The Children’s Book Council of Australia has named Tristan Bancks's novel as the Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 2024.
At an awards ceremony on Friday, 16 August, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) awarded Tristan Bancks the 2024 Book of the Year for Younger Readers for his book Scar Town.
Established in 1946, the CBCA’s Book of the Year awards aim to promote quality literature for young Australians by celebrating the outstanding contributions of Australian authors and illustrators. The CBCA is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation that aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians.
Commenting on the win, Tristan Bancks said ‘I’m so relieved and happy that Scar Town has found its readers. It took me thirteen years to write and there were many times I wanted to give up, but I couldn’t shake my gut feeling of connection to the setting and characters. Writing is considered to be a solitary pursuit, and, to a degree, it is, but there are so many people who helped me realise this story on the page and get it into readers’ hands and I'm indebted to all of them. A huge thank you to the CBCA and Penguin teams and here’s to Scar Town entertaining readers and making them think for many years to come.’
Tristan writes crime-suspense-thrillers in accessible language, trusting young readers with slightly edgier, darker stories while exploring important, relevant issues. His novels bridge children’s books and young adult novels, keeping kids reading through that vital stage and tempting them away from screens.
Scar Town is a taut and fraught fast-paced rollercoaster of hidden secrets, family betrayals, misplaced trust, and the bonds of friendship that can sustain in the most terrible of circumstances. The book was also recently shortlisted for the South Australian Literary Award.
Read a snippet here.
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