CBCA Awards Shortlist, 2010

Those of you who know me and/or follow this blog might know that I am both an author and a book reviewer. Usually, I manage to keep the two things separate, but today I'm not sure it's possible. See, normally, when the CBCA Awards shortlist is announced, I would share the list or a link to it here for your pleasure.

But today, as well as sharing the list with you, I  also want tos hare my absolute delight that for the first time in 30 books - I'm ON THE SHORTLIST  (excuse my yelling. I'm a little excited).

So, resuming normal programming, today the shortlist for the CBCA Chidlren's Book of the Year Awards has been announced, and is as follows:

Book of the Year: Older Readers


These books are for mature readers.

CHRISTOPHER, Lucy Stolen (Chicken House)

CLARKE, Judith The Winds of Heaven (Allen & Unwin)

LARBALESTIER, Justine Liar (Allen & Unwin)

METZENTHEN, David Jarvis 24 (Penguin Group Australia)

MILLARD, Glenda A Small Free Kiss in the Dark (Allen & Unwin)

TANGEY, Penny Loving Richard Feynman (University of Queensland Press)


Book of the Year: Younger Readers

Intended for independent younger readers.

FENSHAM, Elizabeth Matty Forever (University of Queensland Press)

HIRSCH, Odo Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool (Allen & Unwin)

LESTER, Alison Running with the Horses (Viking, Penguin GroupAustralia)

MCINTOSH, Fiona The Whisperer  (Angus & Robertson,HarperCollinsPublishers)

MURPHY, Sally Illus. POTTER, Heather  Pearl Verses the World (Walker Books)
STORER, Jen Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children (Viking, Penguin Group Australia)


Book of the Year: Early Childhood

Intended for children in the pre-reading to early reading stages.

BLAND, Nick The Wrong Book (Scholastic Australia)

BOOTH, Christina Kip (Windy Hollow Books)

DUBOSARSKY, Ursula  Illus. JOYNER, Andrew The Terrible Plop (Viking, Penguin Group Australia)

GLEESON, Libby Illus. BLACKWOOD, Freya Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House (Little Hare )
SHANAHAN, Lisa Illus. QUAY, Emma Bear & Chook by the Sea Lothian (Children’s Books, Hachett)

THOMPSON, Colin  Illus. DAVIS, Sarah Fearless ABC Books (HarperCollinsPublishers)


Picture Book of the Year

Intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years. (Some books may be for mature readers).

COOL, Rebecca  Text: MILLARD, Glenda  Isabella’s Garden (Walker Books)

DANALIS, Stella Text: DANALIS, John  Schumann the Shoeman (University of Queensland Press)

HARVEY, Roland To the Top End: Our Trip Across Australia (Allen & Unwin)

HOBBS, Leigh Mr Chicken Goes to Paris (Allen & Unwin)
OLIVER, Narelle Fox and Fine Feathers (Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia)

ROGERS, Gregory The Hero of Little Street (Allen & Unwin)


Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

Intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years. (Some books may be for mature readers).

CLODE, Danielle Prehistoric Giants: The Megafauna of Australia  (Museum Victoria)

M is for Mates: Animals in Wartime from Ajax to Zep Department of Veterans’ Affairs in association with the Australian War Memorial

MACINNIS, Peter  Australian Backyard Explorer National Library of Australia

PATRICK, Tanya Illus: HUTCHESON, Nicholas  Polar Eyes: A Journey to Antarctica CSIRO

REEDER, Stephanie Owen Lost! A True Tale from the Bush (National Library of Australia)

YALATA & OAK COMMUNITIES with  MATTINGLEY, Christobel Maralinga: The Anangu Story Allen & Unwin


Where a book has been reviewed on Aussiereviews I have linked to  that review. Congratulations to all authors, illustrators and publishers with books on the list. The winners will be announced in August, in time for Children's Book Week.

It's been a busy month on Aussiereviews, with twenty two new reviews added. You can clcik on the links to check out the ones you're interested in:

Nonfiction Book Review: Great Moments in Australian History, by Jonathan King

Accessible history.

