Is anything out of bounds in young-adult fiction? How do writers approach challenging topics or dark moral landscapes?
Margo Lanagan, Lucy Christopher and Kirsty Eagar are not afraid to address controversial subjects in their work. They tell Hilary Rogers where to draw the line.
Lucy Christopher (International)
Lucy Christopher grew up in Australia but now works at Bath Spa University in the UK, where Stolen was part of her PhD in Creative Writing. Stolen won the Branford Boase Award and the Gold Inky Award. It received a Michael L. Printz Honor Award and was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award (Older Readers). Both of Lucy’s novels have been shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Flyaway was also shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award.
Kirsty Eagar grew up on a cattle property in central Queensland. After studying economics, she worked on trading desks in Sydney and London before changing careers, wanting a life where she could surf every day. Her first novel, Raw Blue, won the 2010 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Young-Adult Fiction and her second novel, Saltwater Vampires, was shortlisted for the Ethel Turner Prize in the 2011 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards. Kirsty lives on Sydney's northern beaches.
Margo Lanagan (Australian)
Margo Lanagan is an internationally acclaimed writer of novels and short stories. Her collections of short stories have garnered many awards. Black Juice was a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, won two World Fantasy Awards and the Victorian Premier's Award for Young-Adult Fiction. Red Spikes won the CBCA Book of the Year (Older Readers) and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writer's Prize. Tender Morsels won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and was a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Margo’s most recent novel is Sea Hearts.
Hilary Rogers is one of Australia’s most successful children’s and young-adult publishers. In her role as publishing director at Hardie Grant Egmont, Hilary has commissioned blockbuster series such as the multi-million-selling Zac Power and Go Girl! series, and more recently Billie B Brown, as well as a shelf-full of acclaimed individual titles ranging from picture books to young-adult novels. Hilary is responsible for commissioning and editing HGE’s diverse and dynamic list, and for finding and developing new and established authors and illustrators.
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