SLAV Online Book Club – November 12th, 2023 – Short Stories and Short Books.

Posted on November 20, 2023 by SLAV Connects

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

Meet Me at the Moontree by Shivaun Plozza – Ideas for Classrooms by Prue Bon

Posted on November 16, 2023 by SLAV Connects

For those of you who attended the October 26 Reading Forum, you may understand why I was eager to read Shivaun Plozza’s latest young adult novel, “Meet Me at the Moon Tree”. We were privileged to be able to hear Shivaun speak about her inspiration for this novel, and I have to honestly say that I was excited about the potential for including this text in the curriculum.

“Meet Me at the Moon Tree” is a beautiful exploration of grief and relationships: how grief can present differently in everyone, and how important all types of relationships are to being able to manage one’s grief. When Carina’s father dies from cancer, her mother moves the family to the Otway Ranges as both a fresh start and a way of remembering their patriarch. Carina has made a promise to her father, to search for the Moon Tree that he has told her will be in the forest behind their new home. But Carina’s family are struggling in the face of their grief – her mother and brother are angry, Carina is lonely and her Grandpa is doing his best to help them all.

This is a special title for a Teacher Librarian, because there is just so much in it that can be used to support teaching and learning, and the more I searched through the curriculum, the more I was able to find. With a focus on ‘healthy relationships’ and also how grief can affect everyone differently, it’s an obvious choice to match some of the Health curriculum. However, Carina’s passion for dendrology, and her scientific approach to finding the Moon Tree also makes it suitable for some areas of Science. It covers off the Personal and Social General Capability, and it works well for an exploration of Sustainability, under the Cross Curriculum Priorities. Check out the table below for some ideas as to how you could use excerpts of this wonderful novel in your curriculum planning. You can also find teacher’s notes on the UQP website (https://www.uqp.com.au/books/meet-me-at-the-moon-tree).

This novel would be suitable for students in Years 5-8. It should come with a box of tissues – for students who have experienced the loss of a loved one, they may find themselves connecting closely with Carina, and perhaps shedding a few tears. However, this a truly beautiful story, with some incredible messages about friendship and never giving up hope.

Curriculum area

Matching plot and curriculum

Possible activities

Level 5 & 6 Science

VCSSU074

Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment

VCSSU075

The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment

The plot is based around the ‘moon tree’ – an experiment from 1971 when hundreds of tree seeds were sent into space in order to understand how being in zero gravity might affect them once they were planted back on Earth.

Students can research the original experiment and present their findings.

Students could identify a range of environmental conditions that may affect the growth of seedlings. They could then replicate the experiment based on their own hypothesis and observe the growth of their own seedling (for example, how might heating or cooling a seedling affect its growth?)

Level 7 & 8 Science

VCSSU091

There are differences within and between groups of organisms; classification helps organise this diversity

Carina refers to herself as a ‘dendrologist’ and conducts a logical experiment to classify all of the trees that she finds in the forest while searching for the moon tree.

Students could reproduce Carina’s experiment within an area of the school yard, searching for a specific tree and identifying and classifying others that they come across in their search.

Level 7 & 8 Health

VCHPEP126

Investigate and select strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing

Carina’s family are dealing with the grief that results from the death of her father, from cancer.

Carina’s grandpa has also moved in with the family due to his diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

Students can research and present their findings on the services available for managing grief, dealing with a diagnosis, specifically considering cancer or Parkinson’s. They could evaluate which options are most appropriate for Carina’s family.

Level 5 & 6 Health

VCHPEP110

Examine the influence of emotional responses on behaviour, relationships and health and wellbeing

Each member of Carina’s family attempts to manage their grief in different ways – Carina remains positive and wants to create ‘memory seeds’ of her father, her mother withdraws and her brother becomes angry.

Students can examine the differences in each character’s reactions and how they affect the family dynamics. Through a series of hypothetical scenarios, students could identify how the individual behaviours affect others, and their own wellbeing and present ideas of how each character could be better supported.

Level 7 & 8 Health

VCHPEP127

Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others’ health and wellbeing

VCHPEP128

Analyse factors that influence emotions, and develop strategies to demonstrate empathy and sensitivity

Carina is concerned about making friends after she has moved. She recalls her ‘old’ friends, and how the relationship changes due to distance. When she meets a new friend, she is worried that Betty will be bored by Carina’s interest in trees. Grandpa helps Carina to see that friendships can be a bit like ‘companion planting’ in a garden and that you just need to find the companion that works best for you.