Children's Book Review: Jaguar Warrior, by Sandy Fussell
Brilliant.

YA Book Review: The Devil You Know, by Leonie Norrington
Set in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Picture Book Review: It's a Jungle in Here, by Steve Wide
The jungle is everywhere.

Young Adult Book Review: After, by Sue Lawson
Gripping.

Young Adult Book Review: Surf Ache, by Gerry Bobsien
Ever been surfing?

Children's Book Review: Horse Mad Whispers, by Kathy Helidoniotis
Title 7 in Horse Mad series.

Children's Book Review: A Belt Around My Bum, by Martin Chatterton
A new Willy Waggledagger adventure.

Children's Book Review: Send Simon Savage, by Stephen Measday
An adventure in time.

Children's Book Review: Edie Amelia and the Monkey Shoe Mystery, by Sophie Lee
Edie Amelia is an unusual girl.

Children's Book Review: Dragon Blood Pirates Series Three, by Dan Jerris
Arrrrr!

Children's Book Review: Big Book of Verse for Aussie Kids, edited by Jim Haynes
A wonderful collection.

Picture Book Review: Sarah's Heavy Heart, by Peter Carnavas
Gorgeous.

Picture Book Review: Schumann the Shoeman, by John & Stella Danalis
A beautifully wrought fable.

YA Book Review: Hostage, by Karen Tayleur
A fast-paced journey.

Picture Book Review: Hairy Maclary, Shoo, by Lynley Dodd
The invincible Hairy Maclary is back.

Picture Book Review: Possum and Wattle, by Bronwyn Bancroft
A visual delight.

Book Review: Lovesong, by Alex Miller
Beautiful.

YA Book Review: Genius Wars, by Catherine Jinks
The conclusion to the Genius trilogy.

Book Review: Manhattan Dreaming, by Anita Heiss
Chick-lit at its best.

Book Review: The Children's Writer, by Gary Crew
What happens to those caught up in a writer's world?

Book Review: Come Back to Me, by Sara Foster

A wonderful debut novel.

Seven New Reviews

I have today added seven new reviews to Aussiereviews. Books reviewed are:

Liar, by Justine Larbalestier

Forbidden Fruit, by Kerry Greenwood

I Spy Dad! by Janeen Brian and Chantal Stewart

Cleo, by Helen Brown

Navigating Teenage Depression, by Gordon Parker and Kerry Eyers

Angel Fish, by Lili Wilkinson

Lessons for a Werewolf Warrior, by Jackie French

A nice range of books, from serious nonfiction, to cute picture book. Enjoy!

Sunday Reading

As the result of a Twitter post (tweet), I've just spent an interesting fiteen minutes reading blog posts, when I should have been working on updating Aussiereviews. The tweet linked to a new blog post, but that blog post was in response to an older one, so I'll share the links in cronological order.

Firstly, in August, Jessica Crispin blogged about Jeff Vandemeer's book Booklife, and why it made her skin crawl here.
More recently, Jeff was able to get Jessica to agree to be interviewed on his blog here, about her opinions, as well as making his own comments about those opinions.

It's great reading - and has also given me much food for thought both as an author and as a reviewer. Enjoy!

ABR Top Ten Australian Novels

The Australian Book Review has today announced the results of its reader poll of favourite Australian novels, releasing the list of the top twenty, as voted by readers. You can read the annotated list here. Youc an also see a full list of the 290 novels nominated here

How many of the top ten have you read?

Aurealis Award Winners and New reviews on Aussiereviews

The annual Aurealis awards ceremony was held last night in Brisbane. These awards honour the best Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror offerings for the previous twelve months.

