Jane Godwin – författare

Three teenage girls from very different backgrounds find themselves sharing a hospital ward. When they witness a crime in the park below their window, they bond over trying to solve the crime and each one undergoes a profound change. A beautiful coming-of-age story about identity, expectation, class, justice, society, fairness, and, above all, kindness.''Fresh insights into friendship and family are spun through tangents into chance and randomness ... and music and its power to trigger memory and give a rhythm and pace to life. Injured Evie, in particular, learns how to grow and walk away stronger.'' - Weekend Australian''Such a richly delicious read and I wanted it never to end ... I am a true fan'' - Naomi Shihab Nye**Contains BONUS extract from Jane Godwin''s newest novel, WHEN RAIN TURNS TO SNOW**

SHORTLISTED FOR THE PRIME MINISTER''S LITERARY AWARDS 2021SHORTLISTED FOR THE CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR: OLDER READERS 2021A runaway, a baby and a whole lot of questions...Lissa is home on her own after school one afternoon when a stranger turns up on the doorstep carrying a baby. Reed is on the run - surely people are looking for him? He''s trying to find out who he really is and thinks Lissa''s mum might have some answers. But how could he be connected to Lissa''s family - and why has he been left in charge of a baby? A baby who is sick, and getting sicker ... Reed''s appearance stirs up untold histories in Lissa''s family, and suddenly she is having to make sense of her past in a way she would never have imagined. Meanwhile, her brother is dealing with a devastating secret of his own.A beautiful and timely coming-of-age story about finding out who you are in the face of crisis and change.''This book is a joy to read'' CBCA Judges reportPraise for Jane Godwin:''refreshingly unpredictable, bold and refuses to minimise the complex lives of [its] characters'' - Saturday Age on As Happy as Here''an empathetic exploration of family, friendship and how all our actions have consequences'' - Readings Monthly''gentle, well-written and thoroughly engaging'' - Adelaide Advertiser

A gripping and suspenseful rite-of-passage novel about five teenagers and one night that will change them all, from award-winning author Jane Godwin.''A brilliantly woven tale, deliciously tense from first page to last. This is classic unputdownable Godwin'' DAVINA BELL''It''s just a walk in the dark. What is there to worry about?''That''s what the head teacher, Johan, says. And so the Year Nines from Otway Community School set out on an overnight hike, with no adults.But doesn''t Johan know that a storm is coming?When five teenagers head in to the forest that late afternoon, none of them is aware what the night will bring. Each will have to draw on their particular strengths to survive. Each will have to face the unknown, battling the elements, events beyond their control, and their own demons. It''s a night that will change everything.Set in the rainforest of Victoria''s Otway Ranges, A Walk in the Dark is about friendship, trust, identity and family, consent and boundaries, wrapped in a compulsively readable, suspense-filled adventure.Five head into the forest, but will all five make it out?''Quality storytelling . . . gripping'' The Australian Women''s Weekly''Unique and intriguing'' Better Reading''Fantastically tense in places, A Walk in the Dark is a great read for all kids ages 11 plus'' Readings ''Suspenseful and exciting . . . Extremely engaging . . . highly relatable and real. This novel has everything to keep the audience enthralled. No reader will be able to put the book down until the very end'' ReadPlus''This is deft, intuitive writing, deeply sympathetic, non-judgemental, canny. Jane Godwin understands what it is to be a child or young person, what matters to them at different ages and stages. Importantly, she values these concerns, treats them with due respect and creates stories in which her book people mature and blossom through the overcoming of self-doubt and their fear of the new and unknown. Good lessons for adults there, too'' Living Arts Canberra

A 2025 CBCA NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR OLDER READERSSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 DAVITT YOUNG ADULT AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 MARGARET AND COLIN RODERICK LITERARY AWARDrunning latedrop it off without meI type drop what off? I don''t know what Mish is talking about.While I''m typing, another message appears. don''t tell bellaBut I am Bella.Best friends Bella and Connie live on the outskirts of the city in an area that was once full of open fields and paddocks but is changing as the suburbs creep closer. And now there is Mish, Connie''s cousin, who has to be included even though she is unfriendly and unpredictable. The pandemic lockdowns have lifted and the three teens are eager to explore their newfound independence. But with the world opening up, there has been a rise in surveillance, from apps that track their movements to voice recorders and hidden cameras. It feels like everyone is watching them. But when does ''watching'' become ''watching over''?Do we have a right to know everything about those we love? Look Me in the Eye is a gripping tale of young teens navigating freedom and trust-building, privacy and secrets, in an era of parental surveillance.''An important novel that rings true to life'' BOOKS+PUBLISHING''Captivating . . . Readers from middle school age to adults will find this story engaging and enlightening'' READPLUSPraise for Jane Godwin''s writing:''Fantastically tense in places, A Walk in the Dark is a great read for all kids ages 11 plus'' Readings''Refreshingly unpredictable, bold and refuses to minimise the complex lives of [its] characters'' Saturday Age''This book is a joy to read'' CBCA Judges'' report on When Rain Turns to Snow''Quality storytelling . . . gripping'' The Australian Women''s Weekly

Six-year-old Isabelle doesn''t have any brothers or sisters. But she does have her dad, her cat Steve, her friend Harry B, and her baby cousin, Bibi, who she''s very good at looking after. And then along comes Isobel, a new girl at school. They have the same name, but will they be friends?Four gentle stories in one volume, all about Isabelle and her world, its trials and triumphs, its small moments and big dramas: friends, family, school life and growing up, from Jane Godwin, one of Australia''s respected writers for children, and with delightful illustrations by Robin Cowcher.''Jane Godwin understands what it is to be a child or young person, what matters to them at different ages and stages'' Living Arts Canberra

Isabelle and her best friends Harry B and Izzy are in Year Two and there are lots of adventures to be had: getting to know their new teacher, going to a school disco and sleepover, bridge-building in the forest, and even a baby to show the whole class!Isabelle loves being in Year Two, until . . . Harry has some news that shocks them all.How will Isabelle manage the rest of the year without Harry B by her side?A warm and relatable series about all the special little moments and big dramas of being seven. Jane Godwin, one of Australia''s most respected writers for children, gently explores the trials and triumphs of friends, family and school life, with delightful illustrations by Robin Cowcher.''One of the best . . . junior Aussie titles is The Isabelle Stories, a gorgeous collection of four stories in one volume, stories about Isabelle and her world, about friends, family, school life and growing up. This is a brilliant title for beginning readers aged 5-8 (and a great read-aloud title) from Jane Godwin, one of Australia''s most applauded writers for children'' Paul Macdonald, The Children''s Bookshop, Sydney''Jane Godwin has a great voice: deft, light and rich'' The Age

A bright and fun picture book for pre-schoolers that explores early spatial concepts - up, down, over, through! - and the way children play, from highly awarded and respected Children''s writer Jane Godwin and illustrator Kim Drane.I''m swinging high and swinging low. Up the steps. Stop and go!A simple and engaging picture book set over a morning in a playground where two young children spontaneously meet and play together. As they do, they explore spatial concepts - up, down, over, through! With pitch-perfect read-aloud text from highly awarded and respected Children''s writer Jane Godwin and bright and exuberant illustrations from Kim Drane.''As she''s proven countless times, Jane Godwin is so skilled at writing for children . . . Cleverly crafted so that amid all the fun at the park - smiles wide and hair flying - we are learning without even realising it'' GOOD READING MAGAZINE