Students can explore the relationships that occur throughout the novel, creating a mind map that identifies the different relationships.

They could explore the idea of ‘companion planting’ and analyse how that could relate to their own lives, helping them to make appropriate connections between their own relationships.

Level 5 & 6 Personal & Social Capability

VCPSCSE025

Explore the links between their emotions and their behaviour

VCPSCSE027

Describe what it means to be confident, adaptable and persistent and why these attributes are important in dealing with new or challenging situations

VCPSCO031

Describe the characteristics of respectful relationships and suggest ways that respectful relationships can be achieved.

Carina and her family have a number of ‘every day’ situations that need to be managed, and many of their decisions are influenced by their grief.

– Moving house

– Making new friends

– Managing anger & grief

– Staying resilient in the face of surrounding negativity

– Over protective parents

– Getting lost in a forest in the middle of a storm

– Looking after a pet

– Being brave and speaking up

Students can be presented with the range of different scenarios that occur throughout the novel, and examine how each of the character’s deal with those situations, and how their actions affect the others around them.

They can evaluate which responses work and which don’t and identify a range of ways that they may be able to apply those reactions to their own lives.

They could write their own scenarios and identify how they think their ‘characters’ should behave.

SLAV Online Book Club – October 12th, 2023 – Promotional Tactics.

Posted on October 18, 2023 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday October 12th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Promotional Tactics. We asked members to consider promotional ideas or tactics – the way they talk about a book to students, the display they create, the activity they have created for an English class or book club, the tantalising review they have shared. We asked members to come along prepared to share quick and easy tactics for promoting a particular title, author or a genre that your students just cannot resist!

This was a HUGE success, and we have a fabulous resource of ideas from our chat space below and a padlet full of ideas and images as a result. All our members had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, it is greatly appreciated! Join us again on November 16^th to discuss the topic – Short Books and Short Stories.

This was our seventh 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 at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Ideas for Promotional tactics shared by Book Club Members

Padlet with Jenny’s list and other ideas too –

https://padlet.com/slavconnects/jenny-s-list-new-books-october-23-dvxcazitbl4w4q65

https://padlet.com/slavconnects/cornerstone-collection-slav-online-book-club-7m4pi39ziamyy07n

Banned Book Week – I do banned book week. and do a survey to see who reads banned books.
I follow @greatlibrarydisplays on Instagram. They recently showcased a library display that suggested titles according to a reader’s perception of their concentration span. I thought that validated those who only want to engage with quick reads, right beside those who love a tome.
Mainly compiling Reading Lists in ePlatform collection to engage staff and students with ebooks and audiobooks. Range of themes, including the current and topical – First Nations; Harmony Week; ANZAC Day; International Women’s Day etc. – https://vsv.eplatform.co/
What could be the story you’d like to write or read about? What’s your outline for a story or novel:

Identity:Could it be that you seek Identity and wanting to find your place in the world in young adult literature? Readers as seeking to find themselves in stories. Readers want to relate to a story. Writers continue to create relatable stories. What are some of the stories or novels which relate to you? The following are a list of Lebanese Australian authors and some of the books they have written for young people: Bro by Helen Chebatte, The Cult of Romance, Hate is Such a Strong Word by Sarah Ayoub, The F Team by Rawa Arja, Half My Luck by Kamaleddine, Samera, Huda and Me by Hayek, H, The Last Migration by Jad El Hage, 10 Things I Hate About Me by Abdel-Fattah, Randa, Huda and Me by H. Hayek
We have just had a display – You’ve seen the movie… now read the book!
I have also done a couple of different shelf displays for genre (pictures shared on padlet)
Our students love browsing non-fiction.
Yes, our English class also agreed to come in once a fortnight, English team very supportive. We read aloud a few minutes to them as well. For our (English) reading classes, we have split the 29 students into 2 (or sometimes 3) groups, so they are with their English teacher for one activity, and with library tls/staff for the other time – rotate every 15 or 20 mins.
It seems to cut down behavioural problems and enable more personal interaction, though it is very fast paced. I agree – the boys will read if they think it’s the right book for them. We have flexible learning spaces where the groups can be.
I have also done a genre vote each other vote. I use forms, then select two most borrowed books in that genre here is a link. https://forms.gle/F3jftrcwwJhYrvtL9
We also used short stories to read aloud to our boys’ secondary students, and the VATE (English site) has short story competition winners. Some picture books/poems work well.
https://www.vate.org.au/story-miniature-2023-writing-competition
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsqH2f94jPThlTtNT2ej1R8Wp8-pbLjiGjIRcF9FuMRQBQ7w/viewform?usp=sf_link
We use Beanstack Yr 7 & 8 – we call it reading detectives
I use forms for a lot of surveys and quizzes as well as paper based within the library
I ran an “escape room” set of puzzles during book week.

