Read Alert

Congratulations to Patrick Ness, who has just won the Booktrust Teenage Book Prize for The Knife of Never Letting Go.

More info here.

Max Leone, a thirteen year old boy from New Jersey offers some sound advice on what boys like to read - and don’t.

Andy Griffiths has a few thoughts on the topic, too. You can hear his talk, recorded by Radio National, here.

Meanwhile, the Boys, Blokes, Books and Bytes tour has wound up. But the blog is going strong.

And there’s all new at insideadog.

Earlier tonight, the young adult literati of Melbourne gathered for the announcement of the 2008 Inky Awards. The Inkys are Australia’s only teenage choice book awards, run by the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria, on insideadog.com.au.

CYL selects a longlist of 10 Australian and 10 International books published in the last year, and then a panel of six judges whittle it down to a shortlist of three Australian and three International books. The shortlist is posted on insideadog, and anyone under the age of 20 can vote for their favourites.

This year we had four teenage judges from all over Australia, as well as Darwin-based librarian/standup comedian Andrew Finegan, and 2007 Golden Inky Winner Simmone Howell.

The winner of the Silver Inky for best International book went to UK first-time novelist Jenny Downham, for the heartwrenching and poignant Before I Die.

The Golden Inky for best Australian book went to James Roy, for Town, a collection of 13 linked short stories set in a country town. The Golden Inky also includes $2000 in prize money.

The winner of the Inkys Creative Reading Prize – where a young person submits a creative response to one of the longlisted books in any format they choose – is 14 year old Jessica, for her response to Before I Die.

You remember that in August Melbourne has granted City of Literature status by UNESCO. And a lot people asked: what does this mean? And what is a city of literature? And some even asked: is there money involved? You can join the conversation and find out about Melbourne, Edinburgh and UNESCO next Tuesday evening at a special free event.

A Tale of Two Cities
Edinburgh and Melbourne: UNESCO Cities of Literature

This free public forum will commence with presentations by Alison Bowden, Director of the Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, and Penny Hutchinson, Director, Arts Victoria, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Louise Adler, CEO and Publisher-in Chief, Melbourne University Publishing. Panel members will include Sandy Grant, Chief Executive, Hardie Grant Publishing; Elliot Perlman, writer; Mark Rubbo, Readings Books & Music and board member, Centre for Books, Writing & Ideas; and Jason Steger, Literary Editor, The Age.

Tuesday 11 November, 6.30–7.45pm
Experimedia
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Bookings: 03 8664 7016; email bookings@slv.vic.gov.au; online at slv.vic.gov.au/goto/whatson

And the one book? Tonight Philip Adams on Radio National tears himself away from events in the USA to meet Matt Ottley to discuss Requiem for a Beast, Ottley’s CBCA winning picture book. Should make for fascinating listening.

Inkys Voting has closed.

Please join us on Thursday 6 November for the Awards Ceremony.

Experimedia, State Library of Victoria

6:30pm

RSVP here or to 03 8664 7555

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we welcomed around 450 teenage readers from all parts of Melbourne - indeed Victoria - with groups from Geelong and Drouin, too. They came to meet and hear Melina Marchetta, Randa Abdel-Fattah and John Heffernan talk about how truth and fiction come together in the books we read.

The writers were ably backed up by actors directed by Vanessa Cole of Doorslam Productions.

It was fascainating to hear Melina talk about the origins of Finnikin of the Rock her new novel. To paraphrase, Melina sees the book as a change of genre but a continuation of themes and ideas that populate her other books. There is plenty of complexity in the characters in a story of the search for a homeland.

Randa Abdel-Fattah’s new novel, Where the Streets Had a Name is her best book yet. The story of two young Palestinian teenagers who cross into Jerusalem, is dramatic and vivid, and uses flashes of humour to heighten the realism. And John Heffernan has let us know that he is writing another YA novel, encouraged by the success of Marty’s Shadow. John is also one of the best readers of his own work that I have heard. Does he do his own audio versions? He should.

Meanwhile, over at insideadog, Brigid Lowry has set up her desk and is inviting you over for a creative spring clean. Brigid is the author of Juicy Writing, a guide to creativity. Brigid ran a sold out creative writing session for teachers earlier this year. And won the Victorian Premier’s Literature Award for YA writing this year. While you are there, don’t forget to vote in The Inkys.

Coming up for CYL next is The Secret History of Words and Music, a Bookgig with Ursula (Word Spy) Dubosarsky and David Demant (A History of Natural Numbers). We have some space for the Thursday sessions, but otherwise, chockas. Bookings on 8644 7555.

If there’s one thing that YA authors don’t talk much about, it’s politics. Even when sex, drugs and rock n roll are okay, politics is still considered a no-no. Irresponsible, somehow.

This year it’s different. Here’s Scott Westerfeld:

Since we’ve started YA for Obama, a few folks have asked, “How dare we?” As in, how dare we muddy our special duties as tribunes of youth with something as icky as politics.

We answer: “But our books are all about sexuality, racism, the future, who’s got money and who hasn’t, and figuring out your place in the world. What could be more political than that?”

They say: “Yeah, but those are all pleasantly fuzzy moral issues, which teens should be thinking about. But YA for Obama is about real politics—like, it contains the names of actual politicians. And that’s just too . . . specific!”

YA for Obama is a social network for authors of Young Adult literature, and their readers. It provides information about the candidates, strategies for helping out, and opinion essays from authors such as Judy Blume, Scott Westerfeld, Meg Cabot, John Green, Lauren Myracle, Cecil Castellucci, Sara Zarr, Gossip Girl’s Cecily von Zeigasar and Maureen Johnson, the mastermind behind the site.

The idea behind the site is - just because you’re under 18, doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference. And it seems to be working. The site has nearly 1300 members, all contributing tips and strategies, from transporting seniors and people without cars to polling booths on election day, to letter-writing campaigns, to (shock horror) talking to your family about how they will use their vote.

(for those who are curious: yes, there is a YA for McCain. It has five members.)

Tomorrow we launch the toolkit for boys, blokes, books & bytes. Followers of Read Alert and CYL will know that we run pilot programs in a couple of Victorian schools. The toolkit, prepared by Erin Ritchie, draws on that experience to set out a model and ways of working that encourage boys’ participation in reading for enjoyment.

Glyn Davis, the vice chancellor of Melbourne University will launch the publication.

Archie Fusillo will also be here to talk about his adventures in reading and writing for boys.

The launch event is in Experimedia at the State Library of Victoria, 6pm to 7pm.

Meanwhile, the BBBB blog has had a timely makeover. Thanks to Erin, Byron and Heath.

We have some lovely Inkys Shortlist flyers… if anyone would like a bundle for their school/library/bookshop, just let me know.