Topic: Young People’s Book Awards

Activity: Write a book review.

Title: How It Feels To Float

Author: Helena Fox

Publishing Date: April 23rd 2019.

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

ISBN: 9780525554363

Ages: 14-18 years old (Common Sense Media).

Awards:

Winner for Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards Prize for Writing for Young Adults 2020. Short-listed for Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction 2020, CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers 2020, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize 2020 and  Queensland Literary Awards Young Adult Book Award 2019. Long-listed for ABIA Book of the Year for Older Children 2020 and Indie Book Awards Young Adult 2020.

 

What Did I Learn

Before participating in this activity, I had no prior knowledge of any Young People’s Book Awards (YPBAs), in searching for this activity, I learned there is a wide range of YPBAs, from the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) to the State Library of NSW’s Young People’s History Prize (State Library of New South Wales, 2020). This year, Helena Fox’s How It Feels To Float won and was shortlisted in a number of YPBAs. The book was a winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards Prize for Writing for Young Adults 2020 and shortlisted in four other awards (Pan Macmillan, 2020).

The book’s success may be attributed to its diversity themes and the recent emphasis on diverse literature in Australia, such as the #LoveOzYA movement of 2017 and mental health awareness during COVID-19 lockdowns. The book explores mental illness, loss, and sexual identity.

How was the activity relevant to my professional practice working with children and/or young adults?

A number of shortlisted works in Australian YPBAs this year have diverse topics. There is a push for this content in children’s and young people’s books, from political and cultural movements such as #LoveOzYA and Black Lives Matter. It is clear that diverse materials will be a huge part of my practice in the future. As Caple and Tian (2020) say, “if award-winning books sit at the top of reading lists, these books also need to embrace and reflect the full and rich diversity that makes up our country.” To facilitate this diversity, I can curate diverse works as recommended by the YPBAs mentioned above, to provide children and young patrons with a diverse view of the world. However, providing access to diverse materials will be one aspect of my role, but enabling comprehension and developing skills to address similar issues in their life will be another major part of my role.

In reading this book, I realised that I will need to explore similar works with young adult readers. The book was relevant to my professional practice with young adults in that I will have to provide services that aid in the comprehension of key messages within the books, as well as providing additional resources. For example, in a young adult book club, I could explore, discuss, and explain the topics in books with readers, and provide additional information about where to access help and support services. How It Feels To Float explores and describes symptoms of depression and grief which readers may identify with, I would explore these symptoms with students and provide additional information that can provide additional information about mental illnesses and guide them through what to do if they are feeling that way too. Other topics explored in the novel is sexuality and acceptance, cliques and friendships. There are several excellent examples of sexuality and acceptance in the beginning of Biz’s journey. Fox also explores cliques and friendships. I believe these topics, together, all resonate with today’s young adult readers. I can use the book as a starting point to discussing these topics in a safe environment.

Gaps in Knowledge and How to Fill Them?

To be able to facilitate discussions around the topics explored in the novel, I would want to be armed with resources to give to participants. I would have to research into the best ways to respond when confronted with similar friendship issues that Biz encounters. I would have to do a lot of research to be able to give the best guidance and advice for participants in these situations. I would also want to make sure each participant feels heard and supported. I would also have to research into this. Perhaps, having a psychologist, councillor or youth worker join in the sessions would help do this?

“Talking has saved me, again and again. It’s okay, and you absolutely deserve, to ask for help when this are hard. Remember, lovely human, that you matter very much. You are a miracle of molecules: infinite and extraordinary.”

Helena Fox, How It Feels To Float.

 

References:

Caple, H. and Tian, P. (2020). In 20 years of award-winning picture books, non-white people made up just 12% of main characters. [online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/in-20-years-of-award-winning-picture-books-non-white-people-made-up-just-12-of-main-characters-147026 [Accessed 6 Dec. 2020].

Pan Macmillan. (2020). How It Feels to Float – Pan Macmillan AU. Pan Macmillan Australia. https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760783303/how-it-feels-to-float/.

State Library of New South Wales. (2020, April 3). Young People’s History Prize. State Library of NSW. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/young-peoples-history-prize.