Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday March 20th, 2025, to discuss the topic: Books Set In Melbourne

We asked our members to share their favourite books that are set in Melbourne.

We also held a discussion about how we are dealing with students requesting school libraries to purchase books that may contain content that is not suitable for all readers, particularly books popular on Book Tok.

As usual, we finished out session with attendees sharing what they have been reading lately.

Our next Online Book Club meeting is on Tuesday April 29th and the topic of conversation is ‘Enemies to Lovers’.

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Strategies for dealing with requests for Book Tok/Controversial Books:

• Have the book but look at where it is located
• Put in senior fiction – staff reading
• A yr 9 – yr 12 section
• Have alerts in the catalog for certain books
• Use commonsense media and other sites to check out appropriateness of student requests
• Maybe put trigger warnings on the inside the front cover
• Put a MA sticker on the bac of the book and in the catalog keep it for year 10 and above.
• Keep most in a senior reads section
• Read the book first if unsure
• Biographies can often by quite explicit – how to handle?
• Have senior reads instead of senior fiction
• Call them real life stories with an MA sticker
• The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs – good  for teens wanting non-romantasy

Books Set In Melbourne

Picture Books:

• Queenie -picture book – Melbourne zoo     - Corine Fenton
• Middle Grade:
• Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer
• How To Bee by bren mcdribble
• My Australian story - Archer’s Melbourne Cup – Vashti farrer
• The Lost Sapphire by Belinda Murrel
• Six Summers of Tash and Leopold by Danielle Binks
• The Riding Gallery by Sally Murphy

Young Adult:

• Words in deep blue by Cath Crowley
• Gap year in ghost town by Michael Pryor
• Grace Notes by Karen Comer
• Graffiti moon Cath Crowley
• The runner by Robert Newton
• Future Girl by Ashphyxia
• Everything is changed by Nova Weetman
• Take three girls by Cath Crowley, Fiona Wood & Simmone Howell
• Inkflower by Suzie Zail
• Fleur Ferris – Risk, Wreck
• Beatle meets Destiny  by Gabrielle Williams
• The Guy, The Girl, The Artist and His Ex by Gabrielle Williams
• One Hundred Days by Alice Pung

Senior Fiction:

• The lost bookshop by Evie Woods
• Bearbrass : Imaging Early Melbourne by Robyn Annear
• The Corners of Melbourne Robyn Annear
• Adrift in Melbourne by Robyn Annear
• The Season by Helen Garner
• The Oslo by Oslao Davis (?)
• The Convent by Maureen McCarthy
• The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
• The Mix Up by Kylie Ladd
• A Routine Infidelity & A Dance With Murder by Elizabeth Coleman
• Tuesday Evenings With The Copeton Craft Resistance by Kate Solly
• The Paradise Heights Craft Story Stitch-Up by Kate Solly
• Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne
• Joy Moody Is Out Of Time by Kerryn Mayne
• The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt by Mark Mupotsa-Russell
• The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt
• The Hummingbird Effect by Kate Mildenhall
• The Jack Irish series by Peter Temple
• The Miss Phyrne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood
• Monkey Grip by Helen Garner
• The Glad Shout by Alice Robinson
• The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham
• Cairo by Chris Womersley
• Unbury the Dead by Fiona Hardy
• Three Boys Gone by Mark Smith

What has everyone been reading?

• Reader Come Home by Maryanne Wolf
• Tussock by Elizabeth Pulford
• The Season Helen Garner
• The Thrill Of It by Mandy Beaumont
• Three Boys Gone by Mark Smith
• Five Seasons in Seoul by Christine Nwell
• Laughter is the best ending by Maryam Master
• The glass girl by Kathryn Glasgow
• Creating a reading culture by Margaret Merga
• Thunderhead by Sophie Beer
• The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
• The Dictionary of Lost Words & The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Wednesday February 19th, 2025, to discuss the topic: Reads For Non-Readers

We asked our members to share their favourite reading ideas for Non-Readers, as well as general tips & tricks for encouraging Non-Readers to try a book.

This was particularly topical as the Australia Reads research report, Understanding Australian Readers : Behavioural Insights Into Recreational Reading has just been released, with lots of research backed ideas about helping different categories of readers overcome barriers to reading.