The winners are as follows. Wherever possible I have linked the publication titles to reviews, on Aussiereviews, or elsewhere.

best science fiction novel

Andrew McGahan, Wonders of a Godless World, Allen & Unwin


best science fiction short story

Peter M. Ball, ‘Clockwork, Patchwork and Ravens’, Apex Magazine May 2009

best fantasy novel

Trudi Canavan, Magician's Apprentice, Orbit

best fantasy short story - Joint winners

Christopher Green, ‘Father’s Kill’, Beneath Ceaseless Skies #24

Ian McHugh, 'Once a Month, On a Sunday’, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #40, Andromeda Spaceways Publishing Co-operative Ltd

best horror novel

Honey Brown, Red Queen, Penguin Australia

best horror short story - Joint winners

Paul Haines, 'Wives', X6, Coeur de Lion Publishing

Paul Haines, 'Slice of Life - A Spot of Liver', Slice of Life, The Mayne Press

best anthology

Jonathan Strahan (editor), Eclipse 3, Night Shade Books

best collection

Greg Egan, Oceanic, Gollancz

best illustrated book/graphic novel

Nathan Jurevicius, Scarygirl, Allen & Unwin

best young adult novel

Scott Westerfeld, Leviathan Trilogy: Book One, Penguin

best young adult short story

Cat Sparks, ‘Seventeen’, Masques, CSFG

best children’s (8-12 years) novel

Gabrielle Wang, A Ghost in My Suitcase, Puffin Books

best children’s (8-12 years)
short fiction/illustrated work/picture book

Pamela Freeman (author), Kim Gamble (illustrator), Victor's Challenge, Walker Books Australia


Also, in the past week I have uploaded a swag of new reviews to Aussiereveiws - 23 in total. You can access the following reveiws from the hhome page at Aussiereviews.

The Wicked War on Planet Whimsy, by L. M. Moriarty
The Hollow Tree, by Jacob G. Rosenberg
Spirit of Hope, by Bob Graham
Howzat! by Brett Lee & Michael Panckridge
Fifteen Love, by R. M. Corbett
Australia at the Beach, by Max Fatchen
How to be the Perfect Princess
The ABC Book of Dinosaurs
A Letter From Luisa, by Rowena Mohr
Gamers' Quest, by George Ivanoff
Come By Chance, by Madeline Winch
A History of Cricket, by Catherine Chambers
Anzac Heroes, edited by George Low
The Borgia Ring, by Michael White
100 Ways to Happy Children, by Dr Timothy J. Sharp
The Pony Patch Collection, by Bernadette Kelly
Crocodile River, by Diana Lawrenson
Sharp Shooter, by Marianne Delacourt
Wildlife in Australia, by Louise Egerton
Halloween in Christmas Hills, by Karen Tayleur
Hush, Hush! by Margaret Wild & Bridget Strevens-Marzo
The Wheels on the Bus, illustrated by Mandy Foot
The Dangerous Book of Heroes, by Conn Iggulden & David Iggulden

Enjoy!

Nine New Reviews Posted

Happy new year! I have started off the new year by adding nine new reviews to Aussiereviews. Personal favourites were the two children's books - Tensy Farlow and The Whisperer. Both superb offerings.

YA Book Review: Time of Trial, by Michael Pryor
Reviewed by Tom Murphy
The fourth title in the Laws of Magic series.
YA Book Review: Fill Out This Application and Wait Over There, by Ruth Starke
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A funny diary format story.
YA Book Review: My Private Pectus, by Shane Thamm
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
Footy, cars and a caved-in chest.
Nonfiction Book Review: Kickstart My Heart, by Lana Penrose
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A carnival of dating disasters.
Children's Book Review: Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children, by Jen Storer
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A wonderful gothic novel.
Book Review: Transported - A Pioneer’s Story, by Terry Spring
Reviewed by Kathryn Duncan
An inspirational story.
YA Book Review: The Old Kingdom Chronicles, by Garth Nix
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
Acclaimed trilogy - Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen.
YA Book Review: Posse, by Kate Welshman
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
A novel with bite.
Children's Book Review: The Whisperer, by Fiona McIntosh
Reviewed by Sally Murphy
Riveting.

Check back often for lots more reviews in 2010.