About the Author - Melina Marchetta
Melina Marchetta is an Australian author of Italian descent that has written numerous books. She was born in Sydney on the 25th of March 1965. She had attended Rosebank College, but had left school at the age of 15 as she was not confident in her academic ability. After that she had went to a Business school which had taught her various office skills which contributed to gaining an employment at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. She later worked as a consultant at a Travel agency. With this she returned to school and obtained a teaching degree. Until 2006 she had worked at St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney. Her novels are usually aimed for the Young Female Adult Fiction.
Here is a list of the books she has written:
- The Gorgon in the Gully
- The Piper’s Son
- Finnikin of the Rock
- On the Jellicoe Road
- Saving Francesca
- Looking for Alibrandi
Her Achievements:
- 1993 - Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award, Book of the Year: Older Readers (Looking for Alibrandi)
- 2000 - Film Critics Circle of Australia, Best Screenplay – Adapted (Looking For Alibrandi)
- 2004 - South Australia Premier's Awards, Children's Literature Award (shortlisted for Saving Francesca)
- 2007 - Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, Best Young Adult Book (shortlisted for On the Road)
- 2008 - Aurealis Award, Young Adult Division, Best Long Fiction (winner for Finnikin on the Rock)
- 2009 - Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (winner for On the Jellicoe Road)