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Strategies for Engaging Non-Readers

Have a ‘just for fun” shelf near some comfortable seating options. Suggested books for this shelf would include Guiness Book of Records, books of short facts, quick sports reads, Where’s Wally books.

Posters or bookmarks such as ‘If you liked this book…. Try this one too’

Read the first chapters of books to students to hook them into the story

Students like to read books that are recommended to them by their peers or buddy’s

Ask the students for their recommendations for books to add to the Collection

Read with a Mate (like having a gym buddy) – students choose books for each other and then read to each other before they then read independently. This way they keep each other accountable for their reading. Give students questions or interview students to help develop a book list of books they may be interested in. Then, based on the answers to the questions, give the students a limited list of books they can choose to read. Based on a program at Brisbane Grammar School,

Make reading a social experience.

Run competitions.

Have a Borrowing Loyalty Card – similar to a café coffee card. When a student borrows enough books to complete a card they get a small prize, such as a sticker. Could also link to House points if this is a thing at your school.

Give out bookmarks to use as reading trackers

Started Year 10 cohort with a focus on rediscovering the will, skill, and thrill of reading. These are particularly sporty students.

Encourage students to listen to audiobooks

Suggest the graphic novel version of a popular book or of books their friends are reading.

When speaking to students ask them what they like about their favourite characters to help with book recommendations.

Older teens often prefer adult books – Year 10 and up enjoy books by Liane Moriarty, Jane Harper etc

Encourage teachers to also read when their class has reading time to model reading behaviour.

Look at ways to encourage parents to model reading at home.

Suggest non-readers try verse novels. They are quick to read, fast-paced and include lots of white space.

Hold a parent information evening about the benefits of reading, a wide reading program, and emphasise reading for fun.

Graphic novels and Manga are a great way to encourage reluctant readers.

Try suggesting Choose your own Adventure books

Develop a ‘Grab, Sit, Read’ Collection next to comfortable seating options

Sports books – Fiction, Biographies, graphic novels, non-fiction

Try shelving Fiction and Non-Fiction books of particular interest together – for instance, I have all my Sporting books shelved together – Non-Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Biographies. I also have my Law and True Crime Non-Fiction books shelved with my Mystery & Suspense Fiction books. Has proven very popular with students and increased the borrowing of these areas.

Book Series Suggestions

The ‘My Story’ series of books

The ‘Australian Girl’ series of books

The ‘Royal Diaries’ series of books

The ‘I Survived’ series of graphic novels

The ‘Wings of Fire’ series of graphic novels

The Illuminae series by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufmann

The ‘Minutes of Danger’ series Jack Heath

The ‘Maze Runner’ series by James Dashner

The ‘Hunger Games’ series Suzanne Collins

The ‘Divergent’ series by Veronica Roth

The ’Once’ series by Morris Gleitzman

The ‘Harry Potter’ series by J.K. Rowling

The ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ series by Holly Jackson

The ‘Don’t Call Me Ishmael’ series by Gerard Bauer

James Patterson Bookshot books – short books under 150 pages

The ‘Can you survive?’ series

The ‘You Choose Monster Hunt’ series

Anthony Horowitz Legends series

The ‘Heidi’ series by Johanna Spyri

The ‘Where’s Wally?’ series

Hi Lo Graphic Novels by Judd Winick

Author Suggestions

Tristan Bancks

Jack Heath

Garth Nix

John Green

Jacqueline Wilson

Stephen King

Felice Arena

Non-Fiction Suggestions

The Guiness Books of Records books

DK non-fiction books – have great illustrations and small, digestible chunks of text

Wednesday Warriors : Doing it for the jumper (the St Pat’s Ballarat tradition) by James Gilchrist

Fatal Faults  - Challenger explosion by Erin Braun

Individual Book Suggestions

The Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Mike by Andrew Norris

The Face On The Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill (younger readers graphic novel, with cute dragons)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Billy Lemonade by Sarah J. Maxwell (short and emotional)

What We Are Reading!

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

Cold Truth by Ashley Kalagain Blunt

The Safe Keep by Yael van der Wouden

James by Percival Everett

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Playground by Richard Powers

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks

The Wolves of Greycoat Hall series by Lucinda Gifford

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

The 113^th Assistant Librarian by Stuart Wilson

Books by Anne Tyler

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday October 14th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Desert Island Reads.

