The year in review

Cream of the crop: 2021 YA fiction in review

In a year of lockdowns, deep cleans and social distancing, you can be forgiven for missing some of the great Aussie fiction for young people that has been published. Local writer and young-adult fiction lover, Polly Jude, takes us through some of her favourite YA novels of 2021.

100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze

by Gabrielle Williams

Xander is devastated when he finds out his Nanna (his best friend) has Stage 4 cancer. She only has a few months to live. Xander’s frustrated. There’s nothing he can do to save her. Then his Nanna makes him write a list. Xander’s list of 100 remarkable feats drives him to make new friends, get the courage to ask out Ally Collins, to take chances and to find a new way forward. Xander’s quest to achieve all the feats on his list coincides with the disappearance of local schoolboy, Sean Emerson. When Xander sets out to find Sean in the national park where he’s thought to be hiding, Xander has no idea how their lives will be changed forever. 100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze is a beautifully written, hopeful story about compassion, acceptance and survival. With his unique narrative style, Comber has given Xander a loveable voice that will melt your heart. This coming of age, pay-it-forward rom-com is going to be a crowd-pleaser. Mums will love it, young adults (especially girls) will love it and if you can read this without crying happy and/or sad tears, you should see a doctor!

Harper Collins / 304pp / RRP $19.99

Low Expectations

by Stuart Everly-Wilson

Fifteen-year-old Devon Destri is a young man in hiding. Devon’s let the whole world think he can’t talk, that he’s ‘hard of speaking’ and that his cerebral palsy makes him stupid. But Devon is smarter than they all know. Set in gritty industrial Western Sydney in 1975, Low Expectations covers a tough year for Devon and for fashion. He loves David Bowie and it’s yet another thing that separates him from the conservative, workingclass world he lives in. Devon’s nearly at the end of high school and a lifetime of secrets are about to catch up with him and his mum. While not strictly marketed as YA, this one will appeal to the adults who can’t get enough YA fiction. It is fastpaced, funny and so clever it hurts. Low Expectations explores a number of confronting issues including rape and sexual abuse, domestic violence, bullying, living with disability and sexuality. Devon is on a hero’s journey to save himself and his best friend, Big Tammy. Their story is one of overcoming adversity and defying the odds. Devon is the YA hero we needed in 2021.

Text Publishing / 320pp / RRP $32.99

Dark Rise

by C.S. Pacat

The Break

by Phillip Gwynne

Sixteen-year-old dock boy, Will, has been on the run and in hiding since his mother was murdered. As Will stumbles into an unknown world of old magic, the wars between the Light and the Dark, and the Stewards set to save the secrets and protect the future, he begins to learn about the old magic and the secrets his mother died trying to protect. His epic adventure takes Will from the grimy London docks to live with the Stewards in their mysterious old world. Not only does Will have to work out how to unlock his magic before the Dark King’s return, he’s trying to work out what it has to do with his mother and why she died trying to protect him. Fast-paced and gripping, Dark Rise will have you hooked from the opening pages. The worst part is going to be the long wait for the second book in the trilogy. Dark Rise will appeal to any young readers who have enjoyed C.S. Pacat’s other work. It has the same fast action her fans have come to know and love. The quick pace will appeal to both male and female readers.

Allen and Unwin / 464pp/ RRP $19.99 Growing up on the gorgeous and iconic Bali surf scene, Taj’s life was every surfer’s dream. Until the day, ten years ago, when his father was arrested for trying to smuggle drugs into Bali. Since then, with his dad on death row, Taj’s life has been on hold. But when the date for his father’s execution is set, they’ve run out of options. Taj is unable to accept this fate and instead, comes up with a daring plan to break his father out of Bali’s infamous Kerobokan Prison. The plan looks like it might even work, until mother nature steps in and all flights in and out of Bali are cancelled when a volcano erupts. Taj and his father are on the run. The deadly chase across Indonesia reveals dark secrets about his family, his girlfriend and the kick-arse chick he’s falling for. The Break is a fast-paced action read that will hook even the most reluctant YA reader. Phillip Gwynne has received critical acclaim for his previous works, Deadly Unna? and Nukkin Ya. The Break will appeal to readers with a short attention span. This is a whirlwind ride, so buckle up and hold on!

Penguin / 384pp / RRP $19.99

Girls in Boys’ Cars

by Felicity Castagna

Teen relationships can be, well, complicated. That’s certainly the case for Rosa and her best friend, Asheeka. Frustrated by the roles they’ve somehow found themselves playing in their own lives, the mates make a rash decision after a nude is leaked online. They take Asheeka’s boyfriend’s car for a ride. But when the joke stops being funny, they keep driving. Their road trip across NSW sees them learning more about themselves and each other. Rosa and Asheeka are forced to face the realities of their choices, to explore the social issues facing young women and what pushed them to go on the run in the first place. When Asheeka disappears, Rosa is the only one to face the music. Now in juvenile detention, Rosa is asked to write down her story and she paints a very different picture to the version of events presented in court. The characters are real, gritty and they make terrible mistakes, just like the rest of us. The frustratingly powerless position of young women in the modern world is heartbreaking. Rosa’s Thelma and Louise moment offers hope for a better life and reminds us of the enduring power of the sisterhood. Female YA readers and their mums will enjoy this one.

Pan Macmillan / 304pp / RRP $18.99

Social Queue

by Kay Kerr

Zoe Kelly is embracing a whole new stage in life. She’s just finished high school and while her best mate is enjoying a gap year overseas, Zoe is starting uni and has an internship at Bubble, one of Brisbane’s most successful online media companies. Her first writing assignment leads her right back to high school and the traumas that went with years of bullying. But the assignment leaves Zoe wondering if she might have been missing the signs all along. Years of miscommunication, misreads and misunderstanding are now catching up with her and she’s taking a closer look at the boys from her past. What follows are a series of terrible dates, and some sweet ones. Zoe explores her own sexuality and spoiler alert, finds love in unexpected places. It’s a romcom with a unique and engaging voice that is easily relatable, because let’s face it, reading the signs of love can be a minefield at the best of times. This novel is about an autistic teen trying to decipher confusing love rituals. Social Queue offers a valuable insight into the lives of those on the spectrum. It’s funny and heart-warming and will appeal to readers who enjoyed Kerr’s first novel, Please Don’t Hug Me.

Penguin / 352pp / RRP $19.99

Anything But Fine

by Tobias Madden

Luca has trained his whole life and is ready to audition for the Australian Ballet, when one missed step sees his life thrown into chaos. He loses his scholarship at his fancy school and is sent to public school where there’s a whole different set of rules and without ballet, he doesn’t even know who he is anymore. The broken foot leads him to an occupational therapist where he finds a beautiful stranger waiting for him. Jordan is the rowing captain and hero. Everyone says he’s straight, but Luca’s not so sure. Anything But Fine is about love, loss, friendship and picking up the pieces. When all seems lost, Luca finds the true grit required to make a name for himself. It explores social issues including bullying, sexuality, homophobia and overcoming adversity with care and empathy.