Book Links 2023 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Long List Announced!

The Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction is for books with an implied readership up to the age of fourteen. Books may be fiction, graphic novels or illustrated fiction that fit the genre of historical fiction. The Judges assessed each entry as a work that will increase the understanding and appreciation of history by children, meets the criteria for this genre and is a work of literary merit.

The result is a wonderful list of splendid stories for children. Each of these has been lovingly crafted by a master storyteller. Themes covered the whole gamut of human experience, often in moments of crisis or extreme stress. Tension and excitement was leavened by strong family love, by friendship, humour, resilience and love above and beyond the norm.

Congratulations to all the creators!

In alphabetical order:

The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan by Felice Arena, Penguin.

Tulips for Breakfast by Catherine Bauer, Ford Street Publishing.

Ming & Marie:  Spy for Freedom by Jackie French, HarperCollins AU.

Augustin and The Hot Air Balloon by David Metzenthen, Ford Street Publishing.

Waiting for the Storks by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Martina Heiduczek, ABC Books.

Interned by Pamela Rushby, Walker Books.

The Wearing of the Green by Claire Saxby, Walker Books.

This Old Thing by Cassandra Webb illustrated by Tony Flowers, Omnibus Books.

The Last Light Horse by Dianne Wolfer, illustrated by Brian Simmonds, Fremantle Press.

2023 Timeline : 1 June – Shortlist is announced; 19 July – Winner is announced