23 Sep These books have been listed for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize.

Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) has listed the following children and young adult books for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize.

The Final winners will be announced on 19 October 2023. For more information about the awards and to see last year’s winners, please visit the HNSA

The Shortlist for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize – Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category is:

The Longlist for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize – Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category is:

• The Great Gallipoli Escape – Jackie French (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Running with Ivan – Suzanne Leal (HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Killing Code – Ellie Marnie (Allen & Unwin)
• The Bookseller’s Apprentice – Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press)
• Waiting for the Storks – Katrina Nannestad (ABC Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Upwelling – Lystra Rose (Hatchette Australia)
• The Mud Puddlers – Pamela Rushby (Walker Books)
• Iris and Me – Phillipa Werry (Ahoy! An Imprint of The Cuba Press)
• Tilda – Sue Whiting (Walker Books)

The 2023 judging panel for the CYA category included Christopher Cheng (Chair), Dr Craig Cormick and Lauren Keenan.

According to Christopher Cheng, “The judges were so very pleased with the variety of themes, and the creative and courageous writing approaches (including verse) in the nine long listed titles from Australia and New Zealand in this year’s Children’s and Young Adult Novel Award Category. These titles exposed wars (in China, the Lebensborn Program, Gallipoli and Theresienstadt), suffragettes, female code breakers, an orphanage, evacuees, and bookstores. Some of these titles revealed uncommon and uncomfortable slices of history.”

“Time slip, often cumbersomely portrayed, was cleverly approached where required and with integrity. A common theme of friendship is running through many of the titles, and it was pleasing to read titles written in verse or through multiple voices.”

“Extensive research was demonstrated, with complex and in-depth factual notes added to the title, which was then cleverly written into the storylines.”

“These are powerful and engaging historical titles that young readers will want to devour.”

In the Children and Young Adult (CYA) category, the winner will receive $30,000, while the two shortlisted authors will receive $5,000 each.
The 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize Shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 27 September 2023. Winners will be announced on 19 October 2023. For more information about the awards  and to see last year’s winners, please visit the HNSA website.