Media Release

Reading Matters 2005

Writing, reading and talks from outstanding Australian and international writers! It’s all part of Reading Matters, Australia’s leading youth literature event, presented during May by the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria.

Twenty-three featured writers include Adeline Yen Mah (USA, Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society), Karen Levine (Canada, Hana’s Suitcase), Malorie Blackman (UK, Noughts & Crosses), Tessa Duder (NZ, Alex), plus Australians Li Cunxin (Mao’s Last Dancer), Carole Wilkinson (Dragonkeeper) and performance poet Steven Herrick.

Reading Matters is on 12-14 May including a youth day (with 1,500 young people) plus a two-day conference, at the State Library of Victoria and RMIT’s Storey Hall.

Highlights include:

• Crossing Over, a forum on books shared by children, teenagers and adults. Crossing Over features David Fickling (publisher of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and the Northern Lights trilogy), Adeline Yen Mah and Tessa Duder. (Thursday 12 May at 6.00pm State Library of Victoria.)

• The Reading Matters conference brings together the very best of writing for teenagers and children. Ideas and issues including Chinese stories, refugees, the Holocaust, gender and new trends in publishing will be discussed and debated by leading writers. (Friday 13 and Saturday 14 May)

• The Youth Day is a chance for 1500 young Victorians to meet and hear some of the world’s best writers. Adeline Yen Mah and Karen Levine will speak on ‘What children can do’. Performance poet Steven Herrick, arguably Australia’s most popular poet today, will entertain audiences. (Thursday 12 May.)

The Centre for Youth Literature promotes reading. It provides exciting, affordable book events for young people and professionals. The biennial Reading Matters conference and professional development programs keep adults in touch with crucial issues and ideas in youth literature.