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Justine Larbalestier Justine Larbalestier i(A27644 works by)
Born: Established: 1967 Sydney, New South Wales, ;
Gender: Female
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Works By

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3 4 y separately published work icon My Sister Rosa Justine Larbalestier , Australia : Allen and Unwin , 2016 9060523 2016 single work novel young adult

''I promise,' said Rosa. 'I won't kill and I won't make anyone else kill.'

'I can't see the loophole. Since the guinea pig there's been nothing. Months now without Rosa killing as much as a mosquito.

'As far as I know.

'Che Taylor has four items on his list: 1. He wants to spar, not just train in the boxing gym. 2. He wants a girlfriend. 3. He wants to go home. 4. He wants to keep Rosa under control.

'Che's little sister Rosa is smart, talented, pretty, and so good at deception that Che's convinced she must be a psychopath. She hasn't hurt anyone yet, but he's certain it's just a matter of time. And when their parents move them to New York City, Che longs to return to Sydney and his three best friends. But his first duty is to his sister Rosa, who is playing increasingly complex and disturbing games. Can he protect Rosa from the world - and the world from Rosa?

'My Sister Rosa will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first page to the last.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 Little Red Suit Justine Larbalestier , 2015 single work short story young adult
— Appears in: Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean 2015;

In this re-version of the fairy tale, fifteen-year-old Poppy lives in a 2m x 2m Sydney apartment with her mother and has never seen rain. In this climate-change scenario people survive through their environmental suits, which contain communication devices and provide recycled water and air. Against all advice Poppy leaves Sydney to visit her grandmother, who refuses to live in the city, and along the way is stalked by a male voice inside her suit.

1 3 y separately published work icon Razorhurst Justine Larbalestier , Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2014 7542870 2014 single work novel historical fiction fantasy young adult

'The setting: 1932, Razorhurst. Two competing mob bosses - Gloriana Nelson and Mr Davidson - have reached a fragile peace.

'Kelpie knows the dangers of the Sydney streets. Ghosts have kept her alive, steering her to food and safety, but they are also her torment.

'Dymphna is Gloriana Nelson's 'best girl'. She knows the highs and lows of life, but she doesn't know what this day has in store for her.

'When Dymphna meets Kelpie over the corpse of Jimmy Palmer, Dymphna's latest boyfriend, she pronounces herself Kelpie's new protector. But Dymphna's life is in danger too and she needs an ally. And while Jimmy's ghost wants to help, the dead cannot protect the living.

'Gloriana Nelson's kingdom is crumbling and Mr Davidson is determined to have all of Razorhurst - including Dymphna. As loyalties shift and betrayal threatens at every turn, Dymphna and Kelpie are determined to survive what is becoming a day with a high body count.' (Publication summary)

1 Family Matters Justine Larbalestier , 2013 single work prose
— Appears in: Writing Queensland , March no. 227 2013; (p. 5)
3 6 y separately published work icon Team Human Justine Larbalestier , Sarah Rees Brennan , Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2012 Z1871257 2012 single work novel young adult

'Mel and Cathy and Anna have passed vampires on the street, and sat near them in cinemas, but they don't know any. Vampires stick to their own kind, and Mel and her friends hang out with other humans - until a vampire boy in a bizarre sun-proof suit shows up at school and captures Cathy's heart.

'Mel is horrified. Can she convince Cathy that life with a vampire is no life at all? Should she? And then all her assumptions about vampires are turned on their head when she meets Kit, a boy who makes her laugh - a boy with a very unusual family history.

'Will Mel's staunch anti-vampire stance jeopardise her closest friendships? And where does Kit fit in? In the end, who will choose...Team Human?' (From the publisher's website.)

3 7 y separately published work icon Zombies Vs Unicorns Justine Larbalestier (editor), Holly Black (editor), Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2010 Z1745897 2010 anthology short story young adult fantasy horror

'Edited by Holly Black (Team Unicorn) and Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie). Zombies Vs Unicorns is a unique short story feud that pits horned beasts against the shuffling undead.

'It's a question as old as time itself: which reigns supreme, the zombie or the unicorn?

'"For too long, the zombie has dominated the public consciousness, but the reign of the unicorn is at hand!" Holly Black - Team Unicorn

'"I think that posterity will look upon this as the moment when zombies took their rightful place at the top of the food chain." Justine Larbalestier - Team Zombie

'Contributors to this unique collection include bestselling teen and YA authors, Garth Nix, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson and Margo Lanagan. Zombie Vs Unicorns challenges you to pick a team, and stick to it. But be warned, these are stellar story-tellers, and they can be very convincing...' (From the publisher's website.)

