Readings Prize
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Readings_Carlton.jpg/220px-Readings_Carlton.jpg)
First presented in 2014, the Readings Prize is an Australian literary award across three separate categories of fiction: Children's, Young Adult and New Australian Fiction.[1] It is run by Readings bookstores, an independent Melbourne bookseller with eight stores, established in 1969.[2] In 2016, Readings won International Bookstore of the Year at the London Book Fair, a category open to all stores outside of the UK.[3] Every year, a shortlist of six titles is selected by a revolving panel of Readings staff. Once the shortlist has been decided, a guest judge then joins the panel to select a winner. The Prize is awarded to the work of highest literary merit.[4]
Readings owner Mark Rubbo said about the awards: 'It can be difficult for debut and second-time authors to attract attention, especially when the heavy-hitters dominate the media. We established the prizes to attract readers who might not necessarily pick up these books otherwise.'[5]
Created to "financially reward and promote debut and second-time authors of children's, young adult, and new Australian fiction", the Readings Prizes "support new and outstanding Australian voices".[6]
Winners of the New Australian Fiction Prize include: Jessica Au,[7] Alice Robinson,[8] Andrew Pippos, Jennifer Down, Elizabeth Tan, Stephanie Bishop,[9] Sam Carmody,[10] Zoe Morrison, and Ceridwen Dovey.
In 2023, Readings awarded an additional young adult book prize: the Gab Williams Prize will ‘honour previous prize manager and young adult author Gab Williams, who passed away suddenly in January 2023', said Readings. The winner of the new prize is chosen by the Readings Teen Advisory Board, who are readers aged between 14 and 19 years, from the Readings YA Book Prize shortlist.[11] The inaugural winner of the Gab Williams Prize was Completely Normal (and Other Lies) by Biffy James (HGCP) in 2023.[12]
Past shortlists and winners
Year | Prize | Shortlist | Winner |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| All That's Left Unsaid (Tracey Lien, HQ)[14] |
Children's Book Prize |
| No Words (Maryam Master, Pan)[14] | |
Young Adult Book Prize |
| If You Could See the Sun (Ann Liang, Harlequin Teen)[14] | |
Gab Williams Prize | Completely Normal (and Other Lies) by Biffy James (HGCP)[15] | ||
2022 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| Cold Enough for Snow (Jessica Au, Giramondo)[17] |
Children's Book Prize |
| The Sugarcane Kids and the Red Bottomed Boat (Charlie Archbold, Text)[19] | |
Young Adult Book Prize |
| Underground (Mirranda Burton, A&U)[21] | |
2021 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
|
|
Children's Book Prize |
| As Fast as I Can (Penny Tangey, UQP)[25] | |
Young Adult Book Prize |
| Future Girl (Asphyxia, A&U)[27] | |
2020 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| Smart Ovens for Lonely People (Elizabeth Tan) |
Children's Book Prize |
| The Girl, the Cat and the Navigator (Matilda Woods, Scholastic)[30] | |
Young Adult Book Prize |
| Ghost Bird (Lisa Fuller, UQP) | |
2019 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| The Glad Shout (Alice Robinson, Affirm)[31] |
2019 | Children's Book Prize |
| The Peacock Detectives (Carly Nugent)[33] |
2019 | Young Adult Book Prize |
| Stone Girl (Eleni Hale, Penguin) |
2018 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| Pulse Points (Jennifer Down, Text)[36] |
Children's Book Prize |
| Tarin of the Mammoths: The Exile (Jo Sandhu, Penguin)[38] | |
Young Adult Book Prize |
| Amelia Westlake (Erin Gough, Hardie Grant Egmont)[40] | |
2017 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| The Windy Season (Sam Carmody)[42] |
2016 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| Music and Freedom (Zoë Morrison)[44] |
2015 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| The Other Side of the World (Stephanie Bishop)[46][47] |
2014 | New Australian Fiction Prize |
| Only the Animals (Ceridwen Dovey)[49] |
References
- ^ "The Readings Prize — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ Steger, Jason (2023-07-30). "One of 'the world's great booksellers' ends a long chapter at Readings". The Age. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ Harmon, Steph (2016-04-16). "Breaking borders: how to make the best bookshop in the world". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Readings Prize Winners". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Mem: 10183096. "Au, Burton, Archbold win 2022 Readings Prizes | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10279080. "Readings Young Adult Prize 2023 shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-08-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au wins the 2022 Readings Prize for Fiction". Giramondo Publishing. 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Mem: 10169160. "'The Glad Shout' wins Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Cooke, Dewi (2015-10-27). "Stephanie Bishop wins Readings Prize for new Australian fiction". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Steger, Jason (2017-10-24). "Sam Carmody wins Readings fiction prize". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Mem: 10279192. "Readings Young Adult Prize 2023 shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-08-26.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 11669552. "Completely Normal (and Other Lies) wins inaugural Gab Williams Prize | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-11-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c "Readings New Australian Fiction Prize 2023 shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ a b c "Master, Liang, Lien win 2023 Readings Prizes". Books+Publishing. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ Mem: 11670648. "Completely Normal (and Other Lies) wins inaugural Gab Williams Prize | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-11-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10091656. "Readings announces New Australian Fiction Prize 2022 shortlist | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10189296. "Au, Burton, Archbold win 2022 Readings Prizes | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10118792. "Readings announces Children's Book Prize 2022 shortlist | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10177840. "Au, Burton, Archbold win 2022 Readings Prizes | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10059912. "Readings YA Book Prize 2022 shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10177952. "Au, Burton, Archbold win 2022 Readings Prizes | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10087344. "Readings announces 2021 New Australian Fiction Prize shortlist | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Evans, Tom (2021-11-09). "'Lucky's' by Andrew Pippos has won the 2021 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction". Pan Macmillan Australia. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Readings Children's Book Prize 2021 shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ Mem: 10106240. "'As Fast as I Can' wins Readings Children's Book Prize 2021 | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Readings YA Book Prize 2021 shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Mem: 10061360. "'Future Girl' wins 2021 Readings YA book prize | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Readings announces 2020 New Australian Fiction Prize shortlist". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Readings Children's Book Prize 2020 shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Matilda Woods wins the Readings Children's Book Prize 2020 — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Alice Robinson wins the 2019 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Mem: 10098216. "Readings Children's Book Prize 2019 shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Carly Nugent wins the 2019 Readings Children's Book Prize — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Mem: 10066264. "Readings YA Prize 2019 shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Readings announces 2018 New Australian Fiction Award shortlist". Books+Publishing. 2018-08-22. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ Mem: 10106712. "'Pulse Points' wins 2018 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mem: 10095952. "Readings Children's Book Prize 2018 shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Jo Sandhu wins the 2018 Readings Children's Book Prize — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ Mem: 10080184. "Readings YA Prize 2018 shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Retrieved 2023-07-31.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Erin Gough wins the 2018 Readings Young Adult Book Prize — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Readings announces 2017 New Australian Fiction Award shortlist". Books+Publishing. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "Sam Carmody wins the 2017 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Readings announces 2016 New Australian Writing Award shortlist". Books+Publishing. 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "Zoë Morrison wins the 2016 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Readings New Australian Writing Award 2015 shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "'The Other Side of the World' wins 2015 Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction". Books+Publishing. 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "Stephanie Bishop wins The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction — Readings Books". www.readings.com.au. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
- ^ "Readings New Australian Writing Award 2014 shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "'Only the Animals' wins inaugural Readings New Australian Writing Award". Books+Publishing. 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-26.