Fraillon shortlisted for 2016 ‘Guardian’ children’s fiction prize

Australian author Zana Fraillon’s The Bone Sparrow (Lothian) has been shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian children’s fiction prize.

Fraillon’s novel for middle-grade readers is a coming-of-age story about the friendship that develops between Jimmie, a young girl living just outside the fence of a permanent detention centre in Australia, and Subhi, a Rohingya refugee born on the inside.

Judge S F Said described The Bone Sparrow as ‘moving and memorable’, adding that it ‘deserves to be read by all who care about our common humanity’.

Also shortlisted for the prize are Hell and High Water (Tanya Landman, Walker Books), Crongton Knights (Alex Wheatle, Atom Books) and The Marvels (Brian Selznick, Scholastic). The four titles were chosen from a longlist of eight.

The winner will be announced on 17 November. For more information, click here.

Category: Junior Local news