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Image courtesy The Age.
Gabrielle Wang Gabrielle Wang i(A69968 works by) (a.k.a. Gabi Wang)
Gender: Female
Heritage: Chinese
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BiographyHistory

Gabrielle Wang's great-grandfather travelled to the Victorian goldfields from China in 1853. Wang grew up in Melbourne, where she studied graphic design at RMIT. She later worked as a graphic designer, and studied Chinese at Melbourne University. Keen to learn more about her Chinese heritage, Wang lived in Taiwan for five years, and then lived for a time in China. She studied painting in both countries.

She returned to Australia and taught Chinese at Homesglen TAFE, at the same time enrolling in a TAFE course about writing for children. It was this course that led Wang to produce her first book, The Garden of Empress Cassia. It won the 2002 Aurealis Award (children's division - best long fiction) and was listed on the international USBBY Outstanding International Books List in 2012.

Since then, Wang has published a range of works for younger readers, including the series Poppy (for Our Australian Girl) and Pearlie, and standalone works including A Ghost in My Suitcase (for which she won a second Aurealis Award) and The Beast of Hushing Wood.

Exhibitions

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Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2020 recipient Australia Council Grants, Awards and Fellowships Literature Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups     $25,000
2019 winner YABBA Graham Davey Citation
2006 Australia Council Literature Board Grants Grants for Developing Writers $25,000 for young adult literature writing

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Ting Ting the Ghosthunter North Sydney : Puffin , 2018 14692676 2018 single work children's fiction children's adventure

'This sequel to the award-winning Ghost in My Suitcase is a powerful magic realism story for 10+ readers about ghost-hunting, finding yourself, Chinese mythology and culture.

'Thirteen-year-old Ting Ting has learned the ancient skills and art of ghost hunting from her adopted grandmother, Por Por, a famous ghost hunter. But Ting Ting is sick of capturing harmless ‘fat belly’ ghosts, and when a desperate plea for help comes for Por Por, Ting Ting recklessly decides to take matters into her own hands and prove that she is a true ghost hunter. But what Ting Ting discovers is much more dangerous than she had thought. Can Ting Ting conquer her own pride to save Por Por and the villagers before it’s too late? '  (Publication summary)

2018 shortlisted Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction Children's Division
y separately published work icon The Beast of Hushing Wood Melbourne : Penguin , 2017 10991528 2017 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Ziggy Truegood lives in a tiny town deep in Hushing Wood, where strange things are happening. The townspeople are fighting, Ziggy feels like something is hunting her, and her beloved woods have become dark and hostile. When exotic Raffi and his grandfather arrive in town, Ziggy finds herself strangely drawn to them. But are they there to save Ziggy, or are they the hunters? Thought-provoking and engaging, Hushing Wood is a lovely blend of action, fable and magic realism.' (Publication summary)

2018 shortlisted Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards Eight to 10 Years
y separately published work icon The Wishbird Melbourne : Penguin , 2013 5994175 2013 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Two extraordinary children. A quest to save a city. A magical adventure for children 10 years and olders.

Oriole's beloved Wishbird is dying and she must leave the Forest of Birds to save him. But in the City of Soulless there are traitors everywhere, and when Oriole is captured, only a street orphan can help her. Can Oriole and Boy save Soulless and its bewitched king, or will the city's darkness prove too great even for magic?' (Publisher's blurb)

2014 shortlisted KOALA Awards Younger Readers
2014 shortlisted APA Book Design Awards Best Designed Children’s Fiction Book designed by Tony Palmer.
2014 finalist Crystal Kite Award Australian and New Zealand Division
Last amended 20 Jan 2020 13:28:07
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