Gillian Rubinstein
Gillian Rubinstein grew up in England where she studied languages at Oxford University and worked in publishing, as a film critic and as a journalist before migrating to Australia in 1973.
Space Demons, her first novel for children, was published in 1986 and was on the bestseller list for two years in Australia. Since then Gillian has written 34 books including novels, short books and picture books and many short stories. Gilllian adapted her novel Galax-Arena for the stage. It was produced by Patch Theatre and the Adelaide Film Festival Centre Trust for Come Out Festival in 1995 and won the 1996 AWGIE Award for Best Theatre for Young People. Wake Baby is a play for children under eight years of age. It features acrobatics and puppetry and toured nationally in 1997 and internationally in 1998/9 to 20 countries, including a season on Broadway.
Gillian has won many awards in Australia and her work has been translated into several European languages and published in England and America.
Her most recent books are Terra-Farma, the sequel to Galax-Arena and The Whale's Child. She lives in South Australia.
Website: http://www.gillianrubinstein.com
Books by Gillian Rubinstein
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Space Demons
Space Demons is a computer game with a difference – a prototype directly imported from Japan, and destined to lock four unlikely protagonists, Andrew, Elaine, Ben and Mario, in deadly combat with the sinister forces of its artificial intelligence. As the game draws them into its powerful ambit, each individual must confront the darker sides of their own natures.
Winner Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Award 1987
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Winner Children’s Literature Peace Prize, 1987
Winner S.A. Festival National Children’s Book Award 1987
Winner YABBA Awards Fiction for Older Readers, 1990
Adapted for the theatre by Richard Tulloch and Gillian Rubinstein. Script published by Currency Press -
Answers to Brut
Kel didn’t mean to steal Caspian’s bull terrier, Brut. He just meant to borrow him for the weekend. But Brut disappears, and Caspian’s efforts to get him back lead him into a dangerous and sinister world that even his parents are too frightened to face.
Winner NSW Premier’s Award for Children’s Literature, 1988
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Winner Children’s Book Council Book of the Year, 1989 -
Melanie and the Night Animal
Everyone thinks eight-year-old Melanie Wright is timid and shy, but she’s not really. It’s just that she likes to take her time over new things and new people. Moving to a new house means that she has too many things to do at once – start at a different school, meet the boys next door, and walk to school with Jasmine Hardcastle, who thinks she’s a baby – but Melanie meets her problems in her own time and in her own way.
This is a funny and perceptive book about facing fears and making friends.
Winner Children’s Book Council Book of the Year - Younger Readers, 1989
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Beyond the Labyrinth
Life is difficult enough for Brenton. He can’t get on with his parents, his younger brother is overtaking him in every way and now twelve-year-old Victoria must come and live with them too.
This turbulent, powerful novel follows Brenton as he loses himself in his beloved role playing games where the fantasy dangerously shadows real life.
Winner Children’s Book Council Book of the Year, 1989
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Winner S.A. Festival National Children’s Book Award, 1990 -
Skymaze
Can there possibly be another computer game as enthralling as Space Demons? A year later a new game, Skymaze, reunites the four original players, Andrew, Ben, Mario and Elaine, luring them into a compellingly beautiful but dangerous world in which their own real-life problems are chillingly reflected. Skymaze is just as addictive and unpredictable as Space Demons…and even more terrifying.
Shortlisted Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Award, 1990
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Flashback the Film Pony
When Antony and his pony Flash run into the famous film star Tasman True, amazing adventures begin for them both as they are drawn into the glamorous colourful and dangerous world of the movies – a world where appearances are deceptive and nothing is what it seems.
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At Ardilla
Jen, her sister Lisa, and their friends the Melvilles stay at Ardilla, the tranquil old beachside home every summer. Over the years they have developed their own private totems and rituals which annually reinforce their special sense of belonging to the place. But this year is different. This year there will be strangers at Ardilla. The magic is threatened, and Jen knows in her heart that things will never be the same again.