I work in an early childhood school, I use book taster circles to expose students to range of books.
For creating a buzz about literacy and books, for secondary students and for staff – lots of ideas on https://janeaustenlf.org/ Founded by Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen’s fifth great-niece, the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation is a Melbourne-based, not-for-profit organisation – includes a great writing competition
CBCA Shadow Judging, they can become published reviewers as well.
I used the FYI / synergy book (building a reading culture) to write a proposal for the executive as to different ways that we can get our students reading. I used data to say our student weren’t reading and that we needed to dramatically change our student’s mindset about reading. I now have all Year 7 come to the library once a fortnight to try and encourage them to read. I always do something promotional at the beginning to get their interest – book trailers, reading the blurb. We do a book tasting (Teachers pay teachers have all the sheets to print) once a term. Have been buying books that will suit the students. Change displays regularly to promote books. Have a competition between English classes to see who can borrow the most books for pizza party.
The Printz Award in America is also a possibility if you want to take them beyond Australian shores.
We challenge our students with the Premiers Reading Challenge while they attend once a week Library Class and at the end of Year we have an Awards and invite local MP .
Do a PowerPoint presentation during lunches. I did one where used emojis to help explain the mood of the book.
Poem Forest by Red Room Poetry gets them reading student poem compositions and is a way of encouraging published writing from students.
Author talks have helped.
Peer reviews on school library website/catalogue to engage students with books. We run “Biscuits and Books”once a week.
Shelftalkers if they would like peer reviews, and/ or become published reviewers themselves https://www.shelftalkers.slav.vic.edu.au/
‘Speed dating’ is great around Library Lovers’ Day. ‘Speed tasting’ when MasterChef kicks off. 2 minutes per book then circle the ‘matching emoji’ for their reaction/feel. e.g. smiley face with love heart eyes = My new favourite, and so on. Or, delicious, is there more in the pot? etc… Simple but effective.
I start with a class challenge for PRC first student submitting the required form and adding online from their class receive a block of chocolate and everyone after that chocolates are always give out. Chocolate is the attraction.

Bookmarks printed with a pic of the teacher at the top of the bookmark – we then ask them to put the bookmark in a book they have read / would like to recommend – the kids enjoy searching out the teachers faces and seeing what they like.
We have a list of staff’s favourites on a web page. The bookmarks take it to the next level.
For Primary schools – YABBA Virtual Author Events – https://www.yabba.org.au/
SLAV Question Generator – https://slav.org.au/Question-Generator can be used to create question stems for book discussion in book clubs or classes.
Author talks. We had Steven Herrick and Sophie Masson visit us this year.
Flip cards – we have a set for a topic of interest – kids like them.
We do an emoji treasure hunt for year 7s at the beginning of the year. This gives them a chance to look around library and get to know what is where.
A couple of our library staff have a trolley of popular and easy read books ready for each reading session, so that students who are overwhelmed by too much choice, simply pick from the trolley. We also have a customized trolley of books for our Gifted class.
Lucky dip titles – if you don’t know what to read take a slip with the title of book for student to look for and read.
Photos of students holding their favourite book as a kid and the one they’re currently reading, to promote reading progression and embracing a reading culture across one’s lifetime.
Laminated book suggestion cards
During the Covid years we used our school portal as a place for students in years 7 and 8 to record their reading, their reflections on their reading some reviews of books they’d read and to read the reviews of others. This was a great way to give students voice and to encourage peer recommendations.
Kids lit quiz – website link on padlet

What We Are Reading – Adult Titles.

Yellowface by RF Kuang

The Passage of Love by Alex Miller

A Man’s Place by Annie Ernaux

A Study in drowning by Ava Reid & The Thursday Murder Club #4

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan – book 2 in the Cormac Reilly series

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Milkwood Permaculture Living Handbook: Habits for Hope in a Changing World

The Coast by Dr Eleanor Sweetapple story of a 10yr old placed in quarantine for leprosy in Sydney

I’ve just started Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life by Anna Funder.

