Congratulations to Christine Harris for winning the Children's Peace Literature Award for her novel Audrey Goes to Town.
The judge's comment:
'Audrey and her family temporarily relocate to Beltana when Audrey's mother is expecting another baby. They board with Mrs. Patterson, known locally as Patterson's Curse (a noxious weed). She is a prickly woman who has strict rules and a list of dos and don'ts for the children. When Audrey's mother is taken suddenly to hospital, Mrs. Patterson declares that Audrey has become her "project". She wants to ensure that Audrey learns good manners, how to knit and how to behave like a lady. However she does not anticipate Audrey's perceptive response, "And you're mine. I'm looking for your good side."
A situation which could have developed into unpleasantness is slowly changed by Audrey's beguilingly honest, direct, humorous and compassionate approach to her carer. Audrey makes an effort to please. She is kind and thoughtful but does not allow herself to become a victim. Audrey acknowledges Mrs. Patterson's kind gestures and is prompt to express her gratitude. Indeed warmth and generosity are modeled by the Beltana community. Audrey's perseverance is rewarded when she realizes that Mrs. Patterson's grimness is mainly due to the sorrows she has experienced in her life. Mutual trust and appreciation develop. As Audrey says, "At first it was hard to find things on your good side. But then it got easier. You've got one, all right".'
Christine's acceptance:
As a member of PEN, a group that works on behalf of silenced and persecuted writers around the world, as a mother, grandmother and writer, it means a lot to me to be joint-winner of the Children's Peace Literature Prize. Freedom of speech is important to the sharing of ideas and beliefs, and we need to treasure and hold onto
it. Writers, in particular, have the power to move people to think, cry or laugh. Stories can change people. We've heard a choir singing and there are wonderful artworks on the walls around us by children. Stories are a part of those arts that are a sharing of
ideas and they can reach people's hearts.
I try to create characters in my stories that are more than the sum of their parts, and Audrey, from 'Audrey Goes to Town' is such a character. She is so real to us that David (Christine’s partner) and I feel we've inherited another child. We half-expect to see her seated at the breakfast table. So I'm proud of my little Audrey.
Thank you to Psychologists for Peace for this award and for helping us all to be part of the bigger 'story'.
For further information on the Children's Peace Literature Award visit: www.psychology.org.au |