We asked our members to share their favorite Desert Island Reads. Contributed titles are split into Picture Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, and Adult Fiction.

Many thanks to Deb at The Younger Sun  who is an invaluable resource, providing many recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable, and would be happy to help you with any book-buying needs!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Picture Books

• Animalia – Graeme Base

Middle Grade Books

   

• The Midwatch – Judith Rossell
• Landovel series – Emily Rodda
• The 113th Assistant Librarian – Stuart Wilson
• When we were very young –  A A Milne 

 

Young Adult Books

• Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy – Laini Taylor
• Any book by Terri Terry

Adult Books

      

Juice – Tim Winton The Season – Helen Garner The Burrow – Melanie Cheng Spark of the Everflame – Penn Cole The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey I Am Scrooge : A Zombie Story for Christmas – Adam Roberts Playground – Richard Powers

The Red Tent – Anita Diamant Bleak House by Charles Dickens The Dune series – Frank Herbet The Lord of the Rings Series – J R R Tolkien Remembrance of things past – Marcel Proust Les Miserables – Victor Hugo Books by Edward Rutherfurd

 

Non-Fiction Books

      

• The Australia Survival Guide – George Ivanoff
• Strife – Mia Freeman (previously published a Work Strife Balance)
• Australian Gospel – Lech Blaine
• Car Crash – Lech Blaine
• A Place For Everything : The Curious History of Alphabetic Order – Judith Flanders
• An Atlas
• The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A. J Jacobs
• The Dreaming Path: Indigenous Thinking to Change Your Life – Paul Callaghan

 

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday October 10th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Historical Fiction.

We asked our members to share their favorite Historical Fiction books. Contributed titles are split into Picture Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, and Adult Fiction.

Many thanks to Deb at The Younger Sun  who is an invaluable resource, providing many recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable, and would be happy to help you with any book-buying needs!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Picture Books

          

Shearer by Neridah McMullin, Michael Tomkins. Alfred’s War by Rachel Bin Salleh Freedom Day : Vincent Lingiari and the story of he Wave Hill walk-off by Rosie Smiler, Thomas Mayor, Samantha Campbell. Eat My Dust! By Neridah McMullin, Lucia Masciullo Drover by Neriday McMullin, Sarah Anthony Tearaway Coach by Neriday McMullin, Andrew McLean

The Hidden Hat by Phil Cummings, Jennifer Goldsmith Votes for women! : The story of Nelly, Rose and Mary by Mark Wilson Home by Karen Hendriks, Alisa Knatko One Minute’s Silence by David Metzenthen, Michael Camilleri

Middle Grade

The Midwatch by Judith Rossell 11 Ruby Road : 1900 by Charlotte Barkla 11 Ruby Road : 1925 by Charlotte Barkla Wolf Road by Alice Roberts We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad The Houdini Inheritance by Emma Carroll Marion and the forty thieves by Sarah Luke Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger by Jackie French Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park When the war came home by Lesley Parr The key to Rome by Sophie Masson Yoko’s Diary edited by Paul Ham The boy who stepped through time by Anna Ciddor The great escape by Felice Arena Our castle by the sea by Lucy Strange Showerland series by Nat Amoore Freedom Finders series by Emily Conolan (choose your own destiny books) Runner by Robert Newton Forgotten Pearl by Belinda Murrell The I Survived graphic novel series The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan by Felice Arena (plus other Felice Arena books)

The Wearing of the Green by Claire Saxby Jackie French books The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken Our Australian Girls series Do You Dare series My Australian Stories series My Story series My Royal Story series The Royal Diaries series Princess series Outlaw Girls by Emily Gale and Nova Weetman Elsewhere Girls by Emily Gale and Nova Weetman The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams by Mindy Thompson Deadly Waters by Helen Chapman Escape from East Berlin by Andy Marino The Mud Puddlers by Pamela Rushby Pony by R.J. Palacio Until the Road Ends by Phil Earle Michael Morpurgo books Miss Penny Dreadful series by Allison Rushby Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens Father of the Lost Boys – Young Readers Edition by Yuot A. Alaak

Young Adult

            

