G’day mates! Pack a Vegemite sandwich, because we’re heading to the land down under in our second to the last “You Are Here” summer reading list. There is no shortage of great books coming out for teens from our neighbors across the Pacific, including these titles below. If you’re looking for some laughs, you can also check out Flight of the Conchords, my favorite comedic musical duo from the island nation of New Zealand.

The clock is ticking…Just a few more days left to finish writing your Summer Reading Celebration reviews in order to claim your free book and get entered into our last raffle drawing for a $50 book store gift card!

You Are Here: Australia & New Zealand

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams

When superstitious eighteen-year-old John "Beatle" Lennon, who is dating the best friend of his twin sister, meets Destiny McCartney, their instant rapport and shared quirkiness make it seem that their fate is written in the stars.

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Year Eleven at an exclusive prep school in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, would be tough enough, but it is further complicated for Amal when she decides to wear the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, full-time as a badge of her faith--without losing her identity or sense of style.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

Young prodigy Cadel Piggot, an Australian antisocial computer hacker, discovers his true identity when he enrolls as a first-year student at an advanced crime academy.

Finding Grace by Alyssa Brugman

Undecided about her future after graduating from high school, an Australian girl takes a job caring for a brain-damaged woman.

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Eighteen-year-old New Zealand boarding school student Ellie Spencer must use her rusty tae kwon do skills and new-found magic to try to stop a fairy-like race of creatures from Maori myth and legend that is plotting to kill millions of humans in order to regain their lost immortality.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

High school student Taylor Markham, who was abandoned by her drug-addicted mother at the age of eleven, struggles with her identity and family history at a boarding school in Australia.

The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera

As her beloved grandfather, chief of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, struggles to lead in difficult times and to find a male successor, young Kahu is developing a mysterious relationship with whales, particularly the ancient bull whale whose legendary rider was their ancestor.