Melina Marchetta is my all time favourite author. Hands down.
She is, for me, the mother of all books, the person without whom I don’t think the reading world could possibly exist. In fact, if you don’t go and read one of her stories right now, I worry that the whole world might implode or something.
You really shouldn’t take that risk!
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But for everyone else, Melina Marchetta is an Australian writer and teacher. Her first novel, Looking For Alibrandi was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia award in 1993 for Older Readers and her second novel, Saving Francesca won the same award in 2004. Looking For Alibrandi was made into a major film in 2000 and won the Australian Film Institute Award for best Film and best adapted screen play, also written by the author.
On the Jellicoe Road was released in 2006 and won the WAYRBA voted by teenagers in Western Australia in 2008. It also won the US Printz Medal in 2009 for excellence in YA literature. You should also know that it is my favorite book and it is being made into a movie.. You can’t imagine how I am waiting for it. Hyperventilating and all.
Her latest novel, Finnikin of the Rock was released in October 2008 and won the Aurealis Award for YA fantasy. It will be published by Candlewick in the US in 2010.
Melina Marchetta currently resides in Sydney, Australia. Marchetta makes frequent visits to schools to talk about her books. She also attends interviews, book signings, book club meetings at libraries and bookshops and gives talks to students about her novels. Marchetta has a blog on which she announces book updates, interviews and thoughts and anything in relation to writing and her novels.
![On The Jellicoe Road [re-read]](https://i0.wp.com/www.readingaftermidnight.com/wp-content/files_mf/1400665193onthejellioceroadram.jpg?ssl=1)
