1990 Award Prize for Older Readers

Two Weeks with the Queen

by Morris Gleitzman
Pan Macmillan

This story shows a family’s struggle with the life threatening illness of their son. When the parents learn that he has cancer they panic and send their other son to stay with relatives in England. Once there, Colin tries everything he can think of - appropriate and inappropriate - to get medical help for his brother. Through meeting Ted, whose friend is dying from AIDS, Colin comes to terms with his brother’s impending death. He also learns how important it is for the family to be together at such a time. Despite its serious subject matter this is a surprisingly funny book.

Commended

Speaking with Miranda

by Caroline Macdonald
Penguin Books

Ruby, in that undecided period following Higher School Certificate exams, begins to search for her dead mother’s past. Since her mother had deliberately concealed her background, Ruby needs a lot of perseverance and courage to follow a trail of clues which eventually takes her to New Zealand. In the process Ruby discovers a great deal about herself. Although Ruby undertakes the search alone, her adoptive grandmother and father give her support.

High Hopes

by Ursula Dubosarsky
Puffin

A realistic portrayal of an adolescent girl’s coming to terms with her father’s remarriage. The book is set in Sydney’s Oxford Street.