Inky Awards youth literature shortlist announced

The State Library of  Victoria has announced the shortlist for the 2012 Inky Awards for young adult literature and now invites Australian teen readers to vote for a winner.

The Inky Awards were founded by the State Library’s Centre for Youth Literature in 2007 asAustralia’s first national teen choice awards for young adult literature.

The 2012 shortlist includes five Australian and five international youth literature books. Australian books are eligible for the Gold Inky and a $2,000 prize. International books are eligible for the Silver Inky.

The shortlist was selected by a panel of four teen judges as well as blogger Danielle Binks and James Moloney, winner of the 2011 Gold Inky Award for his book Silvermay.

The shortlist is available on the State Library’s youth literature website insideadog.com.au where teen readers can vote for their favourite books and determine the winners.

The Centre for Youth Literature’s Program Coordinator, Adele Walsh, says the Inky Awards encourage teens to read for pleasure and share the stories they enjoy with their peers.

‘The winners of the Inky Awards are chosen by the audience the authors have written for–teens. That’s a great way to get young adults excited about reading and it is great for the authors to get that recognition.’

The wining books will be announced at Inky Fest at the State Library Tuesday 23 October. For more information and bookings visit slv.vic.gov.au/event/2012-inky-awards.

The winners’ announcement will be followed by the Inky Fest Schools’ Day on 24 October. Authors James Moloney (2011 Inky Gold Winner), Rhiannon Hart (2012 Gold Inky Longlist) and a surprise guest author will facilitate workshops with students in years 5 to 10. For more information or bookings email [email protected].

Shortlist Follows

Gold Inky shortlist (Australian novels)

Shift by Em Bailey
There were two things everyone knew about Miranda Vaile before she'd even arrived at our school. The first was that she had no parents - they were dead. And the second? They were dead because Miranda had killed them.

NightBeach by Kirsty Eagar
Abbie has three obsessions. Art. The ocean. And Kane. But since Kane's been back, he's changed. There's a darkness shadowing him that only Abbie can see. And it wants her in its world.

Act of Faith by Kelly Gardiner
When ideas were dangerous, one girl found the courage to act.

Queen of the Night by Leanne Hall
The dark is dangerous. So is the past. So are your dreams.

The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams
Dodie's parents are missing and it looks like the least likely boy in class holds the key to the huge secret her parents have been hiding. So now Dodie's driving – unlicensed – toSydney, and being chased by bad guys, the police, and one very handsome good guy.

Silver Inky shortlist (International novels)

BZRK  by Michael Grant
Set in the near future, BZRK is the story of a war for control of the human mind.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
The monster showed up just aftermidnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

Voting is now open on insideadog.com.au/vote

Further Information

insideadog.com.au is Australia’s best-loved website for books and reading for young people. Insideadog is a project of the State Library of Victoria’s Centre for Youth Literature and is proudly supported by the Australia Council, State Government of Victoria and The Age. For more information, contact Centre for Youth Literature at [email protected] or 03 8664 7014.