Borderland by Graham Akhurst has been shortlisted in 2 categories for the State Library of Queensland 2024 Queensland Literary Awards.
Graham Akhurst's debut novel, Borderland, has been shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance ($30,000) and for the Young Adult Book Award ($15,000). The judges for the Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance commented that:
"Borderland is a genre-bending debut that deftly explores identity and belonging. Set against Brisbane and the rural town of Gambari, Akhurst's vivid storytelling follows Jono, an Indigenous teenager seeking to connect with his Country and community. Akhurst's confident and insightful voice makes this an exciting standout in contemporary Australian literature."
The judges for the Young Adult Book Award noted that:
"Akhurst’s debut novel effectively blends unsettling gothic elements with Aboriginal spirituality and complex environmental issues. Protagonist Jono, separated from Country and mob, straddles conflicting teenage concerns of identity and relationships with broader universal themes of expectation and discrimination."
Congratulations Graham!
On Thursday 5 September the State Library of Queensland will be livestreaming the awards ceremony and revealing this year's winners. Find out more here.
Borderland is a heart-pounding horror gothic that follows Jono on an epic quest to find himself in the face of unbelievable challenges. Graham Akhurst, the brilliant mind behind this coming-of-age gem, is a Fulbright scholar from the Kokomini of Northern Queensland. Brace yourself for a fresh, mind-bending tale exploring Indigenous identity, the impact of colonization, and what happens when you take a stand.
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