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Squawk and Screech
Squawk and Screech are lorikeets.. Noisy, colourful, quarrelsome and bossy, they are heroes in the world of birds. Then, suddenly, their lives as mad bad gangsters of the bush come to an end. Each is hurt in a separate accident, and both are put in the care of the old bird woman who lives on Sleeps Hill.
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Dog In, Cat Out
Dog in, Cat out, Cat in, Dog out… and so it goes from early morning when the family dog leaps out to explore the smells of the new day, until late at night when the cat slips unnoticed through the kitchen window to settle down in the warmth of the sleeping house.
Shortlisted Children's Book Council Picture Book of the Year, 1992
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Mr Plunkett's Pool
It’s hot and Mr Plunkett has a pool. But he won’t share it with anyone. The children next door think up lots of ways to encourage him to change his mind.
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Galax-Arena
Joella, her brother Peter and her sister Liane, are kidnapped and transported to become pets and entertainers for an alien species. Many of the performing children are desaparecidos, the disappeared, kidnapped from third world slums, and chosen for their extraordinary gymnastic ability. For the children, there is only one escape from the Galax-Arena: out of the door and into death.
Highly Commended Children's Book Council, 1993
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The Giant's Tooth
When Troy and Tania find a strange message in the sand, and what looks like a shiny pearly-white footstool, they are determined to make sure that one young giant doesn’t miss out on the tooth fairy. But first they need to find some gold and deal with a giant tantrum!
The Giant's Tooth is first book in the Troy and Tania series, followed by The Pirate's Ship and The Fairy's Wings.
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Foxspell
“Tod stood frozen and looked back at the fox. He felt as if something wild leaped from the animal’s eyes and planted itself deep within him. It was the most exciting moment of his life. He could feel his heart beating. Then the fox’s sharp face softened – almost as if it recognized me, Tod said to himself afterwards. He felt he could just step forward and the fox would allow him to touch it.”
Winner Children’s Book Council Book of the Year - Older Readers, 1994
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Jake and Pete
Having learnt cat talk, Gillian Rubinstein tells a wonderfully funny and scary tale of two kitkids who go out into the world and find it full of dogs, cars, brooms, boots and snakes – when all they want is a mice home with a big fridge.
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Peanut the Ponyrat
Megan hates horses. But the rest of the family just love them, and her older sister’s outgrown pony is ready and waiting for her to ride. Megan confides in her best friend, Arabella and soon finds she has a manageable pet which is much more to her liking.
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Shinkei
First there was Space Demons. Then there was Skymaze. Now there is Shinkei – a game so powerful it has the potential to make thoughts, desires and even dreams come true. A game with embryonic intelligence that needs the minds of others in order to grow and expand.Its creator, Professor Ito knows it must be destroyed, but not before his daughter Midori and the four other players, Andrew, Ben, Elaine and Mario are released from its thrall.
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Sharon Keep Your Hair On
If you were Sharon or Jase what would you do? They never seem to have enough room in their house but everyone wants to come and live with them anyway. You'll laugh (and groan) at all the changes they have to make, and you'll read their story aloud so many times that your own family will want to build on a special room - just for you!
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Witch Music
In this terrific collection of stories for younger readers, ordinary tales of primary school, seaside holidays and homelife are suddenly and magically transformed.
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Annie's Brother's Suit
This collection of stories for young adults invites you to leave reality behind and enter a world where anything could happen. You could meet a goddess in the local supermarket, share the thoughts of animals or even be visited by your ancestors.
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Jake and Pete and the Stray Dogs
Lass and Laddie once belonged to a family, but now they’re stray dogs. They’re completely lost until they meet the two kitkids, Jake and Pete. Jake and Pete don’t think much of coming tho the aid of dogs, but they discover they can swap cat talk for dog talk and even become friends as they help Lass and laddie find their family again.
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Each Beach
Meet Jan the Can, she lives on the beach with her pet fly Louise and is always looking for something – but what is it? Gus is the ice cream man who dreams of making the perfect ice cream. When his niece Imogen comes to visit, they all meet up for a lively adventure.
