Teenager joins established names on shortlist for national children’s book awards
Arlo Kelly, 16, with his book Echo.
Walking along Makorori Beach near Gisborne inspired 16-year-old Arlo Kelly to write his first published novel – and now he’s one of the youngest ever finalists in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Arlo has been nominated for the New Zealand Society of Authors’ Best First Book Award, with judges recognising the “guts and talent” it takes to have a first book published and praising the range of characters, topic and settings – “all presented with skill and much promise for the future.”
Arlo joins fellow writers J L Williams, Jane Cooper, Carol Garden and Susan Wardell in the running for NZSA Best First Book (see other finalists further on). He describes the news as a wonderful surprise and says he hopes his book is an enjoyable read that inspires other young people who want to write to do so.
In the summer of 2021, he was walking with his younger sister, Elsa, now 14, along Makorori Beach when he noticed the echo of their voices on the surrounding cliffs. Reminiscent of the sounds whales make, it sparked an idea for a story.
That night, Arlo, who lives on the Kāpiti Coast but spends his summers with family near Gisborne, wrote the first couple of pages for what would eventually become Echo, a story about a vision-impaired teenager, Eric, who befriends a dwarf minke whale. He says the character of Eric came out of the blue and while he doesn’t know anyone who has low vision, he felt compelled to write about him.
“I’m used to writing stories with characters who can use all five senses so I welcomed the challenge to write about how someone might experience life using their other four senses and the beach was especially rich with opportunities to use those.”
During the next few months, he researched whales and braille, writing in the evenings and on weekends. Halfway through the first draft, Arlo decided to add an extra character so returned to the beginning and carefully altered what he had written to include the new character who, he felt, was vital to the story.
Once his first draft was complete, Arlo sought input from professional editors. Armed with their feedback, he reconciled inconsistencies and tidied up things like punctuation. Arlo reckons the entire process took just over a year.
“I think anyone who wants to write a book can as long as you put your mind to it and you’re willing to put the effort in.”
But when it came to designing and illustrating Echo, he had expert help at hand. His mum is award-winning book designer Vida Kelly who works on local and international publishing projects. Dad Luke is also a graphic and book designer.
“We had said that one day, when he had the right story, we would help Arlo publish a novel and when I saw the first few pages of this one, I said, ‘I think this might be the one’,” says Vida.
Chapter heads feature a simple drawing of a whale, but each is positioned to reflect the mood of that particular instalment while the cover is an evocative drawing of a young boy, at the edge of a deep water reef, watched by a whale.
Vida has spent years helping Arlo, who is also a talented artist, turn his stories into picture books and novella under his Sparrow Press banner. Along with his own hand-drawn cards, he’s sold these at markets and used any money made to fund his next writing projects.
A nature lover who enjoys being outdoors, he’s taken inspiration from the environment around him. Even the family dog, Archie, makes an appearance in Echo. He’s also grown up surrounded by books, so his reading tastes are eclectic.
“I’ve been surrounded by books my whole life,” says Arlo, “and it might be a bit cliched, but I’m definitely a huge Harry Potter fan. I must have read each of those eight or nine times as well as watching the movies. I also love The Dragon Defenders series and anything by Des Hunt is great, too. I’ve also enjoyed Gary Paulsen’s books. To be a writer, I think it’s really important to be a reader.”
He’s not the only one in the family interested in writing. Younger brother, Finn, 11, became one of the youngest writers to be commended in the 2021 National Flash Fiction Day Youth Competition, Fingers Commas Toes, which is open to under 18s around the world. Finn was just nine at the time.
It’s collaboration, rather than competition, that characterises the Kelly brothers’ relationship. Vida recalls Arlo helping to illustrate Finn’s short stories when they were younger, saying it was lovely to see the two boys working together. However, whether Arlo’s success will be the spur that keeps him writing remains to be seen.
A Year 12 student at Kāpiti College, school work is keeping plenty busy. He’s interested in subjects like geography, history and geopolitics.
The 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalists are:
Picture Book Award Finalists
The judges praised the high production standards of this year’s Picture Book Award finalists, which all show an appreciation and mastery of the format. The shortlisted picture books vary greatly in story theme and illustration style, and contemporary issues are dealt with subtly and in tandem with the pictures.