Silver Linings by Katrina Nannestad Waiting for the storks by Katrina Nannestad All the beautiful things by Katrina Nannestad I must betray you by Ruta Sepetys Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr Levithian trilogy by Scott Westerfield Westfallen by Ann Brashares The Breadwinner series by Deborah Ellis The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley The War I finally won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee Ground Zero by Allan Gratz Grenade by Allan Gratz Refugee by Allan Gratz Hero by Allan Gratz Prisoner B-3087 by Allan Gratz Allies by Allan Gratz Code of Honour by Allan Gratz Tattooist of Auschwitz (YA Edition) by Heather Morris The Pagan Chronicles series by Catherine Jinks The Once series by Morris Gleitzman Suzy Zail books Ruta Sepetys books

When we flew away by Alice Hoffman Two sparrowhawks in a lonely sky by Rebecca Lim Yours From the Tower by Sally Nicholls Stateless by Elizabeth Wein 1914 by Sophie Masson 52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor Briar Rose by Jane Yolen Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet The Divine Wind by Garry Disher The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander Freedom ride by Sue Lawson Freedom Swimmer by Wai Chim Haywire by Claire Saxby Interned by Pamela Rushby Those Girls by Pamela Rushby Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen Our race for Reconciliation by Anita Heiss Through My Eyes – Natural Disaster Zones series Through My Eyes – Australian Disaster Zones series One by One They Disappear by Mike Lucas A Cruel Twist of Fate by H. F. Askwith The Lady Helen series by Alison Goodman

Senior Fiction

            

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Juice by Tim Winton The island of missing trees by Elif Shafak There are rivers in the sky by Elif Shafak The Prophet song by Paul Lynch The one hundred year old man who climbed out of the window by Jonas Jonasson Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey There are rivers in the sky by Elif Shafak 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak At the foot of the cherry tree by Allie Parker

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley Books by Kristin Hannah Books by Fiona McIntosh James by Percival Everett Rapture by Emily Maguire Cafe Scheherazade by Arnold Zable The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Dirrayawadha: Rise Up by Anita Heiss Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray: River of Dreams by Anita Heiss Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms by Anita Heiss The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Wednesday August 7th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Bookshops and Libraries. This is a topic close to every reader’s heart, so we were eager to dive into everyone’s recommendations.

We asked our members to share their favorite Fiction and Non-Fiction titles to do with bookstores and libraries. Contributed titles are split into Adult, Books for Students (covering Middle Grade and Young Adult, with additional info provided) and Picture Books.

Many thanks to Deb at The Younger Sun  who is an invaluable resource, providing many recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable, and would be happy to help you with any book-buying needs!

Penguin Books supported this session! They sent three new books (in this meeting’s theme) to one lucky school who participated in the event. A massive thanks to everyone at Penguin Books for helping us encourage reading!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

New Titles shared by Deb from the Younger Sun 

Adult

1. The Yield – Tara June Winch
2. Possession – A S Byatt.
3. The Little Paris Bookshop – Nina George
4. The Library Book – Susan Orleans
5. The Giver of Stars – Jojo Moyes
6. The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians – James Patterson
7. Cloud Cuckoo Land – Anthony Doer
8. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop – Bo-reum Hwang
9. The Secret, Book and Scone Society – Ellery Adams
10. The Diary of a Bookseller – Shaun Bythell
11. Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams
12. The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
13. The Cracked Spine – Paige Shelton
14. The Librarianist – Patrick deWitt
15. The Diary of a Bookseller – Shaun Bythell
16. The Book of Form and Emptiness – Ruth Ozeki
17. The Eyre Affair – Jasper Fforde
18. Dewey – Vicki Myron
19. That Librarian – Amanda Jones
20. The Library Book – Susan Orlean
21. The Librarian: a Memoir – Allie Morgan.

