Can you remember what it was like to be a teenager? This week, author Olivia De Zilva joins us again to recall the feelings and stories that shaped us when we were young. As an ex-teenager and current writer for teens/young adults, Olivia has much wisdom to share about the whimsy and grittiness that characterise those formative years. Over the past few decades, what’s changed and what’s remained the same about books for young readers? What do teenagers really want to read? And how do authors express life’s messiness to younger audiences without being paternalistic?
If you love YA or know somebody who does — check out Olivia De Zilva’s latest novel, Eggshell! It’s the current Amy & book of the month and we’d love to see you at our live book club over on YouTube on April 23 (7pm ACST).
MENTIONS:
Authors:
Jacqueline Wilson
John Green
Lemony Snicket
Rachel Hennessy
Books:
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Eggshell by Olivia De Zilva
First Love from Silhouette series by Silhouette Books New York
Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein
I Am David by Anne Holm
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson
Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
Max Remy Super Spy by Deborah Abela
My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas
Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park
Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan
Specky Magee by Felice Arena & Garry Lyon
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
The Saddle Club by Bonnie Bryant
The Time Master Trilogy by Louise Cooper
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
Tom Brown’s School Days by Thomas Hughes
Warriors by Erin Hunter
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Film & TV:
Bluey (2018–)
BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
Daria (1997-2002)
Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Skins (2007-2013)
The OC (2003-2007)
The Princess Diaries (2001)
The Saddle Club (2001-2009)
Wuthering Heights (2026)
Other:
Molly Goodrich, 2020, ‘The Rise and Fall of YA’, Your Magazine, August 8
@Comfortable_Bell9539 ‘As a former fan, I feel betrayed by her’, r/EnoughJKRowling, Reddit
LINKS:
🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW
🌸 Our Socials:
* IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub
* FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/
* TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub
💛 Where to find Amy:
* Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ amymatthewsauthor/
* Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor
* Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/
Thank you so much for listening! 💞

You Can Turn Anything Into Drugs*, and Other Things I Learnt from YA Fiction
54:24

BOOK CLUB: How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
1:02:38

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates: Interview with Shailee Thompson
50:20