Author Shortlist:
Reece Carter, A Girl Called Corpse (Allen & Unwin)
With a body made of wax, seaweed for hair and polished abalone shells for eyes, Corpse is bound to haunt the Witches' sea shack forever. She has no memory of the kid she was before she was snatched and ended up on the rock-that-doesn't-exist. But the delivery of an unexpected message sets Corpse off on a surprising quest, searching for answers to the old and familiar questions that have filled her not-brain since the day she first woke up a ghost. Questions about her name. Questions about her family. With only her eight-legged friend Simon for company, Corpse heads into the unknown. There will be danger - cruel Witches, a silver-eyed sea monster and a cunning Merchant with a hungry grin - but Corpse is not afraid. She'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth about her past. Only some answers, it turns out, are much closer than she thinks.
Meg Gatland-Veness, When Only One (Pantera Press)
Sam lives with his mum, dad and four brothers in a small farming town. At his school, there are three main factions: the rich kids, the mid-grounders and the farm kids who live on the outskirts. Sam is a comfortable mid-grounder and life is pretty good. He works as a lifeguard at the local surf club, is saving to buy his first car, he’s training with his friends for the Ironman challenge, and on Sunday afternoons he and his family take care packages to their less fortunate neighbours. Then, five years since they last spoke, Emily Burrow climbs back into Sam’s life and everything changes. Emily’s life is very different to Sam’s – her absent father has returned and her mum struggles with her mental health. Sam does his best to be there for Emily when he wasn’t for so long, but there seems to be no right way to help her. When Rei starts at school, Sam is smitten. Rei’s parents are social workers, she’s from the rich side of town, and her life seems a thousand miles away from how the kids on the outskirts live. In a world that’s ill-equipped to support kids struggling with unseen burdens, is there a way to help Emily before the worst happens?
Jess McGeachin, Kind (Allen & Unwin)
From the tiniest beetle to the most majestic whale, every creature on Earth is a marvel, deserving of awe and compassion. This beautiful picture book is a unique celebration of living things of many kinds - and the kindness we can show them as we wander through the world. A stunning and lyrical masterpiece from an exciting Australian talent.
Kirli Saunders, Our Dreaming (Scholastic)
Goodjagah, little one, walk with me ... I want to tell you our Dreaming as the Elders told it to me. Award-winning storytellers, Gunai woman Kirli Saunders and Bigambul man Dub Leffler, explore a deep love and respect for Country and all her spirits ... past, present and beyond.
Holden Sheppard, The Brink (Text Publishing)
A group of school-leavers: free at last, ready to party, expectations high. A remote island on the Western Australian coast wasn’t exactly the plan, but they’re not going to let that hold them back. Leonardo, geeky, asthmatic, shy and prone to anxiety, has landed with them. He’s terrified—he’s definitely not part of this cool gang. Super high-achiever Kaiya is trying to forget her frustration with her drug-addicted sister as well as dealing with pressure from the popular girls to lose her virginity. Mason, footy jock with the physique to match, is coming to terms with his secret desire for his best mate, Jared. And Jared wants a week off from his relationship with Val so he can have sex with as many girls as possible. But the party takes a dangerous turn when Val is drugged and a man is later found dead on the beach. Blame, fear, mistrust, coverups, power plays and dark secrets tear the group apart and expose the deadly tensions beneath the surface. And each teen is forced to confront demons that will lead them either to devastating tragedy or transformative triumph. Whoever survives the week will never be the same again.
Rhiannon Williams, Dusty in the Outwilds (Hardie Grant)
Dusty has grown up hearing whispers about her mysterious aunt Meg, who went off to live ‘out wild’ and never returned. Yet Dusty’s father refuses to discuss what happened – and her only clue is a photograph of her aunt as a young girl with a strange, monkey-like creature on her shoulder. But when Dusty learns that her family’s beloved bushland property might be sold, she’s convinced that only Meg could stop it happening. So Dusty sets off to find her … and that’s when she discovers what ‘out wild’ really means. The Outwilds are beguiling. Dangerous. And full of creatures Dusty half-remembers from old bedtime stories – beautiful, but deadly. Is Meg still out there? And even if she is, how will Dusty bring her home?
Illustrator Shortlist:
Gabriel Evans, A Friend for George (Puffin Books)
George likes living by the sea, but he often feels lonely. He'd like to have a friend - someone to talk to, someone to share stories with and someone to laugh with. As that's what friends do! When he meets Claude the fish, George finally discovers the joys of having a special friend, as well as learning what it means to be a good friend to someone . . . for if you are, the rewards are bountiful!
Sally Soweol Han, Tiny Wonders (UQP )
April thinks if her town was a colour, it would be grey. Everyone is too busy to stop and look around. How can she help them slow down? When she remembers the happiness that dandelions brought her grandmother, April comes up with a plan ... Bursting with colour, this is a sweet story about flowers, family and the wonders children wish for.
Sher Rill Ng, Be Careful, Xiao Xin! (Working Title Press, Harper Collins)
Xiao Xin believes he is a red fire warrior but his family are always telling him to be careful. They believe the world is a dangerous place. Too dangerous for a little boy on his own. They don't understand what I can do! They don't understand what I can be!
Michelle Pereira, The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name (Hardie Grant)
When Zimdalamashkermishkada starts a new school, he knows he’s got to do something about his long name. When no amount of shrinking, folding or crumpling works, he simply settles for Zim – but deep down, it doesn’t feel right. It’s not until a new friend sees him for who he truly is that Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step boldly into his long name. A warm and uplifting story that encourages young readers to celebrate their individuality, and shows how no-one should ever have to shrink themselves down to fit in.
Jeremy Worrall, Etta and the Shadow Taboo (Hardie Grant)
When Etta steps on Baawaa’s (her sister's) shadow, she learns of the Shadow Taboo, and learns to value the personal space of others, as well as her own.
Here are my blog posts about a couple of the short listed titles:
In 1994, founding president of IBBY Australia, Ena Noël OAM (1910–2003), established her own biennial prize – the Ena Noël Award – to encourage young, emerging writers and illustrators for young people. The name not only honours Ena Noël’s contributions but makes it apparent that she wished to use her reputation to champion support for emerging Australian creators. The award is a silver medallion designed by the first winner of the award, the esteemed artist, Arone Raymond Meeks (1957–2021).
CRITERIA
- Only books by Australian creators published in the two years prior to the particular closing date (between 1 July and 30 June) can be nominated by the publishers for the Ena Noël award.
- The nominated creator must be under the age of 35 at the time the title (or titles) for which they are nominated was published. Any nominated author or illustrator has to be deemed by the judges to be worthy of encouragement.
- Books entered must have been published in print form in Australia
Just LOOK at the big names here among the previous winners:
Pop Kate Gordon into my side bar
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