Sherryl Clark is an award-winning author, editor and writing teacher. Her love of writing, story-telling and poetry has lead her from teaching and study to full-time author.
https://www.uqp.com.au/books/mina-and-the-whole-wide-world
Author: Sherryl Clark
Publishing Date: July 2021
Publisher: UQP
Pages: 120
Category: Junior
Sherryl Clark introduces the reader to Mina, a girl excited to have her own room. Mina learns about belonging, friendship and compassion when her family host new-to-Australia Azzami.
Alison Evans is a Melbourne-based author who started their writing career in high school and furthered her study completing a Bachelor of Arts. Their queer YA books — with a magic genre —incorporate everyday people with anxiety issues and disabilities. They are interested in mentoring trans authors.
https://www.alisonwritesthings.com/about
Author: Alison Evans
Publishing Date: January 2017
Publisher: Bonnier Echo
Pages: 176
Category: YA
Ida is a sci-fi book written for the YA audience. Ida is able to jump between parallel universes, allowing her to pursue a path she’s not quite sure about. Exploring loss, longing and diversity, Alison Evans brings a new voice to those looking for choices in a confusing world.
Bernadette Green grew up dreaming of writing and telling stories. She is a youth worker and studied Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT. She loves to write books helping children find themselves within the story. https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/authors/green-bernadette
Author: Bernadette Green
Publishing Date: March 2020
Publisher: Scribe Publications
Pages: 32
Category: Junior
Bernadette Green tells the story of Elvi as she helps her friend Nicholas understand her family. A book about acceptance, love, and non-traditional families.
Karen Hendriks is an author who loves sharing stories with children and encouraging literacy. Her past role as a teacher has given her a passion for creating wonder and developing imagination in children.
https://www.karenhendriks.com/
Author Karen Hendriks
Publishing Date: June 2021
Publisher: Daisy Lane Publishing
Pages: 38
Category: Junior
A story about the displacement of Sudeten Germans from former Czechoslovakia after WWII. Told from the perspective of a young girl, the family brave the lonely and terrifying trek ending up in their new home of Australia. The story talks of family, courage and hope.
Robert Hoge is a writer and disability advocate who was born with minimal use of his legs and a tumour on his face. His writing allows readers into his challenging, yet everyday world.
Author: Robert Hoge
Publishing Date: August 2015
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Pages: 160
Category: Junior/YA 12+
Robert Hoge’s biography allows a personal insight into his life from birth to the age of 14 years. Disability, abandonment, bullying and daily family life are discussed in this heartfelt story of determination and acceptance.
Kay Kerr is an author based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. She was diagnosed with autism while writing her first novel.
Social Queue
Author: Kay Kerr
Publishing Date: September 2021
Publisher: Text Publisher
Pages: 304
Reading Age: 14+
Social Queue is a story told from 18-year-old Zoe’s POV. She has battled the bullying and hiding her autism and is now in her first job as a writer. When her story of navigating life on the spectrum and love goes viral Zoe must make some choices and focus on her deadline. A coming-of-age story about life, love and everything in between.
Gary Lonesborough is a gay Aboriginal author eager to deliver stories that young adults and children can relate to. Discouraged by the inability to find himself in books, Gary decided to write his first novel while studying at film school.
Author: Gary Lonesborough
Publishing Date: February 2021
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Pages: 288
Category: YA 12+
A coming-of-age story about two boys finding their way in friendship and love. Challenged by prejudice, racism and family approval Jackson and Tomas find a way to be part of a confusing world.
Thomas Mayor is a Torres Strait Islander author from Darwin. He was a signatory on the Uluru Statement from the Heart and has campaigned for changes to the Australian constitution. He is the author of children’s, YA and adult books focusing on First Nations peoples and the need for recognition, treaty and truth in Australia. https://www.hardiegrant.com/au/publishing/bookfinder/author/thomas-mayor
Author: Thomas Mayor
Publishing Date: June 2020
Publisher: Grant Hardie Explore
Pages: 40
Category: Junior and YA
Thomas Mayor has created a unique story helping young Australians understand our past, present and future in a country blessed with a history and people reaching back thousands of years. A book for everyone of finding acceptance and unification.
