2009 Inky Awards

VOTE NOW!

And don't forget to enter the Creative Reading Prize...

Voting closes on November 20

There is no other award in Australia that relfects what teenagers want to read. The Inkys are international awards for teenage literature, voted for online by the readers of insideadog.com.au. There are three awards: the Golden Inky for an Australian book, the Silver Inky for an international book, and the Creative Reading Prize, won by a young person for a creative response to a book they love, in any format they choose.

The 2009 Inkys Longlist
(click the title for a review)
Broken Glass by Adrian Stirling
Something happened when I was fifteen, something that made me invisible to everyone in Broken Glass.

Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell
I believe in Chloe and chocolate.
I believe the best part is always before.
I believe that most girls are shifty and most guys are dumb.

Exposure by Mal Peet
The boy with all the dreadlocks had two line of business: cars and the patio trade.

Girl at Sea by Maureen Johnson
Ollie was in aisle five of Galaxy Art Supply stocking oil paints when Clio Ford emerged from the manager’s office.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Everyone thinks it was because of the snow.

Into White Silence by Anthony Eaton
The SS Loongana steamed slowly up the Derwent River towards it’s berth at Salamanca Warf...

Jarvis 24 by David Metzenthen
I tend to worry, I know I do, but only because I think there is lots of things to worry about.

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne La Fleur
It was fun at first, playing house. I made all my own meals. Crackers and cheese, three times a day.

My Candlelight Novel by Joanne Horniman
I am a reading girl, with a pale face, and glasses.

Paper Towns by John Green
The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle.

Screw Loose by Chris Wheat
Chelsea Dean opened the front door to her parents' substantial riverside residence and was assulted by booming reception-centre music.

Skim by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki
I had a dreamI put my hands inside my chest and held my heart

Ten Mile River by Paul Griffin
Ray was bigger but José was boss. They were fourteen and fifteen, on their own and on the run.

The 10pm Question by Kate de Goldi
Tuesday the fourteenth of February began badly for Frankie Parsons.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
I was born with water on the brain. Okay, so that’s not exactly true.

The Beginners Guide to Living by Lia Hills
She looks good for a corpse.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress.

Two Pearls of Wisdom by Alison Goodman
I let the tips of both by swords dig into the sandy arena floor. It was the wrong move, but the dragging pain in my gut was pulling me into a crouch.

Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah
It’s six-thirty in the morning. I stumble out of bed and splash cold water in my flushed face.

Worldshaker by Richard Harland
A sound brought Col out of a deep sleep. Something was happening out in the corridor.

KOALA 2009 Winners

The winners of KOALA 2009 have been announced!

Picture Storybooks
Winner
Rex - Ursula Dubosarsky & David Mackintosh
Honour Books
Are We There Yet? - Alison Lester
Jungle Drums - Graeme Base

Fiction for Younger Readers
Winner
Zac Power: Series 1 - H.I.Larry
Honour Books
The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow - Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
Go Girl! Two sides: #1 Track Stars! - Kathy Castle & Danielle McDonald

Fiction for Older Readers
Winner
Garden of the Purple Dragon - Carole Wilkinson
Honour Books
Give Peas a Chance - Morris Gleitzman
Ranger's Apprentice: Series - John Flanagan

Fiction for Years 7-9
Winner
The Wizard of Rondo - Emily Rodda
Honour Books
Then - Morris Gleitzman
Tales of Deltora - Emily Rodda & Marc McBride

INKY Awards - Vote Now

The Inkys are international awards for teenage literature, voted for online by the readers of http://www.insideadog.com.au/. There are three awards: the Golden Inky for an Australian book, the Silver Inky for an international book, and the Creative Reading Prize, won by a young person for a creative response to a book they love, in any format they choose.

[voting is open to anyone under 20 years of age] http://www.insideadog.com.au/inkys/index.html

Book News!

