Teens vote for fantasy in 2019 Inky Awards for young adult literature

Whisper, a dystopian young adult novel by Queensland-based author, Lynette Noni has today won Gold in the 2019 Inky Awards – Australia's annual awards for new youth literature hosted by State Library Victoria – while The Cruel Prince, a fantasy novel by American author Holly Black, took out the Silver Inky, which is awarded to an international title each year.

The two books were voted number one in the Gold (Australian) and Silver (international) categories respectively by Australian readers aged 12–19 from a shortlist of ten, selected by a panel of eight teenage judges from all around the country. The winners were announced by the eight judges at State Library Victoria this afternoon as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival Schools’ Program.

Ms Noni said it was an honour to receive the Gold Inky: “Not so long ago, the idea of becoming an author was little more than an elusive dream. Even now, having published seven books, there are still moments when I need to pinch myself to see if this is real. Winning the Gold Inky Award is one such moment. I'm so honoured not only to have been considered amongst the longlisted titles written by such talented authors, but to have been chosen by teenagers as the winner.

“To know that Whisper resonated so strongly with teens and that the concept of voice and the power of words spoke to so many readers is truly humbling. ‘Thank you’ seems like a pale offering for all that I'm feeling, but nevertheless, thank you,” she said.

Ms Black was unable to attend the event but expressed her delight at winning the Silver Inky via video: "I am thrilled that The Cruel Prince has won the Silver Inky Award. Thank you so much to the readers who voted for it."  

"I am incredibly honoured to be in the company of previous winners Angie Thomas, Jandy Nelson, Rainbow Rowell and of course my buddy Cassandra Clare. I'm really sorry that I'm not able to be there in person to accept the award but I hope I will be able to visit your shores soon and I hope to see you then."

The Inky Awards is Australia’s only literary prize for young adult literature overseen by a dedicated panel of teenage judges from across Australia. Now in its thirteenth year, the Awards are more popular than ever with a record number of young adults applying to be part of the judging panel and a 76% increase in votes since 2018.

State Library Victoria Reading and Literacy Development Manager, Rebecca Henson, said she was impressed by the calibre of this year’s entrants and commended the judges on their shortlisted selection.

“The Inky Awards give young readers the opportunity to let authors, editors, publishers and fellow readers know about the books that speak to them and the stories that reflect their lives. They give teens a voice in the adult-dominated literary scene, and that voice has consistently come through loud and clear as capable, insightful, diverse and articulate.

“This year’s winners show that fantasy is a hot genre for teen readers. The ability to take a young person into another realm and entertain through characters they can relate to and plot that is truly engaging is a challenging feat. My hat goes off to all those who made the shortlist, and of course, to Lynette Noni for Whisper and to Holly Black for The Cruel Prince. Without such talented authors, it would be a million times more challenging to engage young adults in books and literature.”

The Inky Awards were established in 2007 as Australia’s first national teen choice awards for young adult literature. The winner of the Gold Inky takes home $2000 as well as an Inky trophy, while the Silver winner is awarded an Inky trophy.

State Library Victoria is committed to a range of programs that foster a love of literature and storytelling in young readers of all ages.

About the Inky Awards:
Hosted through State Library Victoria’s teen platform, Inside a Dog, the Inky Awards is Australia’s only literary prize for young adult literature overseen by a dedicated panel of young adult judges from across Australia. The teenage judges select a shortlist of 10 books, from which readers aged 12–19 can vote for their favourites with those receiving the most votes determined the winners. Through initiatives such as this, State Library Victoria aims to connect Australian teenagers with books, stories, writing – and each other.

About Whisper by Lynette Noni, published by Pantera Press
For two years, six months, fourteen days, eleven hours and sixteen minutes, Subject Six-Eight-Four — ‘Jane Doe’ — has been locked away and experimented on, without uttering a single word.

As Jane’s resolve begins to crack under the influence of her new — and unexpectedly kind — evaluator, she uncovers the truth about Lengard’s mysterious ‘program’, discovering that her own secret is at the heart of a sinister plot … and one wrong move, one wrong word, could change the world.

About The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, published by Allen and Unwin
Book one of The Folk of the Air Series.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.