2022 New Resources: Real Life Fiction

Omar, the son of a servant, is thrilled when he gets a scholarship to an elite school. But he's not so thrilled when he finds out that the school weeds out kids like him by requiring them to get higher grades than fee-paying kids-so it's almost impossible for scholarship students to graduate. On top of that, they aren't allowed to join clubs or teams, and have to do menial chores. It's a good thing Omar has learnt to hold on to his dreams. With the help of his friend Amal and his new school mates-and with the threat of expulsion looming over him-he sets out to do what seems impossible- change a rigged system.

First love is an epic disaster Henry Page has never been in love. The slo-mo, can't-eat-can't-sleep kind of love he's been hoping for just hasn't been on the cards-at least not yet. Henry's too busy trying to get into a semi-decent college and become editor of his school newspaper, a dream three years in the making. The rest of his spare time he spends with his best friends, Lola and Murray, playing video games and advising them on their own sordid love lives. Then he meets Grace Town, the elusive new girl in school, who wears oversized boys' clothing, walks with a cane, rarely seems to shower, and is hiding crushing secrets. She's hardly who Henry expected his dream girl to be, but when the two are chosen to edit the paper together, sparks fly. After all this time, Henry's about to learn firsthand just how disastrous the road to first love can be-and that sometimes it's the detours that end up mattering much more.

All's fair in love, war and noodles ... If Bao Nguyen had to describe himself, he'd say he was a rock. Steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. He works at his parents' pho restaurant, and even there, he is his parents' fifth favorite employee. If Linh Mai had to describe herself, she'd say she was a firecracker. Stable when unlit, but full of potential for joy and spark and fire. She loves art, and she dreams of making a career of it one day. The only problem? Her parents rely on her in ways they're not willing to admit, including expecting her to work practically full-time at their family's pho restaurant. For decades, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighboring pho restaurants. Bao and Linh have resolved never to befriend each other, for fear of pushing too far and bringing on undue heartbreak. But when a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao closer, sparks fly ... Can Linh and Bao's love survive in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories?

Zoe Kelly is starting a new phase of her life. High school was a mess of bullying and autistic masking that left her burnt out and shut down. Now, with an internship at an online media company - the first step on the road to her dream writing career - she is ready to reinvent herself. But she didn't count on returning to her awkward and all-too-recent high-school experiences for her first writing assignment. When her piece about her non-existent dating life goes viral, eighteen-year-old Zoe is overwhelmed and more than a little surprised by the response. But, with a deadline and a list of romantic contenders from the past, she is hoping one of those old sparks will turn into a new flame.

Tall isn't ashamed of being Autistic. But, starting sixth grade at a new school, even with her best friend Layla at her side, is going to be a challenge. A lot of people are uncomfortable around Tally but Layla has never been one of them . . .until now. Tally feels like she has to act "normal" though she begins to wonder if fitting in is really what matters most. This story is inspired by coauthor Libby Scott's experiences. It's an honest and moving story about learning to celebrate yourself while teaching the world to recognize you for who you are.

This was meant to be Alice's year to shine, but things are already going wrong . . . First she is given young environmental activist Greta Thunberg as her pen pal for a fictional writing assignment. Why couldn't Alice get someone easy to write to, like a pop star? Then she's put in charge of the Harmony Day Food Fair. It's the ultimate Year Six project, so Alice should be happy . . . but the food fair has to go online this term, which seems impossible, and she has to work with the most annoying boy in her school.

Ten-year-old Tally had high hopes for Year 6. Being in the top class at school means a whole host of privileges, but even better than that is the school production - and Tally is convinced she'll win the lead role. But at home, things aren't going so well. Mum and Dad have been making Tally feel pressured and upset, and Tally wishes things didn't bother her so much - but they do, and sometimes she feels so misunderstood and frustrated, she could explode. Then Tally's mum and dad tell her about something she's never heard about before. Something called autism. And everything changes.

Thirteen-year-old Clem deals with fitting in and falling out in this authentic story of friendship, from a beloved middle-grade author. Clem Timmins can't wait to see her best friends after being apart all summer holidays. But when they get back together, things have changed. Bridge is boy-crazy and acting like a different person. Ellie is wearing a bra and having a real-life romance. Clem feels left behind. When she makes friends with Tom, suddenly everyone's gossiping about whether they're going to be a couple. Clem's got no interest in having a boyfriend. Or does she? At school camp, Bridge crosses the line and Clem has to ask herself - can she keep growing up with her friends when they're growing apart? This story of fitting in and falling out perfectly captures how it feels to balance on the edge of who you are and who you want to be.

Felix Love has never been in love - and, yes, he's painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it's like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What's worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he's one marginalisation too many - Black, queer and transgender - to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages - after publicly posting Felix's deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned - Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn't count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi-love triangle... But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognising the love you deserve.

#LGBTQIA+

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants - as long as she isn't herself. Because Muslim girls aren't lesbians. Nishat doesn't want to lose her family, but she also doesn't want to hide who she is, which only gets harder once Flavia walks into her life. Beautiful and charismatic, Flavia takes Nishat's breath away. But as their lives become tangled, they're caught up in a rivalry that gets in the way of any feelings they might have for each other. Can Nishat find a way to be true to herself... and find love too?

Because she loves horses but is scared of them, Melody wants to conquer her fears, so she hopes a summer camp will be the place to welcome someone with cerebral palsy who wants to learn to ride.

Leah on the Offbeat meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before: a bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her classmates is hired by the hot guy to help him get his ex back. Her advice, spot on. Her love life, way off. Darcy Phillips: Can give you the solution to any of your relationship woes - for a fee; Uses her power for good. Most of the time; Really cannot stand Alexander Brougham; Has maybe not the best judgement when it comes to her best friend, Brooke, who is in love with someone else; Does not appreciate being blackmailed. However, when Brougham catches her in the act of collecting letters from locker 89 - out of which she's been running her questionably legal, anonymous relationship advice service - that's exactly what happens. In exchange for keeping her secret, Darcy begrudgingly agrees to become his personal dating coach - at a generous hourly rate, at least. The goal? To help him win his ex-girlfriend back. Darcy has a good reason to keep her identity secret. If word gets out that she's behind the locker, some things she's not proud of will come to light, and there's a good chance Brooke will never speak to her again. Okay, so all she has to do is help an entitled, bratty, (annoyingly hot) guy win over a girl who's already fallen for him once? What could go wrong?

Waylon Russell Brewer is a fat, openly gay boy stuck in the small West Texas town of Clover City. His plan is to bide his time until he can graduate, and move to Austin with his twin sister, Clementine. So when Clementine deviates from their master plan right after Waylon gets dumped, he creates an audition tape for his favorite TV drag show. What he doesn't count on is the tape getting accidentally shared with the entire school. So Waylon and Hannah decide there's only one thing to do: run for prom court.
#LGBTQIA+