Australian Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Winners
Older Readers : Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Younger Readers : Perry Angel’s Suitcase by Glenda Millard

Early Childhood : How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham

Picture Book of the Year : Collecting Colour by Kylie Dunstan

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books : Alive in the Death Zone by Lincoln Hall

All of these great titles are now available at your library.

New Young Adult Books requested by you!

Margaret Mahy's The magician of Hoad

Meg Cabot's Code Name Cassandra and When lightning strikes

Deborah Ellis' Bifocal

Jennifer Roy's Yellow star

Darren Shan's Death’s shadow

Brian James' Dirty liar

A Rose for the Anzac Boys

A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French is a CBC Shortlisted title for the Older Readers category. It is a heart wrenching novel on the ‘War to end all Wars‘, we follow Midge Macpherson on her journey in search of her 'missing' twin brother Tim, and her determination to do her bit for the cause.

Midge and her friends Ethel and Anne start a canteen in France, caring for the endless flow of wounded soldiers returning from the front. Midges' experiences as an ambulance driver are horrific, she is thrust into carnage and terror scenes I could never have imagined. But there is also courage, love and friendship - this book brought a tear to my eye many times.

I highly recommend this book and I thank Jackie French for sharing this story with us. It is a must read for every Australian and holds the true spirit of ANZAC between it's covers.

Jackie French wrote on her Blog a response to the many letters and requests for a sequel:

"I don't think I'll write a sequel to ‘A Rose for the Anzac Boys’ but I have always known what happened to them afterwards.

Midge spent the first few days at the farm crying, finally letting go of all she had seen – which helped her relationship with her mother-in-law to be, who fussed over her so protectively that she didn’t mind as Midge slowly took over managemnt of the farm and their lives. .

Midge and Harry built the new house up on the hill. The farm became one of the most prosperous in the region. Midge had three daughters, and then one son – he enlisted in World War Two but developed appendicitis so never went overseas. She and her Harry lived a long and happy life together, surrounded by many grandchildren. She died at 89, asleep on the verandah looking out at her farm and her family.

Ethel never married, but grew closer to her brother, finally recognising his courage too – how he had supported her and the canteen, organising supplies, refusing to fight for a cause he didn't believe in. Ethel was offered to be made a Dame of the British Empire for her work organising food supplies in World War Two. She refused, and with her brother's support, entered Parliament. She died relatively young, at 62, still fighting for her causes.

Anne and her Gavin worked in Mesopotamia till the late ‘30s, when political tensions made it too dangerous to work there. Anne's daughters were born in 1937 and 1939.

Anne's scars faded with time, and her consciousness of them faded too. Gavin worked in Intelligence in World War Two; Anne ran the local billeting for refugees.

After the war Gavin was offered a professorship at the University of Queensland. Anne finally took her degree, and eventually became a part-time tutor. Although not wealthy by the standards of the aristocracy, Anne's family money meant they lived comfortably and generously, in a large house on the Brisbane River near the university, filled with students, discussion and laughter.

The three girls met only once more altogether, at the christening of Anne's first daughter, but kept in touch with love and letters throughout their lives.
When Anne moved to Australia one of Midge's granddaughters lived with them while she studied in Brisbane."

Other historical novels by the author:
The Goat Who Sailed the World
Pharaoh
They Came On Viking Ships
Hitler's Daughter
A War for Gentlemen
Tom Appleby Convict Boy
Macbeth and Son
Walking the Boundaries

Further Reading:
Australian War Memorial Kids HQ in Flanders Fields

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Finnikin of the rock is Melina's fantasy novel debut and it lives up to her previous standards. Like Looking for Alabrandi and Saving Francesca this book is about friendship and belonging. It is shortlisted for Book of the Year Older Readers.

I loved the characters in this book they are realistic, human and easy to identify with, Melina's strong characters are what really drive this narrative.

The Kingdom of Lumatere falls, it's royal family slaughtered and is cursed. Most of the Lumaterians are banished to wander foreign lands while others are trapped within the cursed walls.

