In episode 265 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast:
Let’s Talk YA with Will Kostakis
Award-winning YA author Will Kostakis joins Allison and Megan for a round-table chat about books for teens, trends in YA literature, and the evergreen ‘boys and reading’ debate. Plus, insights into Will’s debut middle-grade novel ‘Otis Ottley And The School In The Sky’. Note, this episode includes discussion of Young Adult themes
Books we mention
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Let’s Talk YA with Will Kostakis
Will Kostakis is one of Australia’s most renowned authors for kids and young adults. First published at nineteen, he writes whip-smart comedies that break (then mend) hearts.
We Could Be Something, his latest YA novel, is a moving family epic that won the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Literature, and was shortlisted for the Victorian and New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards and the Queensland Literary Award.
An advocate for young readers and writers, Will is the patron for Somerset Storyfest and an Ambassador for Dymocks Children’s Charities. He received the 2020 Maurice Saxby Award from the School Library Association of New South Wales for service to children’s and young adult literature.
Will tours the world, speaking at schools, festivals and conferences.
‘Otis Ottley and The School In The Sky‘, is his debut novel for middle-grade readers.
About ‘Otis Ottley and The School In The Sky’
Otis Ottley is an ordinary boy who yearns to go to the magic school in the sky. And he will stop at nothing to make it happen.
Otis Ottley lives in the shadow of the Manor School for Magic. Literally. It’s an island hovering over his town, and he’s determined to reach it.
While many kids dream of roaming the prestigious institution’s halls, casting spells and conjuring spectacles, Otis has a specific mission: to seek magical help remembering something extremely important.
The odds are stacked against him, but Otis will break into magic school. Or at the very least, he will break a few rules trying.
A funny and warm middle-grade novel about finding the magic in everyday life, from a much-loved, award-winning Australian author.
Let’s Talk YA (recommendations)
‘Coming Out at the End of the World’ by Ben Ryan
‘The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue’ by Zoulfa Katouh
‘A New Kind of Beautiful’ by Suzy Zail
‘My Tiny Universe’ by Maryam Masters
‘Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYa Anthology’, edited by Danielle Binks
‘Time Travel For Beginners’ by Jaclyn Moriarty
‘The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull’ by Barry Jonsberg
‘Where Things Come Back’ by John Corey Whaley
Other episodes you might like
Episode 255: Let’s Talk YA with Amie Kaufman
Episode 251: 10 minutes with Meg Caddy
Episode 238: Let’s Talk YA with Danielle Binks
Episode132: The Who, What and How of Teen Reading
Our books
The Last Word by A. L. Tait
Danger Road by A. L. Tait
Willow Bright’s Secret Plot by A. L. Tait
The First Summer of Callie McGee by A. L. Tait
The Maven & Reeve Mysteries by A. L. Tait
The Ateban Cipher (duology) by A. L. Tait
The Mapmaker Chronicles series by A. L. Tait
The Beehive by Megan Daley
Teacher, Teacher (anthology), edited by Megan Daley
Raising Readers by Megan Daley
DISCOVER THE YOUR NEXT READ JUNIOR FICTION SERIES HERE
Connect with your show hosts
Website | Allison Tait | Megan Daley
Facebook | Allison Tait | Megan Daley
Instagram at Allison Tait | Megan Daley
The YKNR community on Facebook here.
Meet Allison Rushby, the third member of #teamyknr. Find out about Allison and her books here.
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