1. Pick up a book (your current read, or the closest book to you, or your next read, etc)
2. Turn to page 77
3. Find a snippet, sentence or paragraph you like.
4. Share it on your blog or Twitter or Instagram. Link back to AusYABloggers, using #77Saturday

One of my reading goals this year (something else I'm still planning to talk about a bit here soon) is to read more diversely in terms of gender. I didn't read any books by trans or nonbinary authors last year, and I'm really keen address this hole in my reading this year!

Today I had the pleasure of reading George by Alex Gino, a sweet little book about a 10 year old trans girl:

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

Here's my little snippet from page 77 (although, to be honest, this is actually from page 76 because it was just too good not to share).

"Charlotte isn't dumb!" George threw her fork down. It ricocheted off the edge of her plate and twirled end over end in the air. All eyes were on the utensil, which spun as if in slow motion. It hit the ceiling and bounced on Scott's head before rattling to the floor."


I really enjoyed this book! Not only is it a fantastic and story, I also loved that there is a section in the back of the book where the author answers some FAQs, and gives some information about supporting trans people. The writing is really accessible - perfect for young people who might be going through something similar, and definitely engaging enough for adult readers to enjoy and learn from too.

xo Bron

One of my reading goals this year has been to read more diverse Australian literature, so when I first heard about Meet Me at the Intersection - a brand new collection of short pieces by diverse writers for YA readers - it went straight to the top of my list of most anticipated book for the year. I was very excited when Fremantle Press sent me an advance copy, and I've enjoyed reading it a few stories at a time over the past few weeks.

It is finally out, and I'm so happy to be able to share some of my thoughts on it with you!


First, here's what the Fremantle Press website has to say about it:



I loved this book, and I know it is one I will go back to and reread. I'm not really sure how to approach talking about it - I don't think I've reviewed a collection of short stories etc before! - so I'm just going to tell you a few of my favourite things about it.

Firstly, I really enjoyed each and every piece in this collection. Everyone of them felt personal, like the writer was sharing a part of them with me, and I felt lucky to be given that insight into lives different than mine.

I loved that there was a variety of formats of writing in it, including poetry and short fiction and memoirs.

There are contributions from such a broad range of Australian voices, which was not only wonderful to read in this book, but it has introduced me to so many new and diverse writers whose work I'll be looking out for now (I want to read EVERYTHING each one of these writers have written!)

I also really enjoyed the little introduction to each writer at the front of their piece - I feel like hearing a bit about each of their stories was one of the things that helped make the writing feel so personal.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic collection that would be the perfect starting place for anyone who wants to increase the diversity of their reading (which should really be all of us!).

xo Bron

***Meet Me at the Intersection***
Out now from Fremantle Press
On Goodreads
Source: Thanks so much to Fremantle Press for sending me a free copy!
Genre: This one is a mix of fiction and non-fiction, memoir, poetry - all kinds of things! The collection is aimed at YA readers.

One of my favourite picture books this year has been Some Girls by Nelly Thomas and illustrated by Sarah Dunk - this was one of the kids' books that made it into the book stack I talked about in my first post on the Living Arts Canberra website. I think I first saw this one on Instagram, and as soon as I saw the cover I fell in love with it and knew we had to have it!

I actually think this is pretty close to the perfect picture book. The text in this one is fantastic - it is all about how all girls can be whatever they want, look however they want, wear whatever they want, like all kinds of things, be gross sometimes, be mad sometimes, and all girls are really good at something. I love love love it!



Along with the amazing message, I absolutely adore the illustrations. It is so important to me that when we read picture books the characters in them don't all look like us. You can see just from the cover Some Girls features girls from diverse backgrounds, as well as including girls with disabilities. This books has given us some great opportunities to talk about how people are different, but how really we are also the same.

My daughter is at pre-school this year, so I feel like she is right in that age group where the kids are talking a lot about gender stereotypes - this is only for girls, or only boys can do that - so this one has been great for us to do some busting of those sorts of comments. We'll definitely be getting a copy of the follow up book Some Boys, which is out now! Go out and get them, people!

xo Bron

*** Some Girls***
 Available now
Source: I rushed out and bought a copy after seeing the cover on Instagram and falling in love!
Age: 3+
Themes: Gender stereotypes, identity
Find Nelly Thomas and Sarah Dunk at Some Kids Books here

It is no secret that I'm trying to read ALL the #loveozya books this year, and that If I Tell You, by Alicia Tuckerman, was one of the books that I was most excited about (I wrote a bit about it here).  By now it is also no secret that when I read this I absolutely I loved it! Let me tell you a little bit about the story (thanks to the Goodreads plot summary), and then we can talk about what I liked so much about it...

Seventeen-year-old Alex Summers lives with a secret and the constant fear someone will find out. But when a new family moves to town, they bring with them their teenage daughter Phoenix Stone. When Alex falls for Phoenix, there is no warning. In a small town with small minds, girls don’t go out with other girls, even if they want to.

In fear there is bravery – you can either cling to the edge or have the courage to jump. But what do you do when you’re left spiralling through the freefall?

** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**
A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars by Yaba Badoe is out now from Head of Zeus.

** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**


Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival's Freak Show... 

I gave this all the stars (and a couple of tissues too)!

Today's photo prompt got me thinking about some of the non-fiction I have really loved reading over the past 6 months or so, and so I thought I'd share here three of the best non-fiction books I've read recently(ish)... 

About eighteen months ago, I came across the Book Riot podcasts and website. It hadn't really occurred to me to listen to podcasts, with the exception of one a friend was recording about knitting, until I saw a list of bookish ones on a craft blog, and on listening to Book Riot's main podcast and All the Books I was hooked.