Alice Pung

One hundred days. It's no time at all, she tells me. But she's not the one waiting. In a heady whirlwind of independence, lust and defiance, sixteen-year-old Karuna falls pregnant. Not on purpose, but not entirely by accident, either. Incensed, Karuna's mother, already over-protective, confines her to their fourteenth-storey housing-commission flat, to keep her safe from the outside world - and make sure she can't get into any more trouble. Stuck inside for endless hours, Karuna battles her mother and herself for a sense of power in her own life, as a new life forms and grows within her. As the due date draws ever closer, the question of who will get to raise the baby - who it will call Mum - festers between them. One Hundred Days is a fractured fairytale exploring the fault lines between love and control. At times tense and claustrophobic, it is nevertheless brimming with humour, warmth and character. It is a magnificent new work from one of Australia's most celebrated writers.

One Hundred Days

Laurinda is an exclusive school for girls. At its secret core is the Cabinet, a trio of girls who wield power over their classmates - and some of their teachers. Entering this world of wealth and secrets is Lucy Lam, a scholarship girl with sharp eyes and a shaky sense of self. As she watches the Cabinet at work, and is courted by them, Lucy finds herself in a battle for her identity and integrity.

Laurinda

Will Kostakis

Ellie Marney

Amie Kaufman

Jaclyn Moriarty

Melissa Keil

Gabrielle Tozer

Michael Pryor

Lili Wilkinson

The YA event of the year. Bestsellers. Award-winners. Superstars. This anthology has them all. With brilliantly entertaining short stories from beloved young adult authors Amie Kaufman, Melissa Keil, Will Kostakis, Ellie Marney, Jaclyn Moriarty, Michael Pryor, Alice Pung, Gabrielle Tozer, Lili Wilkinson and Danielle Binks, this all-new collection will show the world exactly how much there is to love about Aussie YA. Ages 14+

Begin, End, Begin: a #LoveOzYA Anthology

Laurinda is an exclusive school for girls. At its secret core is the Cabinet, a trio of girls who wield power over their classmates - and some of their teachers. Entering this world of wealth and secrets is Lucy Lam, a scholarship girl with sharp eyes and a shaky sense of self. As she watches the Cabinet at work, and is courted by them, can Lucy stay true to herself as she finds her way in this new world of privilege and opportunity?

Lucy and Linh

This story does not begin on a boat. Nor does it contain any wild swans or falling leaves. In a wonderland called Footscray, a girl named Alice and her Chinese-Cambodian family pursue the Australian Dream - Asian style. Armed with an ocker accent, Alice dives head-first into schooling, romance and the getting of wisdom. Her mother becomes an Aussie battler - an outworker, that is. Her father embraces the miracle of franchising and opens an electrical-appliance store. And every day her grandmother blesses Father Government for giving old people money. Unpolished Gemis a book rich in comedy, a loving and irreverent portrait of a family, its everyday struggles and bittersweet triumphs. With it, Australian writing gains an unforgettable new voice. 'This is a sophisticated and fiercely intelligent book.' Helen Garner'A memoir so vivid that images from it linger behind your eyelids.' The Age'Unpolished Gemis virtuoso storytelling.' The Australian

Unpolished Gem

Asian-Australians have often been written about by outsiders, as outsiders. In this collection, compiled by award-winning author Alice Pung, they tell their own stories with verve, courage and a large dose of humour. They tell tales of leaving home, falling in love, coming out and finding one's feet. A young Cindy Pan vows to win every single category of Nobel Prize. Tony Ayres blows a kiss to a skinhead and lives to tell the tale. Benjamin Law has a close encounter with some angry Australian fauna, and Kylie Kwong makes a moving pilgrimage to her great-grandfather's Chinese village. Here are well-known authors and exciting new voices, spanning several generations and drawn from all over Australia. In sharing their stories, they show us what it is really like to grow up Asian, and Australian. Contributors include: Shaun Tan, Jenny Kee, Annette Shun Wah, Anh Do, Khoa Do, John So, Simone Lazaroo, Christopher Cyril, Jason Yat-Sen Li, Sunil Badami, Hoa Pham, Quan Yeomans, Caroline Tran, Tom Cho, Vanessa Woods and many more ...

