Posts tagged with 'younger readers'

The Centre for Youth Literature has just announced the longlist for the 2010 Inkys. The Inkys are awards for teenage literature voted for by readers. The longlist consists of 10 Australian books, all vying for the Gold Inky, and 10 International books, one of which will take home the Silver Inky. The longlist was selected by the Centre. A shortlist will be made by a panel of judges before voting opens to readers aged between 12 and 20.

We are thrilled to see two Text titles on the longlist. Will Grayson, Will Grayson, the collaboration by YA superstars John Green and David Levithan, and Kelly Link’s surreal collection of short stories, The Wrong Grave, are both in contention for the Silver Inky.

‘…John Green and David Levithan’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a complete romp…the novel is so tightly woven that it begins to feel miraculous…Will Grayson, Will Grayson is so funny, rude and original that by the time flowers hit the stage after Hold Me Closer, even the musical-averse will cheer.’ New York Times

‘Link invests fantasy and fairytale with literary kinks, giving her stories twists that are always quirky and sometimes postmodern. Her work glitters with dark intelligence and a distinctive brand of magic that reminded me of Neil Gaiman at his best…. A wonderful collection that will attract fans, young and old, of imaginative fiction.‘ Age

Important dates:

Shortlist chosen: 12 October
Voting commences: 12 October
Voting closes: 19 November
Winner announced: 25 November

You can read the entire longlist here.

Richard Newsome, the author of The Billionaire Trilogy, has been receiving the rockstar treatment from kids up and down the east coast.

The first instalment in the series, The Billionaire’s Curse, won the inaugural Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing and the second book, The Emerald Casket, has just hit the shelves. Nine to twelve year olds all around the country are already hanging out for the final book, to be published in 2011.

Richard has been in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne visiting schools and bookstores such as Riverbend Books, Coaldrakes, Pages & Pages, Shearer’s and The Little Bookroom. Along the way he’s tangled with the tough questions (‘What’s a villain?’) and been given the heads up on the next big thing in kids' fiction: ‘Owls—possibly even skeleton owls that fly and rattle in the night and scare the bejeesus out of people.’

Richard will be attending the Christchurch Writers' Festival in September, and we know there are many NZ readers eagerly awaiting their chance to meet Richard too.

US author Rebecca Stead has won the highly coveted Newbery Medal for her second novel When You Reach Me, which we are thrilled to be publishing in Australia and New Zealand next month.

The Newbery Medal was established in 1922; it's the longest running children's book prize in the world, and America's highest honour for children's books. It is selected by children's librarians and is awarded for the 'most outstanding contribution to children's literature'.

Text congratulates Rebecca on a well-deserved win for this utterly charming book for young readers. When You Reach Me is in all good bookstores now.

‘Humorous, pacey, mind-bending.’ Martine Murray

‘Absorbing.’ People

‘Readers…are likely to find themselves chewing over the details of this superb and intricate tale long afterward.’ Wall Street Journal

‘In this taut novel, every word, every sentence, has meaning and substance.’ New York Times Book Review

‘One of the best children’s books I have ever read and books of this sort do not drop out of the sky every day. They don’t even drop out of the sky every year.’ School Library Journal

We've been canvassing readers of The Billionaire's Curse for their views on the first instalment in this exciting new trilogy and we thought we just had to share this comment from nine-year-old India:
'The Billionaire's Curse is definitely the best book I've ever read, and trust me, I've read a lot!'

Thank you to all those budding sleuths out there who entered and cracked the code in The Billionaire's Curse Word Puzzle competition. We were staggered by the resounding response to the competition and can see that there are many readers out there who would be very helpful to Gerald in his quest to solve the curse.

Congratulations to the winners: Trent Franklin-Dhue
Olivia McCarthy
Sierra Milward
Amy Terpos
Ethan Terpos

Prizes will be mailed next week.

We hope you continue to enjoy The Billionaire's Curse; stay tuned for the next episode in this exciting Trilogy by Richard Newsome. In the meantime, carry on sleuthing!

Here at Text we have been busy reading our way through the mountain of manuscripts we received for this year's Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing. There was a terrific response to the prize, which is in its second year. After reading, re-reading, note-taking and much discussion, we are thrilled to announce the shortlist for this year's Prize.

Concentrate, The Brothers Groth

This is Shyness, Leanne Hall

Wildfire, Joanne Schoenwald

I Ran Away First, Nicole Trope

Text warmly congratulates these authors on making the cut. The winner will be announced on Sunday, 23 August, as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival. (Session code: 2335)

Read on to find out more about the shortlisted manuscripts.

… … … …

CONCENTRATE
The Greenhill cricket team’s new kid, Dane Faulkner, is angry, Aboriginal, doesn’t wear a helmet, and cherishes an old bat dubbed ‘Concentrate’ after the message scrawled on its spine. He’s also a phenomenon.

Michael Duffy wants to figure out what makes the strange, gifted newcomer tick but has his own problems—a blinkered father, an overprotective big sister, and impaired vision that is threatening his baggy green dream.

Concentrate is a story of courage after loss, determination after setback and hope after heartbreak.

About the authors:: The Brothers Groth live a dual existence spanning six years and two continents. Individually, The Brothers have been responsible for short stories and novels. Each has won awards at The Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards.

… … … …

THIS IS SHYNESS
When Wildgirl meets howling Wolfboy at the Diabetic Hotel, she is intrigued by the story of his suburb, Shyness, where the sun doesn’t rise. Wildgirl convinces Wolfboy to show her Shyness and prove the endless night to her. Their night out unravels when the Kidds—a gang of sugar-crazed children—mug Wildgirl. As Wolfboy and Wildgirl plan to fight back, they reveal their stories to each other, stories of pain and loss. They only spend one night together—but it is enough time to change their lives.

About the author: Leanne Hall is a children’s specialist at an independent bookstore. She has previously been published in the Sleepers’ Almanac, Best Australian Stories, Meanjin and Growing up Asian in Australia.

… … … …

WILDFIRE Mum said to me that banksias need a fire in order to open up their seeds and start new growth. Something that seems so devastating actually brings new life.

Jennifer Kellar likes to keep control of her life. But when her dad travels to the Congo the same day that a bushfire destroys her home her life is thrown into constant change and confusion. With her younger sister, Jennifer moves in with her neighbours and is forced to live with the boy accused of starting the fire.

Wildfire is a contemporary novel, set in Brisbane, which explores themes of change and renewal.

About the author: Joanne Schoenwald is a fiction and non-fiction author with a special interest in promoting Australian content. She was a winner in the 2007 One Book Many Brisbane’s competition. Joanne has plans for a trilogy of young adult novels set in rural Australia.

… … … …

I RAN AWAY FIRST Ben and his three friends have done something terrible. Under the influence of alcohol and drugs they have lost control and killed a man. Racked by guilt and fear, Ben turns to his father whose solution is to send Ben out of the country.

In England Ben lives the life of a virtual prisoner as he tries to confront what he has done and why he has allowed his life to take such a terrible turn.

About the author: Nicole Trope was a high school English and Drama teacher before taking time away to raise children. She has written four manuscripts for young adults, which have received interest from agents. Nicole is still waiting to cross the finish line.