Ten years later, Finnikin is lead to find Evanjalin, a young novice of Lagrimi who dreams of those trapped inside Lumatere. Together Finnikin and Evanjalin must follow their entwined destiny to save their people.

Checkout an interview with Melina.

Book of the Year - Older Readers Short List 2009

Here are the Youth shortlisted titles for Book of the Year. It is a really good shortlist this year, every title has plenty to offer. I will be posting some reviews and bits and bobs for each title over the coming weeks, check them out.
Author	Title	Publisher
CORNISH, D. M.	Monster Blood Tattoo Book Two: Lamplighter	Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia
EATON, Anthony	Into White Silence	Woolshed Press, Random House Anustralia
FRENCH, Jackie	A Rose for the Anzac Boys	HarperCollinsPublishers
MARCHETTA, Melina	Finnikin of the Rock	Viking, Penguin Group Australia
MOLONEY, James	Kill the Possum	Penguin Group Australia
TAN, Shaun	Tales from Outer Suburbia	Allen & Unwin

KOALA Winners

I spent a wonderfully exhausting day today out at Blacktown Library for the 2008 KOALA Awards Day. I got to meet (and have lunch with) Duncan Ball, Ursula Dubosarsky, Anna Fienberg, Kim Gamble, Catherine Jinks, Chris Milne and Emily Rodda. I also got to meet all the students from across the state who attended Awards Day.

It was a great day despite the miserable and wild weather. Val the KOALA Secretary commented 'it is the first time that authors have had to come through snow to attend Awards Day!'

The 2008 Kids Own Australian Literature Awards were announced and the winners are:
Picture Book Winner: Annie's Chair by Deborah Niland
Honour Books: Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek and Rex by Ursula Dubosarsky and David Mackintosh

Younger Readers Winner: Just Shocking! by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Honour Books: Tashi & the mixed up monster and Selby Shattered by Duncan Ball and Allan Stomann

Older Readers Winner: The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda
Honour Books: Boy Overboard by Morrris Gleitzman and Spookiest stories by Paul Jennings

Fiction Years 7-9 Winner: Mao's Last Dancer by Lee Cunxin
Honour Book: Dragon Moon by Carole Wilkinson

Here are a couple of pic's Yvonne took today.

Ursula Dubosarsky, Catherine Jinks, Duncan Ball and Emily Rodda

Anna Fienberg and her Tashi doll.

Did you know? Anna invented the Tashi stories with her mum, and Kim Gamble invented the way Tashi looks. Kim had this little doll made for Anna so he could keep her company while she writes, but Anna's little boy liked the tashi doll so much Anna gave it to him.

Kim Gamble and the artwork he created in front of our eyes.

Kim's artwork was won by Wollondilly Public School on Awards Day. Kim was inspired to create a dragon for Tashi after Lee Castledine told the assembly a story about a great dragon and a magic golden snail.

Inky's Shortlist

Have you been following the Inky Awards nominations?

The nominations have been cast and the shortlist have been drawn.

Now you get to decide who gets the Golden and Silver Inky.

Vote now!

The shortlist

Town, James Roy

My brother Kimlan works all night fixing the road. He wears a shirt that reflects the light from the cars. The boss man says that if he does not wear that shirt, no one will be able to see him unless he smiles.

Tales from Outer Suburbia, Shaun Tan

It's funny how these days, when every household has its own intercontinental ballistic missile, you hardly even think about them.

A Brief History of Montmaray, Michelle Cooper
Officially, the head of our household is Uncle John, who is Aunt Charlotte's brother and Veronica's father (and the King of Montmaray), but he's rather distracted on his good days, and downright alarming on his bad ones.

Genesis, Bernard Beckett

…the only thing the population had to fear, was fear itself. The true danger humanity faced during this period was the shrinking of its own spirit.