Books for Students

1. What You are Looking For is in the Library – Michiko Aoyama (Year 9 up)
2. 113th Assistant Librarian – Stuart Wilson (Coming out in November!)
3. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares – Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Young Adult)
4. The Lost Book of Magic – Amelia Mellor (Coming out in October!)
5. Land of L – Emily Rodda
6. The Book that Wouldn’t Burn – Mark Lawrence  (Year 10 upwards)
7. The Book that No One Wanted to Read – Richard O (Middle Fiction)
8. The Library Fish – Alyssa Satin Capucilli (Junior)
9. The Evil Librarian – Michelle Knudsen
10. Lirael – Garth Nix (Young Adult)
11. The Phantom Tollbooth – Norton Juster
12. The Littlest Library – Poppy Alexander
13. Hooray, Hooray it’s Library Day – Julie Grasso
14. The Little Street Library – Amy Adeny
15. I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf – Grant Snider (Graphic Novel)
16. Left Handed Booksellers of London – Garth Nix (Young Adult)
17. Mr Lemoncello’s Library series – Chris Grabenstein
18. Carlo and the Really Nice Librarian – Jessica Spanyol
19. Library Mouse – Daniel Kirk
20. Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians – Brandon Sanderson
21. Rondo – Emily Rodda
22. Pages and Co – Anna James
23. The Lost Library – Rebecca Stead
24. The Secret Library of Hummingbird House – Julianne Negri
25. The Medoran Chronicles – Lynette Noni
26. Words in Deep Blue – Cath Crowley
27. A Library of Lemons – Jo Cotterill
28. The Bookshop Girl – Sylvia Bishop
29. The Moonlight Dreamers – Siobhan Curham (Young Adult)
30. Strange the dreamer by Lani Taylor (Young Adult)
31. Luna Loves Library Day – Joseph Coelho
32. Ink and Bone – Roxanne Conrad (Young Adult)
33. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (Young Adult)
34. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
35. The Librarian of Auschwitz – Antoni Hurbe (Young Adult)
36. Suggested Reading – Dave Connis (Young Adult)
37. The Travelling Bookshop – Katrina Nannestad
38. Fairy Tale Fan Club – Richard Ayoade (New)
39. Whisperwicks – Jordan Lee (New)

 

Picture Books

1. The Dictionary Story – Oliver Jeffers (New!)
2. Books Make Good Friends – Jane Mount
3. Parsely Rabbit – Frances Watts and David Legge
4. The Little Street Library – Amy Adeney
5. Dewey – Vicki Myron
6. The Librarian of Basra – Antonio Iturbe
7. Librarian – Busy People series – Ando Twin and Lucy M George
8. The Librarian’s Stories – Lucy Falcone and Anna Wilson
9. It’s A Book – Lane Smith
10. Help Wanted Must Love Books – Janet Sumner Johnson and Courtney Dawson
11. The Lost Library – Jess McGeachin
12. Midnight at the Library – Ursula Dubosarsky and Ron Brooks
13. Our Library – Donna Rawlins

Thanks again to everybody who joined and gave us so many great recommendations.

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday June 20th, 2024, to discuss the topic: STEM. We often view STEM and reading as separate disciplines, but how, where and why do they cross over?

We asked our members to share their favorite Fiction and Non-Fiction titles that relate to STEM topics. As always, you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us and we had a great deal of fun! We anticipated a bit of a struggle for people to find interesting STEM-related books, but fortunately we were completely mistaken and we ended up with a very long list! We also had quite a few recommendations that involved quite complex language or explored difficult concepts, so we have split the Young Adult section into two: VCE and above, and 12+, for more clarity around suiting titles to the appropriate students!

Many thanks to Deb at The Younger Sun  who is an invaluable resource, providing many recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable, and would be happy to help you with any book-buying needs!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

New Titles shared by Deb from the Younger Sun 

 

VCE and above

• White Holes – Carlo Rovelli
• The Housekeeper and the Professor – Yoko Ogawa
• Parable of the Sower – Octavia Butler
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
• Sea of Tranquility – Emily St. John Mandel
• Galileo’s Daughter; Longitude – Dava Sobel
• Radium Girls – Kate Moore
• Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi

12+

• The Wild Robot – Peter Brown
• Inside out and Outside In – Maria Snyder
• Lifel1k3 – Jay Kristoff
• Footprints on the Moon – Lorraine Marwood
• Lance Balchin – Botanica and Aquatica
• Catch a Falling Star – Meg McKinlay
• Two Can Play That Game – Leanne Yong
• The Lab – Jack Heath
• Moondust – Gemma Fowler
• Money run – Jack Heath

