Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta lives in Sydney and writes full time.

Her first novel Looking for Alibrandi was released in 1992 to much acclaim with a first print-run sellout within two months of its release.

Published in 14 countries, including 11 translated editions, Looking for Alibrandi swept the pool of literary awards for young adult fiction in 1993 including the coveted Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Award (Older Readers). Dubbed "the most stolen library book" the popular novel has sold more than half a million copies worldwide and was followed by her film adaptation of the same title released in 2000.



latest news!

The Piper's Son



In Australian book stores now!...and in US bookstores March 2011


While writing the AFI award-winning screenplay Melina taught English and History full time for ten years at a city high school for boys. During that time she released her second novel Saving Francesca in 2003, followed by On the Jellicoe Road in 2006. Both novels have been published in more than 6 countries, with Saving Francesca translated into 4 languages. On the Jellicoe Road was recently awarded the prestigious 2009 US Michael Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature.

**The Piper's Son in Australian book stores now**

**Penguin TV mini documentary**
o

Melina talks about her latest novel
The Piper's Son

Taylor Markham is not a
popular choice. She is erratic, has no people skillsand never turns up to meetings..

"This is Marchetta’s most sophisticated novel; it opens cryptically and is imbued with subtle mystery that crisply unfolds in uncluttered, evocative prose."
Australian Literary Review

Melina's fourth novel, the fantasy epic Finnikin of the Rock, was released by Penguin Australia in October 2008. It has since won the 2008 Aurelius Award for Best Young Adult Novel and the 2009 ABIA (Australian Booksellers Industry Awards) Book of the Year for Older Children, and was recently shortlisted for the 2009 Children's Book Council of the Year (Older Readers) Award. In the USA Finnikin has received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist and Bulletin Centre for Children's Books.

Melina has also written short stories including the recent Twelve Minutes - part of the Books Alive anthology 10 SHORT STORIES YOU MUST READ THIS YEAR, along with reviews and opinion pieces for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and The Australian Literary Review. She has also been a writer-in-residence around the country, as far north as Thursday Island and as far south as Hobart.

Her fifth novel The Piper’s Son has just been released in Australia.

in book stores now!

An epicfantsy of feudal
intrigue, ancient magic,
bloodshed and exile, and two opposing lovers destined tounite...


“…a hauntingly beautiful fantasy allegory…
a daring departure from Marchetta’s
previous books, and it works brilliantly…”
Ronni Phillips, The Canberra Times

 

"Melina Marchetta’s brilliant, heart-wrenching new novel takes up the story of the group of friends from her best-selling, much-loved book Saving Francesca – only this time it’s five years later and Thomas Mackee is the one who needs saving."
read more >


On the Jellicoe Road

Winner of the 2009 prestigious
US Printz Award
 

Francesca is at the
beginning of her second
term in Year 11, at an
all boy's school..

"A rich exploration of maturation,
identity, family, and friendship."
The Bulletin

 

 

 

Josie has a lot to deal with. She's 17, doing the dreaded H.S.C and the boy of herdreams seems totally out of reach. Oh, and she's aboutto meet her father for thefirst time..

"An extraordinarily intelligent
and passionate novel, written with remarkable self assurance."
The Age

 

 

 

 

  

Finnikin of the Rock

...to be published in the US in Spring 2010 by Candlewick
read more >

 

  

 

 

 

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