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Gabrielle Wang Gabrielle Wang i(A69968 works by) (a.k.a. Gabi Wang)
Gender: Female
Heritage: Chinese
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BiographyHistory

Gabrielle Wang's great-grandfather travelled to the Victorian goldfields from China in 1853. Wang grew up in Melbourne, where she studied graphic design at RMIT. She later worked as a graphic designer, and studied Chinese at Melbourne University. Keen to learn more about her Chinese heritage, Wang lived in Taiwan for five years, and then lived for a time in China. She studied painting in both countries.

She returned to Australia and taught Chinese at Homesglen TAFE, at the same time enrolling in a TAFE course about writing for children. It was this course that led Wang to produce her first book, The Garden of Empress Cassia. It won the 2002 Aurealis Award (children's division - best long fiction) and was listed on the international USBBY Outstanding International Books List in 2012.

Since then, Wang has published a range of works for younger readers, including the series Poppy (for Our Australian Girl) and Pearlie, and standalone works including A Ghost in My Suitcase (for which she won a second Aurealis Award) and The Beast of Hushing Wood.

Exhibitions

17022329
18005697

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2022-2023 Australian Children's Laureate
2020 recipient Australia Council Grants, Awards and Fellowships Literature Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups     $25,000
2019 winner YABBA Graham Davey Citation

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon Melbourne : Puffin , 2022 23956444 2022 single work children's fiction graphic novel children's

'Meet Zadie Ma, a girl who writes magical stories that sometimes come true. Can Zadie bring to life her most important story of all . . . the one where she finds Jupiter, the dog of her dreams?

'From one of Australia's most esteemed and award-winning children's authors comes a heartwarming story set in postwar Melbourne about courage, friendship, the magic of stories and one girl's unwavering love for her dog.

'Zadie Ma has a special talent for telling stories . . . and it seems that some of Zadie's stories come true. Zadie's dearest wish is to have a dog of her own and so she starts to write the story of a poor unwanted dog called Jupiter, who's just waiting to be rescued by a loving girl like Zadie.

'One morning when she's supposed to be minding the family shop for her mother, Zadie sets off to look for Jupiter. The scene that unfolds isn't quite the same as in her story but she does find a real dog, and his name is Jupiter. Once Zadie has rescued him, she realises she can't just take Jupiter home because her mother won't let her keep a dog. Luckily her bold new friend Sparrow lets Zadie keep Jupiter at her house till Zadie can work things out.

'But a series of unlucky events means that Zadie can't write the happy ending she dreams of for her story, and now she may lose her beloved Jupiter forever.

'Can Zadie's most important story of all finally come true?'  (Publication summary)

2024 longlisted The DANZ Children's Book Award Middle Grade
2023 shortlisted Prime Minister's Literary Awards Children's Fiction
2023 shortlisted Queensland Literary Awards Griffith University Children’s Book Award
2023 shortlisted New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Books
2023 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Younger Readers
y separately published work icon Ting Ting the Ghosthunter North Sydney : Puffin , 2018 14692676 2018 single work children's fiction children's adventure

'This sequel to the award-winning Ghost in My Suitcase is a powerful magic realism story for 10+ readers about ghost-hunting, finding yourself, Chinese mythology and culture.

'Thirteen-year-old Ting Ting has learned the ancient skills and art of ghost hunting from her adopted grandmother, Por Por, a famous ghost hunter. But Ting Ting is sick of capturing harmless ‘fat belly’ ghosts, and when a desperate plea for help comes for Por Por, Ting Ting recklessly decides to take matters into her own hands and prove that she is a true ghost hunter. But what Ting Ting discovers is much more dangerous than she had thought. Can Ting Ting conquer her own pride to save Por Por and the villagers before it’s too late? '  (Publication summary)

2018 shortlisted Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction Children's Division
y separately published work icon The Beast of Hushing Wood Melbourne : Penguin , 2017 10991528 2017 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Ziggy Truegood lives in a tiny town deep in Hushing Wood, where strange things are happening. The townspeople are fighting, Ziggy feels like something is hunting her, and her beloved woods have become dark and hostile. When exotic Raffi and his grandfather arrive in town, Ziggy finds herself strangely drawn to them. But are they there to save Ziggy, or are they the hunters? Thought-provoking and engaging, Hushing Wood is a lovely blend of action, fable and magic realism.' (Publication summary)

2018 shortlisted Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards Eight to 10 Years
Last amended 20 Jan 2020 13:28:07
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