Our Semester 2 arts classes are now underway, and in our first Creative Writing Class we asked our teens to recommend a great book they had read recently. I am sharing their list here. Some of these books (like Sophie’s World) are classics really, while others are young adult novels. One writer recommended a book they read as a young child that stayed with them, and there are a couple of dense and challenging reads on this list as well. Hopefully this list will be useful to anyone hoping to inspire a teenager to read, or introduce an avid reader to new authors. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake The Silent Patient by Alex Michaellides Friends for Life by Andrew Norriss Mortal Instruments by [...]

Julie Hartley is co-director of Centauri Arts, and in addition to leading our creative writing workshops, camps and retreats she is also a successful author, writing historical fiction for Bookouture UK. While her books are marketed for adults, all content is suited to young adult readers too. We are thrilled to announce that her latest novel is out now in print and as an e-book. The Promise She Made It’s September 1940, and with the Blitz underway 18-year-old Ruby is determined to protect her little sister from the bombs – after all, she promised as much to their mother, just before she died. So, Ruby books passage for them both on the SS City of Benares, to safety in Canada. However, her plan backfires [...]

Last year, one of our directors – Julie Hartley – signed a 2-book deal with an international publishing house (Bookouture). She was contracted to write 2 historical novels, and her first novel is now available! Her Secret Soldier is a World War 2 novel filled with mystery and adventure. It tells the story of a lonely 18-year-old girl living in a remote part of England whose life is forever changed when she discovers an injured German spy in the ancient woodland behind her home. Parts of the novel are also set in Toronto, and Algonquin Park. The novel is intended for adult readers, but the content is entirely suited to anyone aged 12+ Advance reviews of Her Secret Soldier have been excellent! One NetGalley [...]