Growing Up Asian in Australia

Roddy Doyle

William Boyd

Philip Pullman

John Wood

Pico Iyer

Chigozie Obioma

Jan Morris

Candice Carty-Williams

Madeleine Thien

Robert Macfarlane

Michael Ondaatje

Jackie Morris

Imtiaz Dharker

Max Porter

S.F. Said

Salley Vickers

Jancis Robinson

Dina Nayeri

David Pilling

Andy Miller

Sisonke Msimang

Markus Zusak

'This story, like so many stories, begins with a gift. The gift, like so many gifts, was a book...' So begins the essay by Robert Macfarlane that inspired this collection. In this cornucopia of an anthology, you will find essays by some of the world's most beloved novelists, nonfiction writers, essayists and poets. 'You will see books taking flight in flocks, migrating around the world, landing in people's hearts and changing them for a day or a year or a lifetime. 'You will see books sparking wonder or anger; throwing open windows into other languages, other cultures, other minds; causing people to fall in love or to fight for what is right. 'And more than anything, over and over again, you will see books and words being given, received and read - and in turn prompting further generosity.' Published to coincide with the 20th anniversary of global literacy non-profit, Room to Read, The Gifts of Reading forms inspiring, unforgettable, irresistible proof of the power and necessity of books and reading. Inspired by Robert Macfarlane Curated by Jennie Orchard With contributions by: William Boyd, Candice Carty-Williams, Imtiaz Dharker, Roddy Doyle, Pico Iyer, Andy Miller, Jackie Morris, Jan Morris, Sisonke Msimang, Dina Nayeri, Chigozie Obioma, Michael Ondaatje, David Pilling Max Porter, Philip Pullman, Alice Pung, Jancis Robinson, S.F.Said, Madeleine Thien, Salley Vickers, John Wood and Markus Zusak

The Gifts of Reading

From one of Australia's most celebrated authors comes a powerful mother-daughter drama that explores the fault lines between love and control, pairing the claustrophobic intensity of Room and My Year of Rest and Relaxation with the youthful angst of Freshwater. Sixteen and pregnant, Karuna finds herself trapped in her mother's Melbourne public housing apartment for one hundred days awaiting the birth of her child--and her mother's next move in a shocking power struggle over who will raise the baby. To fill the seemingly endless hours of her imprisonment, she writes to her unborn child, determined that her baby will know the truth, no matter what happens. Karuna's pregnancy is the result of a heady act of independence, lust, and defiance that happened in a moment of freedom from her overprotective mother. In reaction to her daughter's recklessness, Karuna's mother locks her inside their apartment to her to make sure she can't get into any more trouble. While postpartum confinement is a tradition in many cultures, is Karuna's an act of love--or emotional abuse? As the birth approaches, Karuna and her mother repeatedly trip the fault lines between love and control. And somehow, despite their battles, Karuna recognizes her mother's love in even the strangest of behaviors. At times tense and unnerving, One Hundred Days illuminates the pain, confusion, and thrill of growing up and the overwhelming desire of adults to protect the children they

A Novel

It's 1983 . . . and Marly needs a job. She wants to buy Donkey Kong cards to swap with the other kids at school, but her parents think the cards are a waste of money. Then Marly's friend Yousra gives her an idea, and she decides to start her own business. But working on your own isn't easy, and when she catches a bus that goes in the wrong direction, it's just the start of Marly's problems! Follow Marly on her adventure in the second of four stories about a daring girl torn between two worlds.

Marly's Business

It's 1983 . . . and Marly is just trying to fit in at Sunshine Primary School. But being a refugee from Vietnam doesn't make things easy, and when Marly's cousins come to stay and end up at the same school, her friends make fun of them. How can Marly stay loyal to her cousins and keep her school friends as well? Meet Marly and join in her adventure in the first of four exciting stories about a daring girl torn between two worlds.

Meet Marly

An inspiring series for young and old makers by the award-winning author-illustrator team Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng. Nine-year-old Millie Mak has discovered she has a superpower! Using everyday objects, Millie turns them into something new, beautiful and useful. Who would ever think that a sunhat could be made from an old bedsheet, a skirt from a tea-towel, or some hair scrunchies from a scarf? Through her creativity and clever thinking, Millie also deals with different friendships, tricky family challenges, and contributes to the school fete. You can make the special objects Millie creates from the detailed and yet easy-to-follow instructions included in the book. And best of all, nothing needs to be bought! From award-winning author-illustrator team, Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng, comes the first book in an inspiring new series for young and old makers. Praise for Millie Mak the Maker: 'A gentle story about family, friendship and making old things new again.' - Deborah Abela 'I gulped Millie Mak down like a drink of fresh water. Crafty, creative, and courageous, it shines with hope, cosiness, industriousness, and a rare kind of bravery. It explores timely topics in a way that feels honest, and does so with a fierce, tender joy.' - Sophie Beer 'Clever, whip smart, with a touch of whimsy. Young readers will find the Mak and Singh families relatable and wonderfully refreshing. I loved it!' - Wai Chim 'A big-hearted book about transformation, creativity and discovery, and how we should start where we are and use what we have. It teaches us that we don't need to buy things to have things and that each of us is a maker. The potential of everything and everyone that surrounds us is unlocked in beautiful prose from Alice Pung and delightful illustrations by Sher Rill Ng. The power of kindness and kinship is at the heart of these stories.' - Jaclyn Crupi 'Millie Mak is a girl for our times - resourceful, kind, real and creative, able to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary at every turn.' - Rebecca Lim 'A celebration of creativity and ingenuity whip-stitched into an authentic and refreshingly honest portrayal of families and life in multicultural Australia - Millie Mak the Maker will warm the hearts of many young readers.' - Sue Whiting

