‘Poetic’ story wins best first book prize

Posted: Friday Aug 11, 2023

A debut Dunedin author has tasted instant success for her "poetic and beautifully written" story.

‘Poetic’ story wins best first book prize | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)

Susan Wardell took home the best first book prize, worth $2500, for The Lighthouse Princess at last night’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Dr Wardell, a senior lecturer in social anthropology at the University of Otago, shared her success with first-time illustrator Rose Northey, whose work was described as "detailed and magical".

The Lighthouse Princess features an independent and confident girl living alone in blissful harmony with nature, who finds having a friend can also be fun.

The judges were particularly impressed by the profound effect of the combination of words and images.

"This book’s poetic writing and whimsical illustrations made it standout, creating a sum that is greater than its parts," they said.

"The judges felt this clever alchemy was all the more astounding given that it is both the writer’s and the illustrator’s first foray into publication."

Among other winners was Te Wehenga, which won the $7500 top prize, making history as the first bilingual book to do so.

Awards

Book of the year: Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku by Mat Tait.

Picture book: Duck Goes Meow by Juliette MacIver (illustrated by Carla Martell).

Junior fiction: Below by David Hill.

Young adult fiction: Iris and Me by Philippa Werry.

Non-fiction: Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku by Mat Tait.

Illustration: A Portrait of Leonardo by Donovan Bixley.

Te reo Māori: Kua Whetūrangitia a Koro by Brianne Te Paa (illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse).

Best first book: The Lighthouse Princess by Susan Wardell (illustrated by Rose Northey).