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Under the Cat's Eye
When Jai Kala’s parents have to leave the country, he is sent to an old boarding school called Nexhoath. It doesn’t take Jai long to realize that this is no ordinary school.The headmaster, Mr Drake, is not what he appears and Jai’s new friends, Hugo and Seal. Are sure that he is some sort of fiend…the children that enter Mr Drake’s office are never the same once they come out again.
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Pure Chance
Lizzie would love to have a horse more than anything in the world. Her best friend Sarah takes riding lessons and is getting her own pony. But Lizzie’s Dad says it is too expensive, so Lizzie can only watch and dream. Then, a chance meeting with a woman called Moya gives Lizzie hope.
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Hooray for the Kafe Karaoke
In an alley at the back of an old hotel, Sally teaches ballet and her partner Jake owns a gourmet deli. The Hotel Palais hasn't been doing well for a while, but when it becomes the Kafe Karaoke, there's a change - for the worse! The constant bad singing and programmed music make Jake and Sally's lives hell. But when they head to the country for a break, the sounds of nature drive them back to the city!
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The Fairy's Wings
When Tania takes a beautiful little pair of wings from the garden, she makes someone very unhappy. Tania thinks it’s a fairy, but according to Troy, fairies don’t even exist. Who owns the wings then? And is someone trying to leave messages for Tania?
The Giant's Tooth was the first book in the Troy and Tania series, followed by The Pirate's Ship.
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The Pirate's Ship
One day Troy finds a desperate message in a bottle on the beach: “Help! I have been captured by pirates.” As Troy races home to show Tania his discovery and plot a rescue mission, a strange looking, wet and dirty man appears on their verandah wanting to buy Uncle Dave’s boat…
The Pirate's Ship is the second book in the Troy and Tania series, along with The Giant's Tooth and The Fairy's Wings.
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Jake and Pete and the Catcrowbats
Bog is sick, but does he need a Doctor or a Vet? Jake and Pete find out from lass and Laddie that whoever it is, they’re going to need Money. Together with Bat and Crow, the clever kitkids put on a show as the Catcrowbats to help raise some much-needed funds.
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The Mermaid of Bondi Beach
It’s summer on Bondi Beach and Jack’s planning to spend most of it in the surf with his best friend Mikey. But he hasn’t counted on meeting a very determined mermaid, with marriage on her mind. A fantastic and funny story about families, first love – and mermaids.
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Ducky's Nest
Ducky always sleeps in the little nest in Claudie’s arms. So when she loses him in the park they are both very upset. But while Nana looks after Claudie, the wild birds look after Ducky – and when they are re-united in the morning, exciting things have happened to them both.
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Jake and Pete and the Magpie's Wedding
In the Garden of Lost Things, Jake finds his sense of smell, but Pete can’t find any glasses and Bog is too busy getting ready for the Magpie’s wedding to help him look.
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Prue Theroux the Cool Librarian
When you don't know what to do When you haven't got a clue, go and talk to Miss Theroux. Who, who, who ...? Miss Prue ... That's who! Who's the coolest school librarian around? Miss Prue Theroux, that's who! But when Prue Theroux falls sick and is replaced by Mr Boycott, it's a very different scene in the library.
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Terra-Farma
No-one has ever escaped from the Galax-Arena before. Now Project Genesis Five wants to know how Joella, Peter and Liane did it. On the run from the all-seeing, all-knowing Project, the girls find shelter at Terra-Farma, while Peter tries to survive in the outback. But Terra-Farma is not what it seems. Can Joelle escape again?
Highly Commended Children's Book Council Book of the Year, 2002
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The Whale's Child
Ken is an enthusiastic swimmer but he lives in the country and the only place to train is in the sea. When his best friend Caro gets her driver’s licence, the two of them join a swimming squad in the city. But while Caro seems to improve, Ken is struggling. The arrival of Ken’s Aunt Maya from Japan changes everything as she tells him the story of the Whale’s child and its significance to his heritage.
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Space Demons Trilogy
First there was Space Demons. Then there was Skymaze. The ultimate computer game, Skinkei, is so powerful that it has the potential to make thoughts, desires and even dreams come true.
This new edition of a classic Australian fantasy brings together all three books of the Space Demons Trilogy together in one volume.
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