Master, Liang, Lien win 2023 Readings Prizes

Readings has announced Maryam Master, Ann Liang, and Tracey Lien as the 2023 winners of the Readings Prizes at an event at Readings Emporium, Melbourne, on 25 October.

The winning texts are:

New Australian Fiction Prize

• All That’s Left Unsaid (Tracey Lien, HQ)

Young Adult Book Prize

• If You Could See the Sun (Ann Liang, Harlequin Teen)

Children’s Book Prize

• No Words (Maryam Master, Pan).

Maryam Master’s No Words (Pan) is the story of a 12-year-old refugee who is ‘trying to establish a new life in Australia, grapple with his past and, most importantly, find his voice’. Katey Bellew (chair of children’s book judges, Readings Kids) said that the book was a ‘rare gem’ that invited young people to see themselves reflected, as well as to learn more about the world. Said Master: ‘Thank you, Readings, for this wonderful recognition and for always championing Australian authors. I am over the moon.’

If You Could See the Sun (Ann Liang, Harlequin Teen) is a genre-bending story of ‘a Chinese American girl who monetises her strange new invisibility powers by discovering and selling her wealthy classmates’ most scandalous secrets’. Aurelia Orr (chair of young adult book judges, Readings Kids) described Liang as possessing the talent and imagination of an experienced author, despite the book being her debut, adding that the protagonist ‘accentuates the invisibility many teenagers feel during the bewildering, explorative period of adolescence’. Liang said: ‘When I became a young adult myself, I would daydream about one day seeing my name on the shelves, so to win this year’s Readings YA Prize truly means the world to me and feels like a surreal full-circle moment.’

New Australian Fiction Prize winner Tracey Lien’s All That’s Left Unsaid (HQ) ‘asks the question why, when there were a dozen witnesses to Denny Tran’s brutal murder in a busy Sydney restaurant in Cabramatta, did no one see anything?’ Nicki Levy (chair of new Australian fiction book judges, Readings Carlton) praised the ‘story of grief, love and friendship’. ‘The quality of writing and use of language gives voice to the often unseen.’ Lien said of the win: ‘Independent bookstores are the heart of Australian publishing, and it means the world to me to receive this kind of acknowledgement and support from Readings. I am beyond thrilled.’

Now in its 10th year, the Readings Prize was created ‘to financially reward and promote debut and second-time authors of children’s, young adult, and new Australian fiction’. Each winner receives $3000.

Readings Prize coordinator Angela Crocombe said the judges found it difficult to choose winners among the ‘many brilliant, engaging and wonderful books’ submitted in each category. ‘Once again, we uncovered some incredible gems and all the winners captivated our judges, not only with their writing, but also their originality.’

The three winners were selected from shortlists (one each for the New Australian Fiction Prize, the Young Adult Book Prize, and the Children’s Book Prize) announced earlier in the year. The new Gab Williams Prize for a young adult novel, selected by teen readers, will be announced next Wednesday, 1 November, with the winner to receive $1000.

Last year’s Readings Prize winners were Jessie Au for Cold Enough for Snow (Giramondo), Mirranda Burton, for Underground (A&U), and Charlie Archbold for The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat (Text). More information about the Readings Prizes is available on the bookshop’s website.

Category: Awards Local news