Middle Grade

• George’s Secret Key to the Universe – Lucy and Steven Hawking
• Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart
• Dragon Pearl – Yoon Ha Lee
• Wednesday Weeks – Cristy Burne
• Axel and Beast – Adrian Bott
• Mortal Engines – Philip Reeve
• The Achemist War – John Seven
• The Balloon girls – Darrell Pitt
• Counting by Sevens – Holly Goldberg Stone
• How to Bee – Bren MacDibble
• Hi From Outer Space – Fiona Katauskas
• The Raven’s Song – Bren McDibble and Zana Fraillon
• Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World – Rachel Ignotofsky

 

Junior 

• The Rosie Revere series
• The Wonder of Winsome – Kat Murdoch
• Life On Us – Emma & Tim Flannery
• Professor Branestawm – Norman Hunter

Picture Books

• How to Measure the Ocean – Inda Ahmad Zahri
• Tree – Claire Saxby
• The Beehive – Megan Daley
• Seed to Sky: Life in the Daintree – Pamela Freeman

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us for our SLAV online Book Club on Wednesday May 15th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Pets and Animals. There are so many iconic books featuring animals that we were absolutely inundated with book recommendations from many attendees, which is always a good sign! We had everything from pet dogs, to horses and wolves, to dingoes and whales, and pirate’s parrots. We even had some pets join our session; two cats and four dogs.

Our lovely members really brought their all with a flood of recommendations, with many new texts suggested alongside some classics and little-known titles. It was so lovely to hear the experiences shared between members who’d read the same books.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Deb at The Younger Sunas an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Picture Books

• Tough Boris – Mem Fox
• Junior Fiction/Middle Grade:
• Redwall – Brian Jacques
• Toby Alone – Timothee de Fombelle
• Grimmelings – Rachael King
• Wolves of Greycoat Hall – Lucinda Gifford
• Tweet – Morris Gleitzman
• Tyger – S.F. Said’
• Skandar and the Unicorn Thief – A. F. Steadman
• Kip of the Mountain – Emma Gourlay
• I Am Rebel – Ross Montgomery
• Tiny Dogs – Rose Lihou
• Love That Dog – Sharon Creech
• The Way of Dog – Zana Fraillon
• October October – Katya Balen
• Silver Brumby – Elyne Mitchell
• Call of the Wild – Jack London
• White Fang – Jack London
• Runt – Craig Silvey
• Charlotte’s Web – E. B. White
• One and Only Ivan – K.A. Applegate
• Grace and Mr Milligan
• Marley and Me – John Grogan
• A Dog’s Purpose – W. Bruce Cameron
• Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo
• Finding Bear – Hannah Gold
• Pax by Sara Pennypacker
• Paws by Kate Foster
• Peggy and Molly – Juliette Wells
• Pawcasso – Remi Lai
• Honey and the Valley of Horses – Wendy Orr
• Funny Folktales
• Unlikely Friendships – Jennifer S. Holland
• Penguin Bloom – Cameron Bloom
• Until the Road Ends – Phil Earle
• Bad Guys – Aaron Blabey
• Real Pigeons – Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood
• Deborah Abela – The Kindness Project
• Cora Seen and Heard – Zanni Louise
• The Apprentice Witnesser – Bren Macdibble
• A Small Collection of Happinesses – Zana Fraillon
• Blueback – Tim Winton

 

“Cozy Reading Dogs” by Enokson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Wednesday March 20th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Award winners. We all purchase award winners for libraries but what are the titles that really work with young people?

We asked our members to share relevant Award Listings they have found to be successful in helping them choose titles for their libraries. As always, you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us and we had a great deal of fun!

This was our second book club meeting for 2024, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who attend and contribute to these informal and informative meetings. It was also the final book club meeting for our wonderful outgoing Executive Officer – Dr. Susan La Marca. We thank Dr. La Marca for her wonderful and tireless contributions to making our SLAV online book club such a valuable resource for our members. We also welcomed our new incoming Executive Offficer – Pam Saunders. We very much look forward to Pams future book club topics and meetings. Find details about our next meeting HERE.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Deb at The Younger Sunas an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Padlet with Links to Awards discussed can be found HERE. 