The Unbelieved by Vikki Petraitis – really incredible strong female protagonist, crime fiction.

Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

A People’s tragedy the Russian revolution by Orlando Figes

Kate Atkinson – Normal Rules don’t apply (Short stories)

SLAV Online Book Club – September 7th, 2023 – New Adult

Posted on September 21, 2023 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday September 7th, 2023, to discuss the topic: New Adult.

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

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated. Join us again in term four where our topics will be:

Thursday October 12 – Topic: Promotional Tactics
Thursday November 16 – Topic: Short Books and Short Stories

This was our sixth 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 at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

In term four we will also be asking for feedback and ideas for 2024 – we look forward to your suggestions.

At our September meeting the wonderful Alida shared how her school stores and displays the equivalent of New Adult in their library. These photos are of their space. Thank you to Alida for sharing.

Download Jenny’s list HERE.

New Adult Suggestions from the attendees

Crying – Michelle Zorner
Love and virtue – Diana Reed
Lessons in chemistry- Bonnie Gamus
The Modern – Anna Kate Blair
The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune
13 Reasons Why – Jay Asher
Stephen King titles
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
Convenience Store woman by Sayaka Murata
Chris Hammer titles
Kyle Perry titles
Scarecrow – Matthew Reilly
Ragdoll – Daniel Cole
Beyond the Body Farm – Jon Jefferson
Bridgerton series – Julia Quinn
The Queen is Dead – Stan Grant
Heat and Light – Ellen van Neerven
Norwegian Wood – Haruki Murakami
Stella Prize titles may be appropriate for this category
Tony Birch books,
The Last daughter – Brenda Matthews
The Fell – Sarah Moss
Summer Water – Sarah Moss
It sounded better in my head – Nina Kenwood
Interview with a vampire – Anne Rice
Holden Sheppard – The Brink
The Coast by Eleanor Limprecht
Unnecessary drama – Nina Kenwood
Ninth House’ – Leigh Bardugo

NEW ADULT books we are reading ourselves

The inbetween – Chris Tsolkas
The librarianist – Patrick deWitt
Cuddy – Benjamin Myers
Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here – Heather Rose
Last daughter – Brenda Matthews
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver
Yellowface – R F Kuang
Nine Days – Toni Jordan
Different for Boys – Patrick Ness
Lenny Marks gets away with Murder – Kerryn Mayne
The Wager – David Grann
The Lying Life of Adults – Elena Ferrante
Wifedom – Anna Funder
When the coffee gets cold series – Toshikazu Kawaguch
Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens – Shnakari Chandran
The Slap – Chris Tsolkas
The Lost Estate by Henri Alain-Fournier
Apples Never Fall – Liane Moriarty
Three Wishes – Liane Moriarty
You Need to Know -Liane Moriarty
The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa
The Dressmaker – Rosalie Ham

SLAV Online Book Club – August 8th, 2023 – Fantasy.

Posted on August 14, 2023 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Wednesday August 8^th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Fantasy.

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated. Join us again on September 7^th, 2023, to discuss the topic ‘New Adult’.

This was our fifth 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 at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Download Jenny’s List HERE

Books Discussed:

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher

The Prison Healer Series by Lynette Noni

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

Uprooted, and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

The House by the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Wayward Children series – starts with Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Dreadnought duology – trans rep – by April Daniels

Belgariad by David Eddings

Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Dark Heir by CS Pacat

Kaldoras by Lynette Noni

Lightlark by Alex Aster

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz by Garth Nix

We Who Hunt the Hollow Series by Kate Murray

Archives of Despair by Caleb Finn

Crook Haven – The Forgotten Maze by J.J. Arcanjo

Mermedusa by Thomas Taylor

Percy Jackson – The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini

City of Dragons by Garth Nix

Which Way Round the Galaxy by Cressida Cowell

The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston Fright by Reece Carter

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

Deadlands Series – Trapped by Skye Melki-Wegner

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas

The Fragile Threads of power by VE Schwab

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

The Near Witch by VE Schwab

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Tithe by Holly Black

Alan Garner – Weirdstone of Brisingamen; Moon of Gomrath; Owl Service; Red Shift

Susan Cooper – Dark is Rising Series

Diana Wynne-Jones – All of her books!