Boy Toy, Barry Lyga

It was like watching the mating rituals of retarded birds, clumsily stepping the wrong patterns around each other over and over again.

Before I Die, Jenny Downham

I sit up and switch on the bedside light. There's a pen, but no paper, so on the wall behind me I write, I want to feel the weight of a boy on top of me.

July New Books (and other stuff)

Woohoo! It's a new year!
Financial year that is, with a shiny new budget and lots more money to spend on books, toys, DVD's and music etc, etc. Talking about spending, the July new Books list is up have a squizze. If your into real life stories and reality (that's non fiction for you library types) we are experiencing a tidal wave of new titles. From stuff on Vivaldi (a classical muscician), a book called "Why should I eat this carrot?" a very informative read, stuff on "Australia’s Air Force "and Navy, if your interested in animals and nature, what about "Venom" or "Cockroach’s night out" or if your into the heavy stuff "It’s a climate for change".

There are still some new good stories of course!

Leaving Barrumbi by Leonie Norrington is a new talking book (CD to listen to, a book with no reading!) The author spent much of her childhood on a remote community, growing up among aboriginal people who live in the traditional way, and she has brought many of these experiences into this beautiful story. The sequel to The Barrumbi kids and The Spirit of Barrumbi, this story see’s Dale start boarding School. Many challenges face Dale, finding his place in ‘white’ society, making new friends, and staying connected to his family and community – no wonder Dale doesn’t know who he is anymore! This story is 7 ½ hours long and is read in a fashion that will engage with adults and children alike. This book is listed on the Children’s Book Council 2008 shortlisted, and it deserves an award, it is a great story to read or hear.

Clay’s Way by Blair Mastbaum
The reviews screamed “A gay Catcher in the Rye”, “trilling, sexy, terrifying” and it was voted 2005 “Book for the Teen Age” by the New York Public Library. What can I say; it came highly recommended, so then why was I disappointed? I found the push and pull between Clay and Sam the duo-protagonists to be scary and disturbing; I couldn’t stand either of them, let alone like them. Set in the sun and the surf of Hawaii, Mastbaum must be congratulated for achieving a dark and twisted tale that delves into the teen psyche to perturb the readers mind. That said it is a good read, it held me and I just had to finish it, I wasn’t happy at the end, but did I really want a Disney ending, definitely not.

Win a copy of the Peasant Prince!
To win a copy of The Peasant Prince, tell us in 50 words or less about a picture book or illustrator that has moved you. Submit your entry at the library desk by 24 Sept 08.

Erak’s Ransom wins the Australian Book Industry Award: Book of the Year for Older Children. A Spokes woman from the RHA said 'Sales for Australian series Ranger’s Apprentice have topped over 1 million copies worldwide. The adventure, humour and friendship of the Ranger’s Apprentice series is clearly resonating with fans across the world. With more books in the series and a major film deal struck with United Artists films and writer-director Paul Haggis, Random House Australia is looking forward to the continuing success of this series.'

Cybils: blogger book award

Let me introduce you to the internet's first literary awards!
Check out the Cybils Widget!

Like all revolutions, this one started small, with a single post on a blog devoted to children's literature. The Newbery Awards seemed too elitist and the Quills, well, not enough so. Was there a middle ground, an annual award that would recognize both a book's merits and popularity?

The Cybils are the middle ground. The public nominates their favorite children's books from 2007 in seven categories: Picture Books; Non-fiction Picture Books; Middle Grade fiction; Poetry; Young Adult fiction; Non-fiction (YA/MG); and Graphic Novels.

Anyone with an e-mail address can nominate one book per category. Then groups of bloggers get to work. First, a nominating committee reads ALL the titles in a given category. After nearly two arduous months, this committee winnows the nominees to five finalists. A second committee of bloggers considers the shortlist and, after much debate, chooses the best of the best for 2007.

The Cybils is a blogger-run, blogger-inspired awards process... make sure you cast your vote!