2023 Historical Novel Prize for Children and Young Adults longlists announced

Imagine being able to step back in time through the pages of a book! That’s what the ARA Historical Novel Prize is all about. The Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), along with ARA Group, a building and infrastructure services provider, has shared their longlists for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize.

The prizes, first awarded in 2020, are open to writers from Australia and New Zealand who love to write stories set in the past. And guess what? It’s the biggest prize for this kind of storytelling in Australasia!

But what exactly is a historical novel?

Historical novels (or historical fiction) are books where most of the story happens at least 50 years before the book is published. So, if a book is published in 2023, the story inside should be set in 1973 or even earlier. Whether it’s a mystery set in ancient Egypt or a romance in medieval castles, as long as it’s a historical novel, it’s in the running.

What do judges look for?

The judges look at a few things. They want to see that the author did their homework and researched the past really well. They also want the story to be something that lots of people would enjoy reading. But most importantly, the judges are on the lookout for amazing writing. It’s not just about the story; it’s about how it’s told.

This year, the longlists feature some amazing stories that take you to different times and places. These historical tales range from stories about love overcoming prejudice, people staying strong when everything around them changes, and individuals showing incredible courage during tough times. From the sunny Australian landscapes to medieval England and the chaos of wartime Europe, these stories prove that historical fiction can help us understand the ups and downs of human nature and discover hidden stories that echo through history.

What the judges say

The 2023 judging panel, for the CYA category, included Christopher Cheng (Chair), Dr Craig Cormick and Lauren Keenan.

According to judge Christopher Cheng, “[We] were so very pleased with the variety of themes, and the creative and courageous writing approaches (including verse) in the nine long listed titles from Australia and New Zealand in this year’s Children’s and Young Adult Novel Award Category. These titles exposed wars (in China, the Lebensborn Program, Gallipoli and Theresienstadt), suffragettes, female code breakers, an orphanage, evacuees, and bookstores. Some of these titles revealed uncommon and uncomfortable slices of history.”

The awesome reads in the Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category

No matter what you like to read, these novels are powerful and engaging historical titles that you may be very interested in. History comes to life in these pages, and you might just find a new favourite book among the longlist!

Here’s the exciting longlist in the Children and Young Adult (CYA) Category:

• The Great Gallipoli Escape by Jackie French (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Running with Ivan by Suzanne Leal (HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Killing Code by Ellie Marnie (Allen & Unwin)
• The Bookseller’s Apprentice by Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press)
• Waiting for the Storks by Katrina Nannestad (ABC Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
• The Upwelling by Lystra Rose (Hatchette Australia)
• The Mud Puddlers by Pamela Rushby (Walker Books)
• Iris and Me by Phillipa Werry (Ahoy! An Imprint of The Cuba Press)
• Tilda by Sue Whiting (Walker Books)

Get ready to embark on historical adventures through these captivating stories.

Prizes and important dates

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is giving away a total of $100,000 in prizes. In the Children and Young Adult (CYA) category, the winner will receive $30,000, and the two shortlisted authors will get $5,000 each.

The big announcements for the shortlists will be revealed on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, and the winners will be announced on October 19, 2023. You can find more information about the awards and check out last year’s winners on the HNSA website.

EXPLORE

• What are some of your favourite time periods in history to read about?
• What makes historical fiction fun to read?