The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton (37 Ink) has won the $25,000 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award, which is sponsored by the Mark Twain House & Museum and "honors an exemplary work of fiction from the previous calendar year that speaks with an 'American Voice' about American experiences."
Walton will be honored this coming Friday, November 4, during the American Voice Award Celebration, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Conn.
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The winners of the 2022 Readings Prizes, which aim "to support emerging Australian voices," are sponsored by the Melbourne bookshop, and include a A$3,000 (about US$1,920) prize for each author, are:
Fiction: Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au. Readings said in part that in this novel, "A daughter arranges to meet her mother in Japan; a reunion of sorts. As they travel through art galleries and temples, share meals and hotel rooms, it is clear that deeply held expectations are not being met. This is a powerful exploration of family, creation and regret that also plays with elements of time and perspective. It is a story that ponders questions of connection."
Young Adult: Underground: Marsupial Outlaws and Other Rebels of Australia's War in Vietnam by Mirranda Burton. Judges said in part, "We all loved this graphic novel for the complete world that Mirranda created and the way she wove playful elements into this social and local history. We became captivated by the stories and the resilience of each of the characters. The Vietnam War may seem quite surreal (or like ancient history) to today's youth, but its legacy continues to affect many lives. Mirranda's breathtakingly detailed illustrations not only enhance the immersive quality but also help make the story highly accessible and attractive to a wide range of ages and tastes."
Children's: The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat by Charlie Archbold. Judges said in part: "This middle-grade novel is a propulsive adventure with diverse characters, and a compelling page-turner that will appeal to a wide range of kids. A great Australian story set in the vivid, sticky mangrove rainforests of Far North Queensland, this romp of a mystery novel reminded us of classic children's adventure books, where a group of friends use ingenuity and teamwork to win the day and right the wrongs they see around them."