Awards

The BookPeople Awards - shortlist 2023

The BookPeople 2023 Book of the Year Awards recognise the 2022 Australian new releases our booksellers have selected as their favourite hand-sells as part of their ongoing drive to bring writers and readers together. We believe this is a special award because it is decided by the people who personally recommend and care enough to put a book in the hands of the reading public.

We are very excited to announce the BookPeople Book of the Year 2023 Awards Shortlists.

The three categories are -

BookPeople BookData - Adult Fiction Book of the Year - Shortlist

• Limberlost by Robbie Arnott (Text Publishing)
• Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au (Giramondo)
• Horse by Geraldine Brooks (Hachette Australia)
• All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien (HQ)
• Willowman by Inga Simpson (Hachette Australia)
• Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson (Michael Joseph)

BookPeople BookData - Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year - Shortlist

• Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave & Seán O’Hagan (Text Publishing)  
• Reasons Not to Worry by Brigid Delaney (Allen & Unwin) 
• The Book of Roads and Kingdoms by Richard Fidler (ABC Books)
• Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby (Allen & Unwin)
• Not Now, Not Ever edited by Julia Gillard (Vintage Australia)
• Bulldozed: Scott Morrison's Fall and Anthony Albanese's Rise by Niki Savva (Scribe Publications) 

BookPeople Kids' Reading Guide - Children's Book of the Year - Shortlist

• Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall (Lothian Children's Books)
• Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First People by Isaiah Firebrace & Jaelyn Biumaiwai (Illus) (Hardie Grant Explore) 
• A Tiny Light by Alison Lester (University of Queensland Press) 
• The Bookseller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press) 
• Runt by Craig Silvey (Allen & Unwin)
• Snap! by Anna Walker (Scribble) 

From here, BookPeople booksellers will vote for the Winners - voting is open until 5 pm Monday, May 1st.

The winners in the three categories will be announced at the BookPeople Gala Dinner and Awards Night on Sunday 18 June at the Adelaide Convention Centre. 

BookPeople Hardie Grant Children's Publishing Bookseller of the Year award recognises individual children's specialist booksellers for their outstanding achievements in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop that they work in but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to be recognised by the book industry for innovation, excellence and career achievements. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000. 

Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Children’s Bookseller of the Year – shortlist

• Mia Florance, Harry Hartog Tuggeranong
• Fran Hancox, Escape Hatch Books 
• Katherine Matthews, Mary Martin Bookshop
• Rachel Robson, Gleebooks

The winner will be announced at the BookPeople conference gala dinner on June 18th.

BookPeople Penguin Random House Australia Young Bookseller of the Year award recognises and rewards the excellence of a bookseller 35 or under and promotes bookselling as a career choice for young people. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores as well as the local and wider community. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000. 

Penguin Random House Young Bookseller of the Year - shortlist

• Emma Chan, The Book Cow Kingston
• Lexie Eatock, Better Read Than Dead
• Matt Farrell, Burns Bay Bookery
• Emily Westmoreland, Avenue Bookstore

The winner will be announced at the BookPeople conference gala dinner on June 18th.

BookPeople Text Publishing Bookseller of the Year award recognises an individual bookseller for their outstanding achievement in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop where they work but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000. 

Text Bookseller of the Year – shortlist

• Allya Bella, Berkelouw Books Paddington
• Ross Dillon, Dillons Norwood Bookshop
• Bronwyn Druce, Red Kangaroo Books
• Molly Murn, Matilda Bookshop
• Mark Rubbo, Readings

The winner will be announced at the BookPeople conference gala dinner on June 18th.