The Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with Australia’s leading essential building and infrastructure services provider ARA Group, have announced the Shortlists for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize.

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is a literary prize that recognises the best Australian and New Zealand works of historical fiction.

With prize monies worth $150,000, the ARA Historical Novel Prize is the richest literary award in Australia and New Zealand. The Prize includes a category for outstanding Children and Young Adult (CYA) literature, in addition to the Adult category. The Prize awards $100,000 to the Adult category winner, with an additional $5,000 awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors. In the CYA category, the winner receives $30,000, while the two short listers receive $5,000 each.

According to Chair, Anna Ciddor, ‘It is an amazing coincidence that all three of the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize Children and Young Adult shortlisted books have bird-themed titles, but this is, in fact, extremely apt. Out of a wonderfully varied long list, the judges felt these three books soared high, not only with gripping and appealing story arcs and strongly relatable characters, but also by achieving great heights in the quality of their research. Each author has seamlessly woven this research into their storytelling, achieving exciting, immersive experiences for young readers. The three shortlisted titles explore universal challenges and emotions while at the same time bringing to light and to life historical moments little known to Australian readers.’

The winners will be announced on 23 October. For more information please visit the HNSA website.

Check out the CYA Shortlist below:

• Secret Sparrow by Jackie French – HarperCollins Publishers
• Spies in the Sky by Beverley McWilliams – Pantera Press
• Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim – Allen & Unwin