Millie Mak the Maker (Millie Mak, #1)

Be Careful Xiao Xin

Winner of the Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult's Literature at the 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Awards When my dad dropped us off at the front gate, the first things I saw were the rose garden spreading out on either side of the main driveway and the enormous sign in iron cursive letters spelling out LAURINDA. No ''Ladies College'' after it, of course; the name was meant to speak for itself. Laurinda is an exclusive school for girls. At its secret core is the Cabinet, a trio of girls who wield power over their classmates - and some of their teachers. Entering this world of wealth and secrets is Lucy Lam, a scholarship girl with sharp eyes and a shaky sense of self. As she watches the Cabinet at work, and is courted by them, Lucy finds herself in a battle for her identity and integrity. Funny, feisty and moving, Laurinda explores Lucy's struggle to stay true to herself as she finds her way in a new world of privilege and opportunity.

An original and moving look by award-winning writer Alice Pung at one of her biggest influences - the much-loved and hugely successful writer John Marsden. In the Writers on Writers series, leading authors reflect on an Australian writer who has inspired and fascinated them. Provocative and crisp, these books start a fresh conversation between past and present, shed new light on the craft of writing, and introduce some intriguing and talented authors and their work. Published by Black Inc. in association with the University of Melbourne and State Library Victoria.

Writers on Writers

John Marsden

"Ungeschliffener Diamant", 2007 als bestes australisches Debüt ausgezeichnet, erzählt von den Herausforderungen des Erwachsenwerdens in einer globalisierten Welt: Als Tochter chinesisch-kambodschanischer Einwanderer wächst Alice mitten in Melbourne zwischen Hausgöttern, Aberglauben und strengen Traditionen auf. Doch schon bald kommt ihr die Welt der Eltern exotischer vor als die neue Heimat. Mal ernst und verzweifelt, dann wieder augenzwinkernd ironisch entfaltet dieses erzählerische Juwel seinen unwiderstehlichen Charme.

Ungeschliffener Diamant

A brilliant collection from one of Australia's leading writers Close to Home brings together Alice Pung’s most loved writing, on topics such as migration, family, art, belonging and identity. Warm, funny, moving and unfailingly honest, this is Alice at her best – an irresistible pleasure for fans and new readers alike. In 2006, Alice Pung published Unpolished Gem, her award-winning memoir of growing up Chinese-Australian in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Since then, she has written on everything from the role of grandparents to the corrosive effects of racism; from the importance of literature to the legacy of her parents’ migration from Cambodia as asylum seekers. In all of this, a central idea is home: how the places we live and the connections we form shape who we become, and what homecoming can mean to those who build their lives in Australia. ‘Most people have an idea of home as a place of comfort and safety. But it is more than that. Your home is a place where your suffering can take shelter.’ —Alice Pung ‘A beautiful book brimming with rich thoughts and intimate details ... Pung’s writing celebrates who we are, where we’ve come from and the shape of things to come. ★★★★★.’ —The AU Review ‘A warm, wide-ranging selection ... Pung’s writing is crisp and colourful.’ —The Age ‘Mixes vivid personal stories with a sharply nuanced examination of Australia’s knotty, turbulent race history.’ —The Weekend Australian ‘Alice Pung is a gem. Her voice is the real thing.’ —Amy Tan

Selected Writings

Close to Home

A short story from BEGIN, END, BEGIN: A #LOVEOZYA ANTHOLOGY. Kim has two heartbeats - one her own, another that she didn't mean to create - and her mother has hit the roof.

A #LoveOzYA Short Story

In a Heartbeat

It's 1983 . . . and there's excitement in Marly's house. Her grandparents have arrived from Vietnam, and soon her mum will have a new baby. While Grandma tries to make Marly into a 'young lady', Grandpa digs up the back yard. Then he brings home Agnes, a goat! But the neighbours want Agnes taken away, and then things get dangerous. Will Marly be able to protect her grandpa and her pet? Follow Marly on her adventure in the third of four stories about a daring girl torn between two worlds.

Alice Pung

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