Stills wins 2024 Text Prize

Melbourne writer Caroline Stills has won the 2024 Text Prize for her debut middle-grade novel A Gift from the Birds.

Chosen from a shortlist of five announced earlier this month, A Gift from the Birds is about Millie, who has known for a long time that her mother has cancer, but struggles when, on her 10th birthday, her mum is rushed to hospital and the reality of the situation hits. ‘Millie struggles with confusion, fear and a sense of disconnection from her friends and her family,’ said Text. ‘One day, she notices a group of crows in her backyard, and she begins to feed them, finding comfort in their visits. Then, small trinkets appear in the backyard, and Millie and her dad discover the crows might have more to teach them about healing and togetherness than they first thought.’

Text senior editor Jane Pearson said the book was ‘like a warm, loving hug, a friend to keep close when you’re feeling sad or lonely, and a story to treasure at any time’.

Stills, who lives in the Dandenong Ranges and has published several picture books, said she was ‘inspired to write a story about grief and the healing power of nature after reading true accounts of birds who leave gifts for the people who feed them’. The author said she was ‘thrilled and delighted’ to win the Text Prize and looked forward to working with the Text team.

The winner of last year’s prize was Lauren Crozier for her middle-grade novel The Best Witch in Paris, due for publication in September.

Category: Awards Local news