Announcing the 2018 shortlist for the Readings Young Adult Book Prize

This year’s Readings Young Adult Book Prize shortlist has been revealed!

The six shortlisted novels are:

• Untidy Towns by Kate O’Donnell
• Beautiful Mess by Claire Christian
• Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough
• This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada
• Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
• Between Us by Clare Atkins

Nina Kenwood, Readings' Marketing Manager and Chair of the Judging Panel, comments: ‘The stories in this year’s shortlist range from romantic comedy to post-apocalyptic plague, and inspire everything from creeping horror to sheer joy. The six books are of an exceptionally high standard, demonstrating the extraordinary depth of talent to be found amongst debut and early-career Australian YA authors.’

You can read Kenwood’s individual comments about each of the shortlisted books here.

We’re pleased to offer all six books on the shortlist in a specially priced pack for $99.99 (was $117.90).

The winner of this year’s Readings Young Adult Book Prize will be revealed in late July, and will be featured in the August issue of the Readings Monthly. They will receive $3,000 in prize money.

About the Readings Young Adult Book Prize

The Readings Young Adult Book Prize celebrates exciting emerging voices in Australian young adult literature. First and second published works of young adult fiction and memoir are eligible, and the Prize is awarded to the best new contribution to Australian young adult literature.

This Prize was established in 2016 as a way to raise awareness and sales of Australian young adult literature. It joins our two other Readings Prizes – The Readings Children’s Book Prize and The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction – which both began in 2014.

2018 Readings staff judges include Nina Kenwood (Marketing Manager), Mike Shuttleworth (Readings Hawthorn), Georgia Delaney (Readings Kids), and Athina Clarke (Readings Malvern). The panel will be joined by guest judge, award-winning YA author Melissa Keil, to select the winner, and they will also take feedback from the Readings Teen Advisory Board into consideration.

Eligibility Guidelines for 2019

• The Readings Young Adult Book Prize is open to published works of young adult memoir and fiction.
• Young adult fiction may a novel, a novella, a verse novel or a collection of short stories by a single author.
• Young adult memoir may be original, or a young reader’s edition of an adult memoir.
• The author must be an Australian citizen or hold permanent residency at the time of entry.
• The book must be the author’s first or second published work of young adult fiction only. The author may have published books in other areas.
• Second or subsequent books in a series will not be considered.
• Co-authored works will only be considered if all contributing authors fit our guidelines.
• Books published only in e-book form are not eligible to be entered.
• Self-published works are not eligible to be entered.
• Entries must be published in English.
• Authors must be living at the date of publication.
• Authors who win the Readings Prize for Young Adult Fiction will no longer be eligible for this Prize in future years.
• To be eligible for the 2019 Prize, books must have been first published between Thursday 26 April 2018 and Wednesday 24 April 2019.
• Authors who are employed by Readings during the judging period for each year are not eligible for the Prize. For the 2019 Prize round, this period is from Thursday 26 April 2018, through to Friday 26 July 2019.

Entry Guidelines for 2019

There is no process for entering the Prize. The judging panel, comprised of experienced Readings’ staff, will decide on eligible titles and invite respective publishers to submit no more than three reading copies of the nominated book for Prize consideration throughout the eligibility period. Further copies may be requested if the book is shortlisted.

Enquiries

Enquiries should be directed to the Prize Manager Bronte Coates at bronte.coates@readings.com.au.

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