2019 Inky Awards longlist announced as State Library Victoria refreshes teen programming

With renewed programs and services planned as part of the Vision 2020 redevelopment project, the Library will no longer use the name and branding for Centre for Youth Literature, but remains committed to supporting young adult (YA) literature and programming for teen readers.

State Library Victoria CEO, Kate Torney, said the Inky Awards will continue to give young adults the opportunity to vote for their favourite YA release each year.

“The Library is undergoing a once-in-a-lifetime transformation to ensure that we meet the changing needs of our cherished young audiences.

“We will be providing refreshed programming, spaces and services with the opening of the new Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter and the Create Quarter when Vision 2020 is complete in late spring 2019,” said Ms Torney.

Twenty titles have been longlisted across two Inky Award categories: the Gold Inky for Australian fiction and the Silver Inky for International fiction.

State Library Victoria Reading and Literacy Development Manager, Rebecca Henson, said this year’s longlist showcases the best in young adult literature, chosen and curated by teen readers for their peers.

“Former teen judges and Inside a Dog website contributors have created an impressive longlist that represents a strong and diverse range of voices from Australia and abroad,” said Ms Henson.

Applications to be a 2019 Inky Awards teen judge closed last week, and the judges will be announced via insideadog.com.au on 25 March 2019.

“The teen judging panel will read all twenty YA titles, narrowing them down to an inclusive, authentic and enjoyable shortlist. Our team is excited to announce the 2019 judging panel next month,” added Ms Henson.

The Inky Awards shortlist will be announced in July and the 2019 Inky Award winners will be determined by public vote at insideadog.com.au and announced in September.

The next Reading Matters conference will be in held in 2020.

2019 Inky Awards longlist Gold Inky Award
Hive by A. J. Betts (Pan Australia) 
A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews (Hachette Australia) 
I Am Out With Lanterns by Emily Gale (Penguin Random House Australia) 
Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough (Hardie Grant Egmont) 
Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman (HarperCollins Publishers) 
The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot (Text Publishing) 
Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff (Allen & Unwin) 
White Night by Ellie Marney (Allen & Unwin) 
Whisper by Lynette Noni (Pantera Press)
After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson (Allen & Unwin)

Silver Inky Award
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (Egmont UK Ltd, Electric Monkey)
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Macmillan Children's Books)
What if It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera (Simon & Schuster)
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Allen & Unwin)
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (Hachette Australia)
Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking (Pan Macmillan)
I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman (HarperCollins)
The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X.R. Pan (Hachette Australia)
Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Walker Books)
Navigating the Stars by Maria V. Snyder (Harlequin Enterprises Australia (HarperCollins))

Information for editors State Library Victoria connects Australia’s young people with literature, inspiring young adults to engage with books, stories, writing and ideas. insideadog.com.au is Australia's best-loved website for books and reading for young people and a project of State Library Victoria.