We're excited to share the three books that have been awarded the 2018 winners of the Readings Children's, Young Adult and New Australian Fiction Prizes.
The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize
Pulse Points: Stories by Jennifer Down
The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, now in its fifth year, is awarded to a work of fiction by an Australian author and this year had almost ninety works to consider.
We're thrilled to announce Pulse Points as the 2018 winner, a subtle, elegant and accomplished short story collection. It stood out to the judging panel for its emotional maturity and complexity; Down’s ability to make a reader feel what her characters are feeling is remarkable.
Read more about the 2018 Prize and Down's win here.
The Readings Young Adult Prize
Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough
Amelia Westlake follows the story of Harriet Price (rule-abiding prefect) and Will Everhart (rule-breaking slacker). The two girls strike up an unlikely friendship when they decide to publish a controversial cartoon about a sexist teacher in the school newspaper under the pseudonym Amelia Westlake – an act that leads to further rebellion, and a romantic spark between Harriet and Will. Part queer rom-com, part feminist heist, Amelia Westlake is a joy to read.
Read more about Gough's win, including a statement from guest judge Melissa Keil, here.
The Readings Children's Book Prize
Tarin of the Mammoths: The Exile by Jo Sandhu
Established in 2014, the Readings Children’s Book Prize celebrates on-the-rise Australian authors and is awarded to the book that children will love best. Jo Sandhu’s captivating and cinematic middle-fiction novel, set 30,000 years ago in Lapland, Finland is a fitting winner. This is an action-packed and unputdownable Stone Age epic for ages 8 to 12 that is guaranteed to have readers on the edge of their seats.
Read more about Sandhu's win, including a statement from guest judge Davina Bell, here.
And don't miss our highly recommended shortlisted books!
The Readings New Australian Fiction Prize 2018 shortlist
