Day: February 5, 2026

2025 Aurealis Award Shortlists

| Tasha

The 2025 finalists for the Aurealis Awards have been announced. These are Australia’s science fiction, fantasy and horror awards, covering all ages, including children and teen. Here are the finalists in the youth categories.

BEST CHILDREN’S FICTION

Escape from Firestone Fortress by Rachel Jackson

The Last Seed Keeper by Paul Russell (available in US)

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna (publishing in US in April)

Moonboy by Anna Ciddor (publishing in US in July)

Villain by Adrian Beck

When the Mountain Wakes by Matt Shanks

BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL

Blood Moon Bride by Demet Divaroren (publishing in US in June)

Dark Sun Rising by AA Kinsela (available in US)

Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner (available in US)

The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau (available in US)

This Stays Between Us by Margot McGovern (available in US)

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson (available in US)

Steam by Shaenon K. Garrity – Book Recommendation

| Tasha
The cover image for Steam by Shaenon K. Garrity, illustrated by Emily Holden. Two girls sit together in a coffee shop tapping their coffee cups together. The steam forms a heart.

Steam by Shaenon K. Garrity, illustrated by Emily Holden

  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
  • Publication Date: February 03, 2026
  • Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
  • ISBN: 9781534495869

When Ruby, a super genius raised in a university lab, escapes captivity, she must find a way to live among normal humans. She gets a job at a coffee shop near the university as a barista. She attempts to fulfill her function by helping the regulars at the coffee shop find love while still not giving her true identity away. As she starts pairing staff and customers the love takes off, and Ruby herself may have found her match too. But the lab hasn’t given up trying to get Ruby back for themselves, insisting that she isn’t human after all.

This graphic novel for teens is a delightful mix of lighthearted romance, caffeine and technology. There is just enough action to keep the book from being too frothy and compelling romantic pairings that are intelligent and embrace queerness and all ages. The illustrations echo the feel of the story with a lightness and an underlying love of the characters. Filled with found family and a built community, Ruby’s own humanness is the key to her survival in the end.

Grab a coffee and fall in love. Appropriate for ages 13+.