We’re all tremendously proud and excited to announce that Leanne Hall, children’s specialist bookseller at Readings Carlton, has won the 2009 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing for her young adult manuscript This is Shyness.

Congratulations to Leanne from all of us.

This is Shyness follows Wolfboy and Wildgirl through one night in Shyness, a city where the sun never rises. On a quest to retrieve a stolen card, they confront the menacing Kidds and push themselves to the boundaries of their fears as they help each other face the pain in their lives. It’s a highly original story from an exciting new talent.

You can read more about Leanne and her award-winning manuscript here.