Books by Claire Zorn

Better Days

(University of Queensland Press, 2013)

Grace had it all, but couldn’t hold it all … A story of love, chaos and the music in-between, perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Twenty years ago, Grace only wanted to be with Trent – a boy with a guitar and a lot of promises. Her mother, Dorothy, wanted her daughter to fulfil her potential.

In a fit of fury and heartbreak, Grace boards a plane to London where she builds a dazzling career in the music industry, marries Ed who would do anything for her, and has two children (one who might be a sociopath, but the other seems fine).

That glamorous lifestyle is a distant memory as Grace drags her kids and a particularly irritating dachshund back to the Blue Mountains, where Dorothy is waiting with a roast and inevitable questions about why Ed is no longer in the – seemingly perfect – picture. On a McDonald’s pitstop, Grace bumps into a ghost from the past … Trent.

When Fin wakes up the next morning, it’s dark, bitterly cold and snow is falling. There’s no internet, no phone, no TV, no power and no parents. Nothing Fin’s learnt in school could have prepared him for this.

With his parents missing and dwindling food and water supplies, Fin and his younger brother, Max, must find a way to survive in a nuclear winter … all on their own.

When things are at their most desperate, where can you go for help?

A gem of a novel that lingers in your mind, leaving you thinking about its characters and eager to return to their world.

- BOOKS + PUBLISHING

Young Adult Books

The Sky So Heavy

(University of Queensland Press, 2013)

Children’s Book Council of Australia Honor Book 2013​

Shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for young Adult Fiction

Shortlisted, 2017 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award – Older Readers​

Shortlisted, 2019 YABBA – Fiction Years 7–9​

Honour book, 2019 KOALA Awards – Fiction for Years 7–9​

For Fin, it’s just like any other day – racing for the school bus, bluffing his way through class and trying to remain cool in front of the most sophisticated girl in his universe. Only it’s not like any other day because, on the other side of the world, nuclear missiles are being detonated.

When Fin wakes up the next morning, it’s dark, bitterly cold and snow is falling. There’s no internet, no phone, no TV, no power and no parents. Nothing Fin’s learnt in school could have prepared him for this.

With his parents missing and dwindling food and water supplies, Fin and his younger brother, Max, must find a way to survive in a nuclear winter … all on their own.

When things are at their most desperate, where can you go for help?

One of the best young adult novels this year…a thrilling, intriguing and relatable read.

- Newcastle Herald

When We Are Invisible

When We Are Invisible

(University of Queensland Press, 2013)

Shortlisted 2022 South Australian Premier’s Literary Award – Young Adult Fiction

The highly anticipated, heart-stopping sequel to Zorn’s acclaimed debut The Sky So Heavy
Instinct has kept us alive so far. It’s like a compass and I tune in to the needle often: trust/
don’t trust, run/stay … I can’t read the needle right now. The warmth of the room is clouding
my judgment.

In the midst of a nuclear winter, Lucy, Fin and Max flee the chaos of Sydney with blood on
their clothes, a gun and handwritten directions to safety. When they reach Wattlewood, it
seems like their struggle to survive might be over. There is food, warmth and adults in
charge. So why can’t Lucy shake the feeling they’re still in danger?

Lucy’s survived the apocalypse, but can she escape a more insidious threat?

A very empowering and enlightening read. I genuinely hope that When We Are Invisible sparks conversations and change.

- Reading Time

One Would Think The Deep

One Would Think The Deep

(University of Queensland Press, 2013)

Winner of the CBCA Book of the Year (Young Adult)

Shortlisted for 2017 Prime Minister’s Literary Award

Shortlisted, 2018 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award – Older Readers

Shortlisted, 2017 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards – Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature

Shortlisted, 2017 Inky Gold Award (Inside a Dog) – Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria

Shortlisted, 2016 Queensland Literary Awards – Young Adult Book Award

Longlisted, 2017 Indie Book Awards – Young Adult – Australian Independent Bookseller

Sam stared at the picture of the boy about to be tipped off the edge of the world: the crushing weight of water about to pummel him. Sam knew that moment exactly, the disbelief that what was about to happen could even be possible. The intake of breath before the flood.
Sam has always had things going on in his head that no one else understands, even his mum. And now she’s dead, it’s worse than ever.

With nothing but his skateboard and a few belongings in a garbage bag, Sam goes to live with the strangers his mum cut ties with seven years ago: Aunty Lorraine and his cousins Shane and Minty.

Despite the suspicion and hostility emanating from their fibro shack, Sam reverts to his childhood habit of following Minty around and is soon surfing with Minty to cut through the static fuzz in his head. But as the days slowly meld into one another, and ghosts from the past reappear, Sam has to make the ultimate decision … will he sink or will he swim?

‘One Would Think the Deep has a potent emotional heart, great characters and beautiful writing … an empathetic exploration of masculinity’

- State Library of New South Wales

The Protected

(University of Queensland Press, 2013)

Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction

Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction

Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year

West Australian Premier’s Book Award – Young Adult Fiction

Shortlisted, 2015 Inky Gold Award

Hannah’s world is in pieces and she doesn’t need the school counsellor to tell her she has deep-seated psychological issues. With a seriously depressed mum, an injured dad and a dead sister, who wouldn’t have problems?

Hannah should feel terrible but for the first time in ages, she feels a glimmer of hope and isn’t afraid anymore. Is it because the elusive Josh is taking an interest in her? Or does it run deeper than that?

In a family torn apart by grief and guilt, one girl’s struggle to come to terms with years of torment shows just how long old wounds can take to heal.

Highly readable, emotionally generous, impeccably controlled, and studded with memorable scenes. Worth reading.

- AJ Betts, author of Zac & Mia

Picture Books

No Place For An Octopus

No Place for an Octopus

(University of Queensland Press, 2013)

After discovering an octopus in the rock pools at the beach, a boy wonders about all the fun adventures they could share if he took the octopus home. From multi-award-winning author Claire Zorn comes this gentle tale of friendship and understanding.

I’ve always loved Claire Zorn’s magical way with words and now her stunning illustrations have gone straight to my heart.

- Children's Books Daily

Contact

Get in touch!

Claire is Represented by: Grace Heifetz @ a4 Literary

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