Duck Goes Meow, Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Carla Martell (Scholastic New Zealand)
Farewell, Anahera, Vanessa Hatley-Owen, illustrated by Scott Irvine, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira (David Ling Publishing)
How My Koro Became a Star, Brianne Te Paa, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Huia Publishers) Roo and Vladimir: An Unlikely Friendship, Minky Stapleton (Scholastic New Zealand)
The Lighthouse Princess, Susan Wardell, illustrated by Rose Northey (Penguin Random House NZ)
Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award Finalists
The titles shortlisted for the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award run the gamut from gripping disaster and adventure to exuberant, irresistible comedy. Whether contemporary or historical, serious or playful, rooted in te ao Māori or in te ao Pākehā, these satisfying stories have something to teach readers about life in Aotearoa New Zealand and the power rangatahi have to effect change in a complicated world.
Below, David Hill (Penguin Random House NZ)
Children of the Rush, James Russell (Dragon Brothers Books)
Jason Mason and the World’s Most Powerful Itching Powder, Jason Gunn and Andrew Gunn (Bateman Books) Masher, Fifi Colston (Penguin Random House NZ)
Pipi and Pou and the Raging Mountain, Tim Tipene, illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White (OneTree House)
Young Adult Fiction Award Finalists
In subject, setting, form, and use of language, the field of entries in this year’s Young Adult Fiction Award is wildly creative while still being authentic and realistic. The judges found this category packed with well-crafted tales that hook the reader in with engaging plots and satisfying story arcs.
Andromeda Bond in Trouble Deep, Brian Falkner (Red Button Press)
Eddy, Eddy, Kate De Goldi (Allen & Unwin)
Indigo Moon, Eileen Merriman (Penguin Random House NZ)
Iris and Me, Philippa Werry (The Cuba Press)
Miracle, Jennifer Lane (Cloud Ink Press)
Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction Finalists
From biography and pūrākau to understanding more about climate and weather, the finalist titles in this year’s Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction introduce readers to a range of new ideas and experiences, both inspirational and educational. The judges were particularly impressed by the quality of visual design in this category.
A New Dawn, Emeli Sione, illustrated by Darcy Solia (Mila’s Books)
Freestyle: The Israel Adesanya Story, David Riley, illustrated by Ant Sang (Reading Warrior)
Sylvia and the Birds, Johanna Emeney, illustrated by Sarah Laing (Massey University Press)
Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, Mat Tait (Allen & Unwin)
Weather and Climate New Zealand, Sandra Carrod (Oratia Books)
Russell Clark Award for Illustration Finalists
Frightening to cute, places of dark to beacons of light, and Aotearoa to Italy and the Himalayas, the books up for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration cover a broad range of topics, perfectly showcasing the diverse talents of their illustrators. The shortlisted titles demonstrate the illustrators’ cohesiveness, originality, skill, confidence and energy.
A Portrait of Leonardo, Donovan Bixley (Upstart Press)
Four Yaks and a Yeti, Ant Sang, written by Peter Hillary (Bateman Books)
Roar Squeak Purr, Jenny Cooper, edited by Paula Green (Penguin Random House NZ)
Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, Mat Tait (Allen & Unwin)
The Lighthouse Princess, Rose Northey, written by Susan Wardell (Penguin Random House NZ)
Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award Finalists
The judges of the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award, which is for books written entirely in te reo Māori, found this year’s crop of shortlisted books showed excellent use of reo and displayed strong themes of mātauranga Māori and mātāpono Māori.
He Raru ki Tai, Jane Cooper, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Huia Publishers)
Kua Whetūrangitia a Koro, Brianne Te Paa, illustrated byStory Hemi-Morehouse (Huia Publishers)
Te Kōkōrangi: Te Aranga o Matariki, Witi Ihimaera, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, translated by Hēni Jacob (Penguin Random House NZ)
NZSA Best First Book Award Finalists
The judges recognise the “guts and talent”it takes to have your first book published, and the 2023 NZSA Best First Book Award finalists impressed with the range of characters, topics and settings – all presented with skill and much promise for the future.
Echo, Arlo Kelly (Sparrow Press)
Holding the Horse, J L Williams (Ocean Echo Books)
He Raru ki Tai, Jane Cooper, illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Huia Publishers)
Kidnap at Mystery Island, Carol Garden (Scholastic New Zealand)
The Lighthouse Princess, Susan Wardell, illustrated by Rose Northey (Penguin Random House NZ)