Rampant Series by Diana Peterfreund

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Hayes

Stoneblind by Natalie Hayes

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh

Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Stephanie Garber – Caraval

Blade Breaker by Kierstan White

Terry Pratchett – all of his books!

The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew

Sing Me To Sleep by Gabi Burton

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

The Mirror Visitor Series by Christelle Dabos

Strike the Zither by Joan He

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Gilded/Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen. The second book in the series just released – Painted Devils

Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong

Keeper of the Lost Cities Series by Shannon Messenger

The Realm Breaker Victoria Aveyard

The Atlas Six Series by Olive Blake

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Lightfall Graphic Novel Series by Tim Probert

Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

Disney Twisted Tales

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle Katherine Webber

Hedgewitch/Woodwitch by Skye McKenna

The Sun & the Star by Rick Riordan

Skandar Series by A F Steadman

Elementals Series by Amie Kaufman

Spellstone by Ross Montgomery

Jane Doe Series by Jeremy Lachlan

Wylah Series by Jordan Gould

Dragon Masters by Tracey West

The Winterish Girl by Melanie La Brooy

Lore Olympus Graphic Novel series by Rachel Smythe

Spellstone by Ross Montgomery

Spellhound by Lian Tanner

Nick Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas

The Witch Boy Graphic Novel Series by Molly Ostertag

The Girl From The Sea GN by Molly Knox Ostertag

The Left-handed Booksellers of London Series by Garth Nix

The Witch Hat Atelier Series by Kamome Shirahama

Amari and the Night Brothers series by B. B. Alston

The Wind on the Moon by Eric Linklater

Adult – What We are Reading

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss

Gentleman Bastard by Scott Lynch

Kate Daniels / Ilona Andrews

The Unbelieved by Vikki Petraitis

Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté

SLAV Online Book Club – June 15th, 2023 – Fiction to Enrich Curriculum Areas.

Posted on June 22, 2023 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday June 15^th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Fiction that enriches a curriculum area. Fiction related to a curriculum area can enrich a student or a teacher’s understanding. What fiction explores, explains or develops the readers insight into an area – history, science, art – there are lots of possibilities. Both Tye and Jenny focussed on General Capabilities for this meeting, but if you need more suggestions, we absolutely encourage you to reach out to Jenny at The Younger Sun as an invaluable resource in this area.

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated. We were also delighted to be joined, once again, by the fabulous and knowledgeable Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. This was our fourth 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 at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

General Capabilities – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Jenny’s List

Tye’s List

VSV Reading – First Nations: Language and story – https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/20317

VSV Reading – First Nations: Language and story – Younger readers

Includes picture books –

https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/20316

Beautiful books by Auntie Fay, Auntie Joy & Auntie Patsy with Sue Lawson

Magabala Books – Indigenous Publisher

Nadia Wheatley’s classic My place was updated to include pre-colonial history and 1967 referendum and has a ABC tv series to supplement.

Uncle Xbox by Jared Thomas has also been popular.

Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia

Amazing authors to read –

Oliver Phommavanh

Alice Pung

Gabrielle Wang

Dragon Keeper Series by Carole Wilkinson

Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim

Tokyo Ever After – Emiko Jean

The Magic Fish – Trung Le Nguyen

Six Crimson Cranes – Elizabeth Lin

To All the Boys I’ve Loved (series) Jenny Han

Iron Widow – Xiran Jay Zhao

Strike the Zither – Joan He

This Time It’s Real – Ann Liang

Only A Monster – Vanessa Len

Catfish Rolling – Clara Kumagai

The Ones We’re Meant To Find – Joan He

VSV Reading – Harmony Week (Younger readers) – https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/22484

The Red Palace by June Hur- Historical mystery thriller.

This Time it’s Real by Ann Liang- A fake romance turned real.

Front desk by Kelly Yang- Middle fiction- Realistic fiction- now a series.

Sustainability

Jenny’s List

Tye’s List

VSV Reading – Our world and environment – https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/24919

The Sky So Heavy – Claire Zorn

The Callers – Kiah Thomas

The Last Wild – Piers Torday

The Dark Wild – Piers Torday

The Wild Before – Piers Torday

The Wild Beyond – Piers Torday

Wind Riders (series) – Jen Marlin

Polar Bear Patrol – Jess Butterworth

The Adventure Club – Jess Butterworth

The Orphan Orangutan – Jess Butterworth

Polly Pecorino – Emma Chichester Clark

The Wild Robot – Peter Brown

The One & Only Ruby – Katherine Applegate

The Letterbox Tree – Rebecca Lim/Kate Gordon

Dear Greta – Yvette Poshoglian

The Orchard Underground – Mat Larkin

Devils In Danger – Samantha Wheeler

The Good Times of Pelican Rise – Samone Amba

The Last Bear – Hannah Gold

The Lost Whale – Hannah Gold

Humanities and Social Sciences

Tye’s List

SLAV Online Book Club May 17th, 2023 – Horror.

