A spotlight on Between Us by Clare Atkins
Between Us is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings Young Adult Book Prize.
I lift my right foot off the ground, and place it on the lowest step of the bus. My nerves are an electric lightning storm inside me, fraught and fiery. The officer waves for me to get on. Her voice cracks with impatience. ‘Hurry up!’
– Clare Atkins, Between Us
Here’s what the judges said…
‘Jono is depressed, missing his absent mother and sister, and struggling in his relationship with his Vietnamese father Kenny. Ana is an asylum seeker from Iran, forced to live in a detention centre and nervously attending the local school for the first time. As Jono and Ana form a gentle bond and feelings grow between them, problems arise when Jono’s father – who works as a guard at the detention centre – becomes involved.
Between Us is an extraordinary feat of storytelling, beautifully weaving together three narrative voices with precision and skill. Claire Atkins’ extensive research and understanding of the issues are apparent throughout, and her writing is exquisite. This is an important book that will resonate with all Australians.’
–
Nina Kenwood, Chair of the judging panel
Meet the author…
Clare Atkins is a Darwin-based author, scriptwriter, script editor and producer. She’s written for many successful Australian television dramas, and has also worked in community development and education. Between Us is her second novel. Clare’s first novel, Nona and Me, was written while she lived in the remote Aboriginal community of Yirrkala in the Northern Territory.
