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Fiction Years 7-9
Subcategory of YABBA
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Latest Winners / Recipients

Year: 2021

winner y separately published work icon Sick Bay Nova Weetman , St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 2019 15643916 2019 single work children's fiction children's

'Two very different Grade 6 girls meet in their school sick bay. Meg is a loner. Grieving over the death of her father, and struggling with changes at home, she wears slippers to school and hides out in sick bay to avoid other kids. New girl Riley, is a Type 1 diabetic and already popular. She doesn't want to go to sick bay, but sometimes she has to if she's having a high or a low. As Meg and Riley are forced to spend more and more time together in the cramped sick bay room, they start to uncover each other's secrets and find the courage to be who they really are.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Year: 2020

winner y separately published work icon Detention Tristan Bancks , Sydney : Penguin Random House Australia , 2019 16885223 2019 single work novel young adult

'Sima and her family are pressed to the rough, cold ground among fifty others. They lie next to the tall fence designed to keep them in. The wires are cut one by one.

'When they make their escape, a guard raises the alarm. Shouting, smoke bombs, people tackled to the ground. In the chaos Sima loses her parents.

'Dad told her to run, so she does, hiding in a school and triggering a lockdown. A boy, Dan, finds her hiding in the toilet block.

'What should he do? Help her? Dob her in? She's breaking the law, but is it right to lock kids up? And if he helps, should Sima trust him? Or run?

'THIS MOMENT, THESE DECISIONS, WILL CHANGE THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES. ' (Publication summary)

Year: 2019

winner y separately published work icon Maybe Morris Gleitzman , Melbourne : Viking , 2017 11572547 2017 single work children's fiction historical fiction

'1946. Europe is in ruins. Millions of people dream of finding happiness somewhere else.

'Fourteen year old Felix is one of them. When he’s offered a journey to Australia, he seizes the opportunity. So does someone very dear to him, even though she wasn’t actually invited.

'They have high hopes for Australia, and their dramatic arrival there makes them want to stay. But before Felix and Anya can embrace the love and friendship of their new land, they must confront the murderous urge for revenge still alive in the old.

'Felix knows he hasn’t faced anything like this before.

'He may not survive, but he’s hoping he will. Maybe.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Year: 2018

winner y separately published work icon The Fall Tristan Bancks , North Sydney : Penguin Random House Australia , 2017 11203953 2017 single work novel children's thriller

'In the middle of the night, Sam is woken by angry voices from the apartment above. He goes to the window to see what’s happening – only to hear a struggle, and see a body fall from the sixth-floor balcony. Pushed, Sam thinks. Sam goes to wake his father, Harry, a crime reporter, but Harry is gone. And when Sam goes downstairs, the body is gone, too. But someone has seen Sam, and knows what he’s witnessed. The next twenty-four hours could be his last.' (Publication Summary)

Year: 2017

winner y separately published work icon Risk Fleur Ferris , Australia : Random House , 2015 8321789 2015 single work novel young adult

'Best friends Taylor and Sierra meet a hot guy in a chat room online. Both fall for Jacob's charms, but as usual, the more outgoing and vivacious Sierra overshadows Taylor and wins his attention. Taylor's devastated – Sierra already kissed Callum, Taylor's secret crush, over the summer holidays. Life's not fair, especially when Sierra's around.

'Moving quickly, Sierra sets up a date with Jacob on Friday after school. She asks Taylor and their friends to cover for her. Even though she's upset, Taylor is still Sierra's best friend and agrees to help. But Sierra abuses the favour and calls to say she's going to spend the night with her date. She doesn't come home all weekend, doesn't answer her phone and nobody's heard from her . . .

'Taylor is torn. She doesn't want to betray Sierra by telling her parents but at the same time she's concerned for her welfare. Finally, Callum convinces her to tell. The police are called and their worst fears are confirmed when Sierra's body is found miles from Melbourne a week later . . .

'Devastated, Taylor becomes obsessed with finding Sierra's killer. As clues emerge, Taylor races against time to try and save the predator's next victim.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

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