New Titles shared by Deb from the Younger Sun 

YA

• One by One They Disappear Mike Lucas
• I hope this does Not Find You Ann Liang
• Birdy Sharon Kernot
• Wombats go to Wizards Wharf Maddie Frost
• Lily Halfmoon Xavier Bonet
• My Aunt is a Monster Reimena Yee
• Australian Middle Years
• To and Fro Anton Clifford Motopi
• Losing the Plot annaleise Byrd
• Cora seen and heard Zanni Louise’
• Leo and Ralph Peter Carnavas
• Andromache Between the Worlds Gabriel Bergmoser
• Overseas Middle Years
• Whisperwicks Jordan Lees
• The Swifts Beth Lincoln
• Ferris Kate Di Camillo

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday February 15th, 2024, to discuss the topic: Books Worthy of Reconsideration. We asked members to share with us titles we may have forgotten or overlooked and as always, our members had so many wonderful contributions to share with us and we had a great deal of fun!

This was our first book club meeting for 2024, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who attend and contribute to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you all at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Find details about our next meeting HERE.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Deb at The Younger Sunas an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

 Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Titles Discussed:

• The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín
• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• The Story Of Tom Brennan by J.C. Burke
• Five Parts Dead by Tim Peglar
• Wizard of Earthsea series by Ursulas Le Guin
• Anne of Green Gables by Anne Montgomery
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
• Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
• Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
• A Simple Gift by Steven Herrick
• All the Green Year by Don Charlwood
• Ash Road by Alan Marshall
• Zeroes by Scot Westerfeld
• Warhorse by Michael Morpurgo
• Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
• The Bogan Mondrian by Steven Herrick
• Simone Howells novels
• Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
• Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden
• One by Sarah Crossan
• Robert Muchamore’s Cherub Series
• Screaming Staircase by Jonathon Stroud
• Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
• Cath Crowley’s novels
• Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo
• Rick Riordan’s Various Series
• Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
• The Enemy by Charlie Higson
• Sabriel by Garth Nix
• Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman
• Sally Lockhart Trilogy
• Mr Monday Series by Garth Nix
• Tamora Peirce’s novels
• The Rangers Apprentice Series by John Flannagan
• Spooks Apprentice by Joseph Delaney
• Drac and the Gremlin by Alan Baille
• Kate DiCamillo’s novels
• The Famous Five and Secret Seven Series by Enid Blyton
• I Am David by Ann Holm
• The Long Walk by Kerry Greenwood
• When We Were Two by Robert Newton
• Twopence to Cross the Mersey by Helen Forrester
• The Silver Sword by Ian Serailler
• The Black Dog Gang by Robert Newton
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis
• Slightly True Story of Cedar B Hartley by Martine Murray
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
• Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Allyse Near
• Books Shared by Deb from The Younger Sun  
• Outlaw Girls by Nova Weetman and Emily Gale
• Lani and the Universe by Victoria Careless
• Smoke and Mirrors by Barry Jonsberg
• Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr
• Eleanor Jones is not a Murderer by Amy Doak
• Into the Mouth of a Wolf by Erin Gough
• A Small Collection of Happiness by Zana Fraillon
• Children’s and Young Adult Titles read over the break
• Dana Swartz – Anatomy: A Love Story
• Travellers Along the Way: a Robin Hood remix by Aminah Mae Safi
• Rebels of Mt Buffalo by Helen Edwards
• The Frugal Wizards Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson
• Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms (graphic novel)
• Vanessa Len -Never A Hero
• Holly by Stephen King

Adult Titles discussed

• What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
• (Bronwen Ch’Ng)
• Holly by Stephen King
• Madukka the River Serpent by Julie Janson
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt,
• The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
• The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander
• Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doeer
• Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
• Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
• Gender Queer: A Memoir A graphic Novel about the complexities of gender identity
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• The Benevolent Society of Ill-mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
• Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
• Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Lisa Evans The Unusual Abduction of Avery Conifer
• Helen Dunmore Zennor in Darkness
• Philippa Gregory Normal Women
• Barbara Kinsolver Demon Copperhead
• Paul McCartney Lyrics.
• Gunflower by Laura Jean McKay
• We Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
• Vital Organs by Suzie Edge

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday November 12th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Short Stories and Short Books. We asked members to share short story collections or short books that work well with their students. As always, our members had so many wonderful contributions to share with us and we had a great deal of fun!

