‘Future Girl’ wins 2021 Readings YA book prize

Asphyxia has won the 2021 Readings Young Adult Book Prize for her novel Future Girl (A&U).

Asphyxia’s novel was chosen from a shortlist of six for the $3000 prize, which considers first and second works of young adult fiction and memoir, with the aim of promoting and supporting an emerging Australian writer and celebrating Australian YA books.

Future Girl was chosen as the winner by a judging panel comprising author Erin Gough and Readings booksellers Bianca Looney, Kealy Siryj, Xiao-Xiao Kingham and Cindy Morris.

Future Girl, which is informed by Asphyxia’s experience as a Deaf person, tells the story of Piper, a Deaf girl living in near-future Melbourne. The judges said ‘the novel format invites the reader into Piper’s vivid art journal, where every page is adorned with full-colour illustrations’.

‘Future Girl offers something completely unique, occupying a space between graphic novel and novel,’ the judges said. ‘Its detailed illustrations explore Piper’s experiences as she learns to navigate a hearing world that continually fails to accommodate her. Her coming-of-age story, as she embraces Deaf culture and learns to raise her voice to define her own space in the world, is nothing short of enlightening and powerful.’

Asphyxia said she was thrilled to win the award from her favourite bookshop and was touched by the words of the judges. ‘The best thing about winning is knowing that more people are likely to read Future Girl, and that the world might be a slightly better place for Deaf people as a result.’

For more information about the award, see the Readings blog.

Category: Local news