A Glasshouse of Stars Wins CBCA Book of the Year – Younger Readers 2022

A Glasshouse of Stars has just won the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year –  Younger Readers 2022. With an aim to promote the outstanding literary contributions of Australian authors and illustrators to young readers across the country, the award is a prestigious recommendation for Shirley Marr’s beautiful book.

Published 4 May 2021, the book tells the story of a young girl, Meixing, and her family. When they travel to their new home in Australia, they must grapple with culture shock, loss and loneliness – common experiences for migrants when moving to a new country. Mixing magical realism with the authenticity of Shirley's own experiences, the book is a profound and moving must-read for all ages.

As a first-generation Chinese Australian, Shirley didn’t see her reality reflected in children’s books growing up. ‘When I became an author, I wasn’t sure anyone would be interested in reading my story,’ says the author.

Thankfully, she found her voice – and the courage – to tell her story in A Glasshouse of Stars, and the result is undeniably stunning. As the CBCA award confirms, this book is worth a spot in every classroom, on every young reader’s bookshelf, and will likely find its way into the hearts of adults as well.

‘It means so much to me that not only has my story made it out into the world, but that the CBCA bestowed upon it this great honour. It makes me feel seen and I hope that everyone out there who has or is currently struggling with the hardship of change and impermanence feels a light shine upon them too,’ says the author.

In addition to A Glasshouse of Stars, Shirley has also written several other novels, including Fury and Preloved for young adults. Her two additional children's novels are Little Jiang and – most recently – All Four Quarters of the Moon, which reviewers are already calling ‘truly heartwarming’ and ‘enchanting and lyrical’.

This prize is the culmination of many accolades for Shirley this winter, with A Glasshouse of Stars also shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards – Children’s Book Award 2022 and the Readings Children’s Prize. In June, the book also won The Premier’s Prize for Writing for Children 2021 at the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards.