The Stella Prize schools program

The Stella Prize has published teaching notes on each of the 2013 and 2014 Stella Prize shortlisted books. As these books are mostly not suitable for students below Year 10, they have also compiled a separate reading list for Years 7 to 10, along with some general reading questions and classroom activities to encourage wider reading of Australian women writers at younger secondary levels too.

Books are grouped under the themes of identity, place and history. I’m delighted that my dystopian young adult book set in Sydney has been included in the Year 9 – Place section with a number of other books as follows:

Year 9 – Place

Rise of the Fallen by Teagan Chilcott (Magabala) The first in a YA paranormal romance series by the winner of the 2012 black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships.

Grace Beside Me by Sue McPherson (Magabala) Small-town life is explored with warmth and humour through the eyes of Fuzzy Mac in this award-winning book.

Days Like This by Alison Stewart (Penguin) In this dystopian thriller, Lily is a prisoner held hostage by her parents and wondering what her own fate will be following the disappearance of her brother.

The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn (UQP) One day, everything is normal; the next, Fin is fighting to make sense of a world devastated by nuclear fallout.

Please have a look at all the recommended books in this resources/schools program list:

http://thestellaprize.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Stella-Prize-for-younger-readers.pdf