Posted on May 19, 2023 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our Wednesday May 17^th online book club meeting to discuss the topic: Horror. We asked – What constitutes horror? Why does it work? Is it just shock value (look at what I am reading!) or are these stories that truly resonate? When is it just too much for young readers?

This was our third 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 at our next meeting!

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Classic Horror – recommended for secondary students

Cujo by Stephen King

Carrie by Stephen King

The Shining by Stephen King

It by Stephen King

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

The Rats by James Herbert

Lair by James Herbert

Domain by James Herbert

The Magic Cottage by James Herbert

The Fog by James Herbert

The Dark by James Herbert

The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Rawblood by Catriona Ward

Little Eve by Catriona Ward

Sundial by Catriona Ward

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

Sandman by Neil Gaiman (graphic novel fantasy horror)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Brightly List – 13 Frightfully Good YA Horror Novels

Brightly List – Surefire YA Scares:

18 of the Best Teen Horror Books

What We All Saw by Mike Lucas

The Enemy Series by Charlie Higson

The Hazel Wood Book 1 by Melissa Albert

Horror Manga

Junji Ito

The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai, Posuka Demizu (Illustrator)

Jenny from The Younger Sun recommends

Full list for download

Upper Primary

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Witching Hour Series by Jack Henseleit

Goosebumps by R.L Stine

Into the Pit – Five Nights at Freddy’s Fazbear Frights Book 1 by Scott Cawthon, Elley Cooper

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Adult Books – What We Are Reading

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah – Squid Game meets The Handmaid’s Tale in THE new dystopian novel of summer 2023

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater – the instant Sunday Times bestseller. The debut suspense thriller of 2023 that you don’t want to miss!

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

SLAV Online Book Club – March 22nd, 2023 – Graphic Novels.

Posted on March 27, 2023 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our Wednesday March 22 online book club meeting to discuss the topic: Graphic Novels.

Graphic novels offer so much – award winning, artistic, meaningful they are a broad and inviting genre but they can also be confronting and culturally inappropriate.

We asked – What are the best and what are the worst to be avoided? Where do you source them?Where are they kept in your library?

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.

We were also delighted to be joined, once again, by the fabulous and knowledgeable, Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville.

This was our second 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 at our next meeting! You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Books Discussed

Seance Tea Party by Reimena Yee

Percy Jackson Series graphic novels by Rick Riordan

The Arrival by Shaun Tan (in small format)

Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau

Hoops by Matt Tavares

Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas

Friendly Bee and Friends by Sean E Avery

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Cat on the Run series by Aaron Blabey (Coming September 2023)

In Waves by AJ Dungo

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

Jarretts’ TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jarrett_j_krosoczka_how_a_boy_became_an_artist?language=en

Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Underground by Mirranda Burton

Kent State by Derf Backderf (both treat Vietnam War themes).

Any graphic novel versions of classics such as 1984, Animal Farm, Jane Austen adaptations, Dracula, Frankenstein, Shakespeare.

Chippy Chasers by Sam Cotton

Sad Ghost Club series by Lize Meddings

Year 10s at my school study Long Way Down (we have it for 7/8s in our MS) – the verse novel version.

Muhammad Najeen War Reporter by Muhammad Najeen

Welcome to St Hell by Lewis Hancox

Holocaust by Dolan Hugh

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

Sheets and Delicates by Brenna Thummler

Wicked things by John Allison- a 19-year-old detective who is framed for murder.

Tiny Dancer by Siena Cherson Siegela story about a young dancer who struggles with body image and mental health.

Making Friends series by Kristen Gudsnuk- the secondary girls have been loving this series. The books are never on the shelves.

One Year at Ellesmere by Faith Erin Hicks- a story about a 13-year-old student struggling to fit in at a posh boarding school, when she wins a scholarship.

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson (and friends) series- A solid middle grade read. Similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the drawings and text are mixed. It makes for a very easy read, but deals with issues which middle-grade students may start to have.

