New Books for Summer Reading

What’s new and popular in YA and children’s reading this year? This week Bronwyn, from the Hobart Bookshop, introduces some great titles to hook readers of all ages. There might be something here for the Christmas stocking!

Looking back on 2024, there have been many highlights in children’s fiction, including new releases from favourite authors who have returned to capture the imaginations of new readers.

Philip Reeve wrote the first book in the Mortal Engines series in 2001, with the fourth book in the main quartet, A Darkling Plain, released in 2006. While there have been subsequent releases since, the brand-new Thunder City marks a return to the same world as the first Mortal Engines book. Revisiting a series after such a long break can be challenging, as the original audience for these books are no longer children. Reeve hopes to attract a new audience by introducing an entirely new cast of characters. The book has only just been released in Australia, so we eagerly wait to see if it will captivate readers as the original did.

Emily Rodda, beloved for her Rowan of Rin and Deltora Quest series, has returned with an epic simultaneous three-book release. This is an unusual move, as none of the books are available individually. The Landovel series is beautifully presented as a box set—a bold commitment that only an author who has already captured the hearts of many readers could undertake.

Another emerging trend that many may have noticed is the growing abundance of YA books about murder and mystery. Thanks to the popularity of series by Holly Jackson and Karen McManus, and spurred on by the way YA readers use TikTok to discover books, the number of titles in this space has grown significantly. These books vary greatly in tone and depth, but they often succeed in holding the attention of readers who might not otherwise immerse themselves in a book. Speaking with readers of this genre reveals a common thread: the need to know how the story ends.

The murder-mystery genre also allows YA readers to examine human motivations, fostering an understanding that people don’t always act as they should—a key part of adolescent development. These aren’t the only books exploring the human condition; character diversity is also increasing. Traditionally marginalised characters are being more frequently placed at the centre of stories rather than relegated to the sidelines.

Some standout recent examples include Thunderhead by Sophie Beer, where the protagonist shares the same disability as the author, lending the story a palpable resonance and authenticity. Maggie O’Farrell, the award-winning author of Hamnet, has written a children’s picture book, When the Stammer Came to Stay, featuring a character who begins to struggle with speech—a challenge the author herself experienced. Both of these books offer profound understanding and empathy, making them powerful additions to children’s literature.

Bronwyn Chalke
The Hobart Bookshop

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