1 Writing 'Liar' Justine Larbalestier , 2009 single work column
— Appears in: Viewpoint : On Books for Young Adults , Summer vol. 17 no. 4 2009; (p. 6-7)

Discussing her writing methods, Larbalestier says she wrote Liar 'out of order and in small chunks' so that 'in some, ways, it was more like writing poetry than a novel' (6). She talks about the impact of 'being an Australian living, on and off, in New York City" (6) as shaping the novel, however she also briefly refers to a number of significant events in her own life and the geographical landscapes that influence and inform the narrative. These include attending an alternative high school in Sydney (6), the death of a close friend (7) and the 'hyper urbanized' environment of New York City where 'Nature and wilderness and city co-exist' (7).

6 22 y separately published work icon Liar Justine Larbalestier , Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2009 Z1615108 2009 single work novel young adult (taught in 2 units)

'Secrets, lies, murder and betrayal.

'Micah Wilkins is a liar. But when her boyfriend, Zach, dies under brutal circumstances, the shock might be enough to set her straight. Or maybe not. Especially when lying comes as naturally to her as breathing. Was Micah dating Zach? Did they kiss? Did she see him the night he died? And is she really hiding a family secret? Where does the actual truth lie?

'Liar is a breathtaking roller-coaster read that will have you up all night, desperately seeking for something true.' (From the publisher's website.)

2 10 y separately published work icon How to Ditch Your Fairy Justine Larbalestier , Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2009 Z1577581 2009 single work novel young adult

'At New Avalon, everyone has a personal fairy - some less desirable than others: Charlie's fairy ensures that she always has a car park, which seems to pale in comparison to Fiorenze's all-the-boys-like-you fairy. [...]

'"Rochelle gets a clothes-shopping fairy and is always well attired; I get a parking fairy and always smell faintly of petrol. How fair is that?"

'For Charlie, having a parking fairy is worse than having nothing at all - especially since she's not old enough to drive. Enter The Plan: swap fairies with her archenemy! But Charlie discovers that you ought to be careful what you wish for - and she'll have to resort to extraordinary measures to set things right.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.
 

2 6 y separately published work icon Magic's Child Justine Larbalestier , Camberwell : Penguin , 2007 Z1386879 2007 single work novel young adult fantasy 'Reason Cansino must uncover the secret of the magic in her family's background to save the lives of her friends Tom and Jay-tee.' (Source: Trove)
2 5 y separately published work icon Magic Lessons Justine Larbalestier , Camberwell : Penguin , 2006 Z1306527 2006 single work novel young adult fantasy "When fifteen-year-old Reason is pulled through the magical door connecting New York City with the Sydney, Australia, home of her grandmother, she encounters an impossibly ancient man who seems to have some purpose in mind for her." (Source: Trove)
1 3 y separately published work icon Magic or Madness Justine Larbalestier , 2005 2005-2007 Z1390837 2005 series - author novel young adult science fiction

A trilogy of novels in which a teenager needs to come to terms not only with the magical background of her own family (centred on her terrifying grandmother) but also with the abject and destructive force of magic itself, which enacts a terrible price for its use.

4 7 y separately published work icon Magic or Madness Justine Larbalestier , Camberwell : Penguin , 2005 Z1200695 2005 single work novel young adult "Reason has lived for fiteen years in the outback with her mother, Sarafina. They're on the run from Reason's grandmother, Esmeralda who practices magic, and performs horrifying dark rituals." (Source: Trove)
1 Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Justine Larbalestier , 2004 single work short story fantasy
— Appears in: Agog! Smashing Stories : New Australian Speculative Fiction 2004; (p. 114-121)

A haunting urban fantasy which sees an Earth girl sleep with an alien.

1 Cruel Brother Justine Larbalestier , 2001 single work short story fantasy
— Appears in: Strange Horizons , October 2001;
1 form y separately published work icon Midas Justine Larbalestier , ( dir. Niki Bern ) Australia : 2001 8885596 2001 single work film/TV

A version of the story of King Midas, told by a narrator who read the story over and over again as a child.

1 Tiptree Stories Justine Larbalestier , 1999 single work essay
— Appears in: Women of Other Worlds : Excursions Through Science Fiction and Feminism 1999; (p. 356-369)
1 An Eidolon Interview withthe Editors of She's Fantastical Justine Larbalestier (interviewer), 1995 single work interview
— Appears in: Eidolon : The Journal of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy , Spring no. 19 1995; (p. 59-63)
Discusses the origins of She's Fantastical the first anthology of Australian womwn's speculative fiction, magical realism and fantasy.
1 Extracts from an Interview with Mandy Sayer Justine Larbalestier , 1995 single work interview
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December-January (1995-1996) no. 178 1995; (p. 42)
1 Through Their Own Eyes: An Interpretation of Aboriginal Women's Writing Justine Larbalestier , 1991 single work criticism
— Appears in: Intersexions: Gender/Class/Culture/Ethnicity 1991; (p. 75-91)
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