Catriona McKeown Young Adult Author
YA author of stories about friendship, identity, and resilience.
Latest news...
Catriona is super-proud to announce her new teen novella, The E-Revolution, is expected to be released in April 2026. It's a part of the
About Catriona
Catriona is a teacher, inclusive education specialist, and author of young adult stories written for teens who don’t always see themselves in books.
"My stories explore real issues young people face: sudden change, friendship fractures, moral choices, money, loss, and the quiet pressure to grow up too fast. I write books that invite discussion, empathy, and reflection — in classrooms and beyond."
👉 Read more about me
Latest full-length novel
Good Luck and Other Lies:
Six teenagers.
Fifty million dollars.
One lie that will have them questioning everything.
Good Luck and Other Lies is a full-length Young Adult novel featuring Cassie, a social outcast who is desperate for the kind of money that will turn her life around. When she overhears her old friendship group discussing entering an upcoming lotto competition, she begs to be part of the plan. And when they win, Cassie's life is turned around, just not quite the way she had in mind.
Read more about Good Luck and Other Lies
Teen Novella
Ways to Die Right: Joel is no stranger to death. With his mom battling cancer and his sister’s grave site to care for, death is a topic never far from his mind. So when Joel learns how bad traditional burials are to the environment, he takes it on himself to teach the world – and his family – about ways to die right.
Ways To Die Right is a teen novella (short novel) written for busy teens or reluctant readers. Look out for more books in the Rhiza Shorts list of novellas.
Read more about Ways to Die Right
Other titles by Catriona McKeown
Graceland was named after the King of Pop’s mansion by her Elvis- obsessed mum. But she’s not rich, not famous and definitely not noticeable. That is, until Cooper asks her out. Suddenly Grace is having to navigate the world she had so desperately wanted, without losing herself. Read the first chapter
There's a new boy in Kat's class. He acts weird, talks weird, and always wears a hoodie even though it's not cold. But as she gets to know him, Kat realises there is more to this boy than just strange behaviour. He's deep. He's hurting. And she may just be the only one who can help him. Read the first chapter
🏫 Books for our Aussie Classrooms
As a teacher herself, Catriona writes with Australian classrooms and curriculum in mind.
Catriona's novels can be used for:
-
Middle & upper secondary English
-
Book clubs and literature circles
-
Discussions around ethics, identity, and decision-making
-
Reluctant readers who want authentic teen voices
Available at Rhiza Edge, Catriona also offers:
-
Teaching notes
-
Discussion questions
👉 Resources for Teachers & Schools
Neurodiversity & Inclusivity
Catriona has worked as an Inclusive Education Teacher in High Schools in Queensland for over ten years. The students she works with range from those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Specific Learning Difficulties in Reading/Writing (Dyslexia). Her writing reflects teens with these different versions of neurological conditions and neurodiversity within her stories.