Our favourite children's and YA prize winners this year
Holly Harper rounds up our top picks for prize-winning children’s and YA books in 2015.
Winner of the Readings Children Book Prize 2015
Rivertime by Trace Balla
Rivertime was the magnificent winner of our very own Readings Children’s Book Prize this year. It was an incredibly strong shortlist, but Trace Balla’s graphic novel-style tale of a boy and his uncle’s journey up the Glenelg River blew our judges away. They said, ‘It is unique, we love its artistry and it is a stunning debut that heralds the arrival of an exciting new Australian author–illustrator. The attention to detail in Rivertime is extraordinary, engrossing you in the exquisite flora and fauna on each page as you follow the action.’
Winner of the Best Novel in the British Fantasy Awards 2015
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
Frances Hardinge’s bewitching Cuckoo Song is the first young adult title in the history of the British Fantasy awards to win best novel. This is a gothic tale of a family torn apart by war, and young Triss’s quest to discover what has happened to her following an accident. It is a lyrically written novel, delightfully dark and creepy, and is guaranteed to be unlike anything else you’ll read these holidays.
Winner of the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers Award 2015
Cleo Stories: The Necklace and The Present by Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood
The Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards have been running since 1948, recognising excellence in Australian children’s books. The Younger Readers category is aimed at middle to upper primary school aged children, and in 2015 it was awarded to Cleo Stories: The Necklace and The Present, a beautifully illustrated pair of stories about the free-spirited Cleo. You can find the rest of the CBCA Award winners for a variety of ages here.
Winner of the Gold Inky Award 2015
The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer
The Inky Awards are Australia’s only national teen choice awards in young adult literature, with the shortlist and longlist selected by teens, and the winners chosen by readers of insideadog.com.au. This year the Gold Inky was awarded to Gabrielle Tozer’s The Intern, a funny and insightful novel from a debut author that follows the ups and downs of a magazine internship.
Winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature 2015
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
The National Book Award is one of the most prestigious prizes for young literature in America, and this year it has been awarded to Shusterman’s unflinching tale of a boy’s descent into mental illness. Caden Bosch is a boy living in different realities – he is both Caden Bosch, track and field star, and Caden Bosch, explorer of the Marianas Trench. Funny and poignant, this is a truly original read.
Winner of the Goodreads Best Young Adult Fiction 2015
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell, take note: All The Bright Places is a captivating novel of live and death, of two people finding love amongst the darkness of mental illness. This one is a real heart-wrencher, and it’s easy to see why it won the Goodreads Best Young Adult Fiction award.
Winner of the Children’s Peace Literature Award 2015
One True Thing by Nicole Hayes
The Children’s Peace Literature Award is a unique prize awarded to an Australian work that provides a peaceful means of resolving conflict and promoting peace. In One True Thing, Frankie’s world is falling apart – her politician mother has been photographed with a much younger man, and she refuses to say why she’s meeting him. In the words of our reviewer: ‘This is a terrific coming of age story with an incredibly likable protagonist.’
Winner of the YABBA Awards 2015 (Fiction for Older Readers category)
52-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton are like the rockstars of the 8+ reader set, so it’s no wonder they won the Young Australians Best Books Awards. Andy and Terry’s constantly expanding treehouse has added some new levels, and with them comes a rocket-powered carrot-launcher, a Ninja Snail Training Academy and plenty of laughs.
Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards 2015 (3-5 Years category)
Teddy Took the Train by Nikki Greenberg
The Speech Pathology Awards aim to promote children’s books as literacy tools, as well as foster a love of reading. Nikki Greenberg took home the prize in the 3-5 Years category for her delightful picture book about childhood anxieties and overcoming our fears. You can find the winners in the other categories here.
Winner of the YABBA Awards 2015 (Picture book category)
Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey
Pig is bossy and greedy and rude, and he’s definitely one pug who doesn’t like to share. Can he be taught a valuable lesson? Aaron Blabey is going from strength to strength with his books, and Pig the Pug is a hilarious picture book with a brilliant message for readers 5+.
