YA Book Stack
YA Book Stack is an in-conversation podcast with Australian authors who discuss the application of their text in the middle years English classroom and the ways their text is reflective of the experiences of young adult readers and the world they engage with. Through a focus on the text in the classroom, YA Book Stack aims to encourage educators to embrace the flexibility of the middle years and explore a broader range of texts in their curriculum.
YA Book Stack
IDAHOBIT / Ernest Price
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This special IDAHOBIT episode includes a discussion with educator and writer Ernest Price about the importance of queer representation in classrooms and practical ways teachers can create more inclusive, engaging reading experiences for all students. It references reading and text recommendations such as:
- Good Young Men by Gary Lonesborough
- Highway Bodies and Euphoria Kids by Alison Evans
- Will Kostakis novels
- Growing Up Queer in Australia
- The Sweetness Between Us and The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle
- The Family Law (SBS adaptation of Benjamin Law’s work
- The Heights (ABC series)
- Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko
- Ellen van Neerven short stories, poetry and non-fiction
- I'm Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough
Also discussed are:
- How identity can shape teaching, writing and text selection
- The importance of contemporary texts "with heart" that reflect students’ real lives and identities, not just traditional canon texts
- Advocacy for diverse and queer representation in English classrooms, especially amid a current cultural and educational “backslide” toward conservative text choices
- Discussion of the role of English teachers in creating lifelong readers, balancing skills-based literacy with meaningful, engaging literature
- The power of own voices storytelling and the need for students to encounter LGBTQIA+ stories that go beyond “coming out” narratives
- Practical strategies for teachers about working with allies, being open about positionality and willing to learn
- Honest discussion about teacher fear and hesitation, with encouragement to learn through the process.
- Classroom strategies for handling challenging moments, including setting boundaries around respectful discussion and repairing if harmful comments occur
- The stakes of representation in terms of affirmation and visibility for queer students
- Emphasis on bravery and small actions as meaningful change