Readings YA Prize announcement

This post was going to be all about the wonderful night Miss 14 and I had last night at the Readings Young Adult Prize announcement, held at the State Library. The Prize recognises exciting emerging voices in Australian young adult literature. Miss 14 was going in her capacity as a Readings teen advisory board member (corporate-sounding title, isn’t it!) and I was going because I love young adult books (and I’m writing one!).

However, due to the fifth Melbourne lockdown beginning at midnight, we decided not to go, even though technically we could have gone. Not worth the risk.

However, I can still bring you the vital information. The shortlisted books were:

• Future girl by Asphyxia

• The end of the world is bigger than love by Davina Bell

• The F team by Rawah Arja

• The boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

• Metal fish, falling snow by Cath Moore

• Where we begin by Christie Nieman.

Miss 14 has read all six titles, I have two more to read.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers, especially Asphxia who won the Prize. Miss 14 reviewed Future Girl here – a gorgeously illustrated novel, set in the future, narrated by a Deaf teenager.

Here’s hoping we will all be able to gather together soon.