Maree McCarthy Yoelu is a Wadjigany woman living in Darwin. She writes to help keep her grandfather’s stories alive. The preservation of the traditions and languages of Maree McCarthy Yoelu’s people is important for connecting people to Country and sharing diversity with broader Australia.
https://www.magabala.com/collections/maree-mccarthy-yoelu
Author: Maree McCarthy Yoelu
Publishing Date: March 2020
Publisher: Magabala Books
Pages: 32
Category: Junior
Brother Moon brings the stories and traditions of Wadjigany man Liman to a new audience. Hippie-Boy listens to his great grandfather telling stories about the natural world according to his people.
Cath Moore was born in Guyana and raised in Australia. She now calls Melbourne home. She is of Irish/Afro-Caribbean heritage and a successful screenwriter, filmmaker, and teacher.
https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/metal-fish-falling-snow
Author: Cath Moore
Publishing Date: July 2020
Publisher: Text Publishing
Pages: 272
Category: 14+
Cath Moore
Cath Moore tells the story of Dylan a girl hoping for belonging in a tolerant world — one she feels she must cross oceans to find. When tragedy strikes, she must go on a journey with her mother’s boyfriend. She will learn about love, belonging, grief and identity.
Fiona Murphy is an award-winning deaf writer. She works in creative writing programs and connects people with disability equality sessions.
http://www.fimurphywriter.com/
Author: Fiona Murphy
Publishing Date: March 2021
Publisher: Text Publishing
Pages: 320
Category: Memoir/YA
Fiona Murphy has written a memoir that has highlighted how difficult we can make our lives if we hide the truth about our true selves. Bringing the subjects of deafness and healthcare to the audience, we learn of hiding, stigma and self-reliance.
Melanie Prewett works in Broome for the Education Department. Her work helps young people find job opportunities through training and assistance.
https://www.magabala.com/collections/melanie-prewett
Author: Melanie Prewett
Publishing Date: September 2012
Publisher: Magabala Books
Pages: 32
Category: Junior
Melanie Prewett brings this true story to young readers encouraging acceptance and friendship regardless of the circumstances. Two friends enjoy adventures together, not letting one enjoy the adventure without the other.
Corey Tutt author and Kamilaroi man. He is an advocate for regional and rural children encouraging STEM subjects and helping connect Indigenous children with mentors and books through not-for-profit Deadly Science. Awarded NSW Young Australian of the Year in 2020.
Author: Corey Tutt
Publishing Date: October 2021
Publisher: Hardie Grant Explore
Pages: 96
Category: Junior and YA
A book that focuses on how science has evolved from thousands of years through generations of deadly First Nations peoples. Discusses the origins of chemistry, forensic science, astronomy, land and ecological management.
Jessica Walton is a poet, public speaker and writer. She writes from her personal perspective on being a queer and disabled person in Australia.
Author: Jessica Walton
Publishing Date: October 2021
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Pages: 216
Category: YA
This graphic novel beautifully illustrated by Aśka leads the reader on a journey of self-discovery and teen love. For amputee, queer and chronic pain sufferer Maisie life can be hard when your mum is out to embarrass you. A relatable story embracing inclusion and diversity.
Jenny Woolsey is an author, professional speaker and writing mentor. She knows what life is like with a disability and encourages inclusion, understanding and acceptance through her writing and speaking roles. With her own experiences concerning anxiety, domestic abuse, disability and depression, Jenny Woolsey helps bring passion and imagination to young readers, who may feel disconnected from literature.
Author: Jenny Woolsey
Publishing Date: May 2016
Publisher: Pearls of Wisdom Press
Pages: 234
Category: Junior
Jenny Woolsey brings us an entertaining and rich story about Isabella, a girl with a craniofacial syndrome which she finds embarrassing. Learning to be brave amidst the bullies, Isabella experiences teenage life with the help of her friends and skateboard.