This was our final book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you all next year, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Jenny at The Younger Sun as an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

 Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Titles Discussed

• The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick
• The Little Wave by Pip Harry
• Life on the Refrigerator Door: a Novel in Notes by Alice Kuipers
• Foster by Claire Keegan
• Alice Oseman’s Novellas
• Minutes Of Series by Jack Heath
• Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link
• M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
• Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock.
• Only the Animals by Ceridwen Dovey
• I Am the Mau and Other Stories by Chemutai Glashee
• Dust Makers – edited by Penny Jaye and R.A. Stephens
• Off the Map by Scott Gardner
• Things a Map Won’t Show You and Where the Shoreline Used to Be Edited by Susan La Marca and Pam McIntyre
• Poe’s “Fall of the House of Usher”
• Astonishingly Good Stories by R.A. Spratt
• YOLO Juliet by Brett Wright and William Shakespeare
• Darcy Swipes Left by Courtney Carbone and Jane Austen
• OMG classics
• All in an Hour by Kate Chopin.
• The Pink Bow Tie by Paul Jennings
• The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury
• The Butler by Roald Dahl
• The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
• Bulletcatcher series by Chris Bradford the Mission Alert series by Benjamin Hulme-Cross
• The Defenders series by Tom Palmer (sport)
• Needle by Patrice Lawrence (realistic fiction)
• Firebird by Elizabeth Wein (war)
• Conkers series by Tom Palmer (war)

Aussie Nibbles of course for primary…have been re-issued as they were so successful. One title that was a bestseller for some reason, was “No Cat and that’s that” by Bruce Dawe illustrated by Andrew McLean.

• The Saturday Portraits – Maxine Beneba Clarke
• Tim Harris’ Exploding Endings have been amazing hook books for upper primary at my school.
• Smart Ovens for Lonely People – Elizabeth Tan
• The Mist by Stephen king
• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
• Unbreakable, Women share stories of resilience and Hope. Edited by Jane Caro.
• The Big Issue Presents Letter to my Younger self by Jane Graham
• Jon Scieszka – https://jonscieszka.com › guys-read – Commissioned and edited by real-life literature legend Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: True Stories is a brain-bending collection of essays, biographies, how-to guides …
• Other Short Collections – Growing up Wiradjuri / ed. by Anita Heiss.
• • Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
  • Growing Up Muslim in Australia
  • Growing Up Disabled in Australia
  • Growing Up African in Australia
  • Growing Up Queer in Australia

Quick Adult/YA Reads for Secondary Students

Disclaimer – some of the books on this list contain complex adult themes, we trust you to use your discretion when stocking these titles in your library, as you know your students and your school community best.

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
• We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson
• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
• Sula by Toni Morrison
• My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
• The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide, Eric Selland
• Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
• Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
• Crudo by Olivia Laing
• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
• Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori
• Crimson by Niviaq Korneliussen, Anna Halager
• A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon
• Indelicacy by Amina Cain
• Dolores by Lauren Aimee Curtis
• Strange Hotel by Eimear McBride
• Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami, Louise Heal Kawai, Jo Walker
• The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker
• The Death of Francis Bacon by Max Porter
• Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
• The Union of Synchronised Swimmers by Cristina Sandu
• Night Blue by Angela O’Keeffe
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells
• A Dream Life by Claire Messud
• People From My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami (Y), Ted Goossen
• The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-Eun, Lizzie Buehler
• Heatwave by Victor Jestin
• A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio, Ann Goldstein
• Nostalgia Has Ruined My Life by Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle
• Winter In Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
• Heaven by Mieko Kawakami, Sam Bett, David Boyd
• My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley
• Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
• Burntcoat by Sarah Hall
• A Slipping Down Life by Anne Tyler
• Leaving the Atocha Station by Ben Lerner (Y)
• Heartburn by Nora Ephron
• Napoleon’s Beekeeper by José Luis de Juan, Elizabeth Bryer
• Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

ADULT – What We Have Been Reading

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
• Women and Children by Tony Birch
• Question 7 by Richard Flanagan
• The Empty Honour Board by Martin Flanagan
• Exiles by Jane Harper
• Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
• So Late in the Day: Stories of Men and Women – Clare Keegan
• All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
• ‘The Inaugural meeting of the Fairvale book club’ – Sophie Green.
• Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
• The Librarianist by Patrick Dewitt
• Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
• All the Light we cannot See by Anthony Doer
• Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang