Aurealis Award for Best Children's Fiction (told primarily through words)

Aurealis Award for best children's fiction (told primarily through words)
Awarded forExcellence in children's speculative fiction told primarily through words
CountryAustralia
Presented byChimaera Publications,
Conflux Inc
First awarded2001
WebsiteOfficial site

The Aurealis Awards are presented annually by the Australia-based Chimaera Publications and Conflux Inc to published works in order to "recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy, horror writers".[2] To qualify, a work must have been first published by an Australian citizen or permanent resident between 1 January and 31 December of the current year;[3] the presentation ceremony is held the following year. It has grown from a small function of around 20 people to a two-day event attended by over 200 people.[4]

Since their creation in 1995, awards have been given in various categories of speculative fiction. Categories currently include science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative young adult fiction—with separate awards for novels and short fiction—collections, anthologies, illustrative works or graphic novels, children's books, and an award for excellence in speculative fiction.[2] The awards have attracted the attention of publishers by setting down a benchmark in science fiction and fantasy. The continued sponsorship by publishers such as HarperCollins and Orbit has identified the award as an honour to be taken seriously.[5]

The results are decided by a panel of judges from a list of submitted nominees; the long-list of nominees is reduced to a short-list of finalists.[2] Ties can occur if the panel decides both entries show equal merit, however they are encouraged to choose a single winner. The judges may declare a "no award" if there is unanimous agreement that none of the nominees are worthy.[6] The judges are selected from a public application process by the Award's management team.[7]

This article lists all the short-list nominees and winners in the best children's fiction (told primarily through words) category, as well as works that have received honourable mentions or have been highly commended. The best children's fiction (told primarily through words) award was created in 2001, as best children's long fiction, along with an award for children's short fiction.[2] In 2008 the award was renamed "best children's novel" and in 2010 was renamed again to "best children's fiction (told primarily through words)".[8][9] Since 2001, honourable mentions and high commendations have been awarded intermittently. Of the 11 winners, three people have won the award twice – Garth Nix, Lian Tanner and Gabrielle Wang. John Flanagan holds the record for most nominations with five.

This award has been merged with that for best children's fiction (told primarily through pictures) into an award for best children's book.

Winners and nominees

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In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the ceremonies are always held the following year. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature" article. Entries with a blue background have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list. If the short story was originally published in a book with other stories rather than by itself or in a magazine, the book title is included after the publisher's name.

