Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2024 shortlist

Showing all posts tagged: Yumi Stynes

Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2024 shortlist

20 August 2024

Do Australian Prime Ministers have time to read books? They may not, but they do have a literary award for Australian publications, created in 2008, of which the 2024 shortlist was announced last week. Five titles, across the six award categories of fiction, non-fiction, Australian history, poetry, children’s, and young adult, were included.

Among books shortlisted are Eventually Everything Connects, by Sarah Firth, in the non-fiction category, and the previously mentioned Stone Yard Devotional, by Charlotte Wood, in fiction. Welcome to Sex, by Yumi Stynes and Melissa Kang, was included in young adult. The title stirred up controversy last year, after some people objected to certain of the content, claiming some of subject matter was not appropriate for a sex education book.

The backlash was ferocious in some quarters, with staff at some shops selling the title being abused — unacceptable — by would-be customers, while at least one person was convicted of making threats via social media — likewise unacceptable — against co-author Stynes.

The winners of this year’s Prime Minister’s Literary Awards will be unveiled on Thursday 12 September 2024.

Man apologises for social media threats against Yumi Stynes

27 July 2023

A man has apologised to Australian author Yumi Stynes after making threats against her through social media last week. Stynes has been subjected to a barrage of online hostility recently, amid a backlash against Welcome to Sex, a sex education book she co-authored with Melissa Kang. Some people have been angered by a selection of illustrations in the book that they perceive to be pornographic in nature.

A twenty-three year old man, Eli Engwicht, was arrested by police after being identified as one of the people making the threats, and appeared in court in Sydney yesterday. After his appearance, he issued an apology to Stynes:

“I apologise to Yumi Stynes and her direct family members for the inconvenience and the trouble and the threats that I have sent,” Mr Engwicht said outside court. “I’m sorry. This is a public and sincere apology (for) … my wrongdoing.”

The matter is expected to return to court in September, after Engwicht indicated he would plead guilty to the charges against him.

Customer abuse sees Welcome to Sex removed from Big W shops

20 July 2023

Australian discount chain store Big W has withdrawn copies of Welcome to Sex from bookshelves, following repeated instances of staff being abused by customers angry that they stock the book.

Co-written by Melissa Kang, a doctor and associate professor at the University of Sydney, and Australian writer and broadcaster Yumi Stynes, Welcome to Sex, is, according to publisher Hardie Grant, a frank, age-appropriate introductory guide to sex and sexuality for teens of all genders.

Critics of the sex education book claim Welcome to Sex strays well beyond being a guide to reproductive sex, by discussing of a number of other sexual activities, even if only briefly.

Having concerns about certain of the merchandise a shop sells is one thing, but being hostile to retail staff, who are only doing their jobs, is unacceptable. While no longer available in store, the title remains available for purchase through the Big W website.

Update: 9NEWS reports that Welcome to Sex has topped the Amazon Best Sellers list, and sold out in some bookshops, since the controversy surrounding the title’s content flared up last week.