YA Book Stack

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YA Book Stack

YA Book Stack is an in-conversation podcast with Australian authors who discuss the application of their text in the middle years English classroom and the ways their text is reflective of the experiences of young adult readers and the world they engage with. Through a focus on the text in the classroom, YA Book Stack aims to encourage educators to embrace the flexibility of the middle years and explore a broader range of texts in their curriculum.

  1. 3D AGO

    Kay Kerr's authentic writing on neurodiversity

    Kay Kerr is an autistic journalist and author who writes fiction and non-fiction that explores the oftentimes surreal life experiences of neurodivergent young people. She has published two Young Adult novels, and a narrative non-fiction book. Kay has a new novel coming out this year (2025) with Pan Macmillan called Might Cry Later, as well as an essay in the UQP anthology of autistic writers: Someone Like Me. This episode includes a discussion of Love & Autism, Social Queue and Plea...

    27 min

  2. APR 1

    Solli Raphael on Starlight

    Solli Raphael is an award-winning author, poet, advocate, and acclaimed keynote speaker. His latest book, Starlight, aims to guide self-discovery and expression in kids and teens. This episode includes a discussion of Starlight by Solli Raphael, as well as reading recommendations including: Window by Jeannie Baker Morris Gleitzman Deborah Abela Limelight by Solli Raphael Spotlight by Solli Raphael Robert Frost Maya Angelou Also discussed are: The experience of becoming a published author as...

    18 min

  3. FEB 24

    Keshe Chow on The Girl with No Reflection

    In this episode of YA Book Stack, Karys is joined by Keshe Chow (she/her), a #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy, romance, and speculative fiction. Born in Malaysia, Keshe moved to Australia when she was two years old. Currently she resides in Naarm (Melbourne) with her husband, two kids, one cat, and way too many house plants. They discuss Keshe's novel, The Girl with No Reflection as well as reading recommendations including: "Fauna of Mirrors" from The Book of Imaginary Beings by...

    25 min

  4. 12/08/2024

    Summer Reading with Emily Gale

    Karys McEwen is a school librarian, children’s author, bookseller, vice president of the Victorian branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, and education advisor for the Melbourne Writers Festival. She is passionate about the role libraries and books can play in the wellbeing of young people, and she is currently writing a Substack newsletter for educators and parents called I Read A Lot. Her debut middle grade novel, All the Little Tricky Things, was published by Text Publishing i...

    31 min

  5. 11/09/2023

    Robyn Dennison on Blind Spot

    Robyn Dennison joins Emma for YA Book Stack to chat about her debut novel, Blind Spot. Blind Spot was shortlisted for the Text Prize in 2021. 'Intense' seems to be a fitting word to describe the novel but Blind Spot is not without moments of celebration and light. At its core, Blind Spot follows Dale, the male protagonist, who witnesses but doesn't intervene in the sexual assault of a girl from his school and the fall-out of his inaction as he grapples with why he didn't do anything. While th...

    53 min

  6. 05/23/2023

    Will Kostakis on We Could Be Something

    In the first YA Book Stack interview for 2023, Will Kostakis shares his inspiration for his new novel, We Could Be Something. The book is marketed as a ‘rollercoaster’ about two young men, each on their own journey of discovery. The novel is just that – a heartwarming, fun and funny read for high school students following the lives of two young people, two decades apart in Sydney's Darlinghurst. We Could Be Something sits on the cusp of students’ favourite genres – part coming-out story, part...

    59 min

  7. 09/20/2022

    Holden Sheppard on The Brink

    Holden Sheppard's The Brink doesn't shy away from delving into material that is relevant to the lives of young people. From mental health, masculinity, family and friendships to sexuality and love, each page of the The Brink is laden with Holden's trademark gritty and honest depiction of the relationships and lives of young adults. In this YA Book Stack interview, Holden elaborates on some of the key ideas within The Brink, shares his writing motivations and his embodied creative writing proc...

    1h 14m
  8. Malla Nunn on Sugar Town Queens

    05/30/2022

    Malla Nunn on Sugar Town Queens

    Listen in to Emma and Malla Nunn’s chat about her new YA release, Sugar Town Queens. Set in South Africa against the backdrop of a community grappling with the last impacts of apartheid and deep economic disparity, watch the friendship between three fiercely independent and uniquely individual young women blossom. Sugar Town Queens celebrates what it means to be empowered when the odds are stacked against you, the power of 'Ubuntu' and the sweetness of first love. In this interview for YA Boo...

    1h 2m
See All (13)

    About

    YA Book Stack is an in-conversation podcast with Australian authors who discuss the application of their text in the middle years English classroom and the ways their text is reflective of the experiences of young adult readers and the world they engage with. Through a focus on the text in the classroom, YA Book Stack aims to encourage educators to embrace the flexibility of the middle years and explore a broader range of texts in their curriculum.

    Information

    • Channel
      VATE Podcasts
    • Creator
      Victorian Association for the Teaching of English
    • Years Active
      2021 - 2025
    • Episodes
      13
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © 2025 YA Book Stack
    • Show Website
      YA Book Stack

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