  *   Winners and joint winners
  *   Nominees on the shortlist

Year Author(s) Work(s) Publisher Ref
2001 Sally Odgers* Candle Iron Angus & Robertson [10]
Kirsty Murray Market Blues Allen & Unwin [10]
Michael Stephens Blat Magic Angus & Robertson [10]
2002 Gabrielle Wang* In the Garden of Empress Cassia Puffin Books [11]
Justin D’Ath Astrid Spark, Fixologist Allen & Unwin [11]
Catherine Jinks Eglantine Allen & Unwin [11]
Dave Luckett Rhianna and the Dogs of Iron Scholastic [11]
Natalie Jane Prior Lily Quench and the Treasure of Mote Ely Hodder Headline [11]
2003 Garth Nix* Mister Monday Allen & Unwin [12]
Deborah Abela Max Remy Superspy: The Hollywood Mission Random House [13]
Catherine Jinks Eustace Allen & Unwin [13]
James Valentine Jumpman Rule 2 Random House [13]
Carole Wilkinson Dragonkeeper Black Dog Books [13]
2004 Colin Thompson* How to Live Forever Random House [14]
John Flanagan The Ruins of Gorlan Random House [14]
Cassandra Golds Claire de Lune Penguin Books [14]
Sophie Masson Snow, Fire, Sword Random House [14]
Gabrielle Wang The Pearl of Tiger Bay Penguin Books [14]
2005 Garth Nix* Drowned Wednesday Allen & Unwin [15]
Isobelle Carmody Little Fur Penguin Books [15]
Morris Gleitzman Worm Story Penguin Books [15]
Richard Harland Sassycat: The Night of the Dead Omnibus Books [15]
2006 Mardi McConnochie* Melissa, Queen of Evil Pan Macmillan [16]
Isobelle Carmody A Fox Called Sorrow Viking Press [12]
John Flanagan Oakleaf Bearers Random House [16]
Nury Vittachi Twilight in the Land of Nowhen Allen & Unwin [16]
Kim Wilkins The Sunken Kingdom Quartet Omnibus Books [12]
2007 Kate Forsyth* The Silver Horse, The Herb of Grace, The Cat’s Eye Shell, The Lightning Bolt, The Butterfly in Amber Pan Macmillan [12]
Isobelle Carmody A Mystery of Wolves Penguin Books [17]
Emily Rodda The Key to Rondo Omnibus Books [17]
Carole Wilkinson Dragon Moon Black Dog Books [17]
2008 Emily Rodda* The Wizard of Rondo Omnibus Books [8]
Simon Higgins Moonshadow Random House [8]
Sophie Masson Thomas Trew and the Island of Ghosts Hodder Children's [8]
Carole Wilkinson Dragon Dawn Black Dog Books [8]
Sean Williams The Changeling and The Dust Devils Angus & Robertson [8]
2009 Gabrielle Wang* A Ghost in My Suitcase Puffin Books [18]
Deborah Abela The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen Random House [18]
Kate Constable Cicada Summer Allen & Unwin [18]
Jen Storer Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children Viking Press [18]
2010 Lian Tanner The Keepers Allen & Unwin [19]
Deborah Abela Grimsdon Random House [9]
John Flanagan Halt's Peril Random House [9]
Stephen M. Giles The Vultures of Somerset Pan Macmillan [9]
Jen Storer & Gus Gordon Haggis McGregor and the Night of the Skull Moon Penguin Books [9]
2011 Lian Tanner* City of Lies Allen & Unwin [20]
John Flanagan The Outcasts Random House [21]
Catherine Jinks The Paradise Trap Allen & Unwin [21]
Thalia Kalkapsakis "It Began With a Tingle" Allen & Unwin (Headspinners) [21]
Andrew McGahan The Coming of the Whirlpool Allen & Unwin [21]
2012 John Flanagan* Brotherband: The Hunters Random House Australia [22]
Pamela Freeman Princess Betony and the Unicorn Walker Books [23]
Emily Rodda The Silver Door Scholastic [23]
Leah Swann Irina the Wolf Queen Xoum Publishing [23]

Honourable mentions and highly commended novels

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In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the ceremonies are always held the following year. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature" article. Entries with a grey background have been noted as highly commended; those with a white background have received honourable mentions.

  *   Highly commended
  *   Honourable mentions

Year Author Novel Publisher Ref
2001 Janeen Webb Sailing to Atlantis Angus & Robertson [18]
2004 James Moloney Tunnel of Ferdinand HarperCollins [18]
2005 Carole Wilkinson Garden of the Purple Dragon Black Dog Books [18]
John Flanagan The Icebound Land Random House [18]
2007 Alexandra Adornetto The Shadow Thief HarperCollins [18]

References

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  1. ^ "Eon by Alison Goodman". HarperCollins. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Aurealis Awards – About Us". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Aurealis Awards – Rules and Conditions". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  4. ^ Nahrung, Jason (2 February 2007). "Horror a hit". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  5. ^ Koval, Ramona (presenter) (5 February 2009). Spotlight on speculative fiction writers (mp3) (Radio broadcast). ABC Radio and Regional Content. Event occurs at 1:18–2:16.
  6. ^ "Guidelines for Judges". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  7. ^ "Aurealis Awards – FAQ". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2009 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Aurealis Awards Finalists 2010" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  10. ^ a b c "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2002 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  11. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2003 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d "Aurealis Awards, previous years' results" (PDF). Aurealis Awards. 1995–2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  13. ^ a b c d "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2004 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  14. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2005 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  15. ^ a b c d "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2006 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  16. ^ a b c "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2007 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  17. ^ a b c "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2008 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Aurealis 1995-2009 compiled lists" (PDF). Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  19. ^ "2010 Aurealis Award winners" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. 21 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  20. ^ "2011 Aurealis Award winners" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  21. ^ a b c d "Aurealis Awards Finalists 2011" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  22. ^ "2012 Aurealis Award winners" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  23. ^ a b c "2012 Aurealis Awards finalists announced" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
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