CBCA Shortlists announced

Well, last Tuesday the Children's Book Council of Australia shortlists were announced. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't disappointed that my book Town wasn't on the older readers' list, especially after it was chosen on at least two Claytons lists. I was quite hopeful, and while I'm really happy to be on the 20-strong list of Notable Books, it would have been nice to see it go one step further. Still, I'm in good company - some of the other books that I thought might be on there but aren't are Cold Skin by Steven Herrick, Solo by Alyssa Brugman, and Daredevils by Bill Condon.

I was also hopeful that Problem Child might at least find its way onto the Younger Readers' notable list, but again, no cigar.

In case you've missed the news, here are the Older Reader and Younger Reader categories. Full lists can be found on the CBCA website.

OLDER READERS

FRENCH, Jackie	PHARAOH: THE BOY WHO CONQUERED THE NILE	Angus&Robertson (HarperCollins Australia)
HARTNETT, Sonya	THE GHOST’S CHILD	Viking (Penguin Group Australia)
HEFFERNAN, John	MARTY’S SHADOW	Omnibus Books (Scholastic Australia)
McDONALD, Meme	LOVE LIKE WATER	Allen & Unwin
METZENTHEN, David	BLACK WATER	Penguin Books (Penguin Group Australia)
NORRINGTON, Leonie	LEAVING BARRUMBI	Omnibus Books (Scholastic Australia)

YOUNGER READERS

CLARK, Sherryl Illustrated by Elissa CHRISTIAN	SIXTH GRADE STYLE QUEEN (NOT!)	Puffin Books (Penguin Group Australia)
FRENCH, Jackie Illustrated by Bruce WHATLEY	THE SHAGGY GULLY TIMES	Angus & Robertson (HarperCollinsPublishers Australia)
HIRSCH, Odo	AMELIA DEE AND THE PEACOCK LAMP	Allen & Unwin
METZENTHEN, David Illustrated by Stephen AXELSEN	WINNING THE WORLD CUP	Puffin Books (Penguin Group Australia)
RODDA, Emily	THE KEY TO RONDO	Omnibus Books (Scholastic Australia)
WILKINSON, Carole	DRAGON MOON	Black Dog Books