination, spirit, and intelligence – all the traits of a warrior. However, she hasn’t earned such a title just yet… Until her world is flipped upside down. When the feared dragon army steals her beloved family, Wylah must muster the courage to embark on an intrepid quest to save them. Wylah will have to dig deep to become the hero her family desperately needs – but when push comes to shove, is she really warrior material? A fast-paced middle-grade read exploding with adventure and First Nations history.
GALLANT BY VE SCHWAB
Recommended for ages 13+
Olivia Prior, a non-verbal teen, knows nothing of her family – only that a mystery surrounds her mother and father: one written and drawn in weird ways in her mother’s journal, Olivia’s most precious possession. When out of the blue she receives a letter from her uncle, inviting her to live at Gallant manor, she thinks her luck has finally changed. But as soon as Olivia sets foot on the grounds, she realises Gallant houses ominous secrets, and a chance to discover her destiny. An eerily atmospheric gothic tale that unearths themes of freedom, belonging, and identity.
THE CALLERS BY KIAH THOMAS
Recommended for ages 8+
Quin Octavius lives in Elipsom – a distant land where the ability to Call, or summon objects out of nowhere, is an essential skill. But despite being born into a Caller family, he has never managed to Call anything. Quin begins having strange dreams, and after making an object disappear, finds himself miles from home in the lush greenery of Evantra. It is here Quin learns the objects Callers summon aren’t conjured from thin air but instead stolen from elsewhere – a damaging practice fraught with consequence. An engrossing middle-grade fantasy spanning themes of consumerism and exploitation.
HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE BY EMILY J TAYLOR
Recommended for ages 12+
Unsatisfied with her drab life in Durc, seventeen-year-old Jani dreams of creating a better future for herself and her younger sister, Zosa. So she can’t believe her luck when she hears the wondrous travelling Hotel Magnifique is coming to town – and better still, the hotel is hiring. But once taken in as staff on unbreakable contracts, both Jani and Zosa realise that behind the enchanting spectacles and bright lights, Hotel Magnifique is hiding some dark and dangerous truths. A richly alluring, immersive, and fantastical tale brimming with magic, mystery, and intrigue.
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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
