Book Talk: Great Books by Australian Authors

Last week I talked about Morris Gleitzman and how much students enjoyed reading his books. This week I thought I'd make a list of some other Australian books and authors which you might like to add to your Reader's Workshop

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta: this is one of my all time favourite books. It's the story of Josie, an Italian-Australian girl who's coming to terms with friendships, relationships and the twisted threads of her family while finishing her last year of school. Melina Marchetta also wrote Saving Francesca, which deals with a parent with depression. (You can also get the Looking for Alibrandi movie which is awesome)

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah: Amal is Palestinian-Muslim-Australian and has just decided to wear the hijab to her conservative private school. Abdel-Fattah's book looks at the struggles Amal has in making people understand where she is coming from and where she is going from. The real strength in Abdel-Fattah's  book is the supporting characters, both Muslim and non-Muslim and the experiences and background they bring to Amal's story. Abdel-Fattah also wrote the lovely Ten Things I Hate About Me

So Much to Tell You by John Marsden: John Marsden's books are great for Reader's Workshop - engaging and thoughtful. This is the story of Marina, who doesn't talk, except through her diary. It's been one of my favourite books for years, and there's enough mystery and question in it to really make an interesting reading experience.

You can find more book talks here