Go With The Flow by Karen Schneemann, Lily Williams

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

WARRIORS by Erin Hunter graphic novel series

ALL Raina Telgemeier graphic novels

Tokyo Ghoul series by Sui Ishida

Click, Camp, Act, Crunch by Kayla Miller

Furball series by Adrian Beck

Secret Mole series by James Foley

Brobot series with Sally Tinker Inc.

Catwad by Jim Benton

Kate and Jol Temple – The Under Dogs series is great!

Wings Of Fire by Tui Sutherland – graphic novel series

Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi

Alex Rider series graphic novels by Anthony Horowitz

Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin – graphic novel series

Adult books – What We Are Reading

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

Red Queen by Juan Gomex-Jurado

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

The Running Club by Ali Lowe

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

Limberlost by Robbie Arnott

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

The Rise of Wolves by Kerr Thomson

Running Full Tilt by Michael Currinder

Chessboxer by Stephen Davies

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

Helpful Links / Further Resources

ComicsPlus https://comicsplusapp.com/

Graphic Novel list by

Jenny Kiely – Schools Specialist at The Younger Sun Bookshop, Yarraville.

SLAV Online Book Club – February 16th, 2023 – Book to Film Adaptations

Posted on February 17, 2023 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our February 16^th, 2023 online book club meeting to discuss books that have been made into films. As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.

We were also delighted to be joined by Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. The Younger Sun have created a beautiful window (pictured above) to celebrate our first book club meeting!

Jenny’s List can be downloaded here.

Reinas’ Lesson Plan can be downloaded here – Lesson 13- Books into Movies

This was our first 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 at our next meeting! You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

TOPIC – Books that are Films

Book to film or film to book this is a popular genre that includes many tried and true titles. Often an accessible option for reluctant readers the film tie can help readers visualise the action. What titles have worked for you? What move tie-ins have disappointed? What books would you like to see made into a film?

Books Discussed

Blueback by Tim Winton

The Bad Guys by Aaaron Blabey

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

Lockwood & Co. by Johnathan Stroud

Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman- great TV adaptation via Binge

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

Clueless the Movie for Emma by Jane Austen

Holes by Louis Sachar

Dune by Frank Herbert

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

Dungeons & Dragons Series

Anne with An E television series for Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery

Little Women by Alcott

Charlottes Web by E.B White

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Barnes

The Amazing Maurice by Terry Pratchett

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendack

Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall Series

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis

The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

NEW MOVIE ADAPTATIONS – Coming Soon

Wonka

Peter Pan and Wendy

The Magicians Elephant

Percy Jackson TV Series

Eragon – 2024

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Goosebumps TV Series

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Wicked by Gregory McGuire

Heartstopper Season 2

Shadow and Bone season two

Ready Player Two

The Silo Series

Whitebird

The Messenger

One Piece is coming out as series on Netflix.

Nimona coming out as a movie, but might not be this year.

The White Girl by Tony Birch

What We Are Reading – Adult Books

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Limberlost by Robbie Arnott

The Offing by Benjamin Myers

Cairo by Chris Wormersley

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge (YA)

Weywood by Emilia Hart

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

Encyclopedia of Fairies by Emily Wild

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Philippa Gregory’s Dawnlands which is the third in the Tidelands about First Nations people in

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wison.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Burial Rites and The Good People by Hannah Kent

True North by Catherine Deveny

We Who Hunt the Hollow by Kate Murray (YA)

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

SLAV Online Book Club – November 17th, 2022 – Sport

Posted on November 29, 2022 by SLAV Connects

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our November 17^th, 2022, online book club meeting to discuss sport titles. As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.

This was our last book club meeting for 2022, 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 share the Topics we have planned for 2023 and look forward to welcoming you all back to SLAV Online Book club next year!

Titles Discussed

Existing lists on the internet and at Readings

https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-lists/fab-football-books-for-children/

https://www.readings.com.au/collections/books-for-sporty-kids

Little Ash by Ash Barty – junior fiction series

Sam Kerr Series by Sam Kerr and Fiona Harris

Game Day Series by Patty Mills

Specky Magee Series by Felice Arena and Gary Lyon

AFL Little Legends by Nicole Hayes and Adrian Beck

As Fast As I Can by Penny Tangey

Diary of a Soccer Star Series by Shamini Flint

Boss Ladies of Sport by Philip Marsden