David Metzenthen


David Metzenthen is an Australian writer for children and young adults who was born in Melbourne, Victoria.
After completing his schooling in Melbourne, Metzenthen traveled to New Zealand where he held a variety of jobs. After returning to Australia he worked as a copywriter for Radio 3DB, for Grundy Television and for Myer before deciding to write full-time.
He now lives in Melbourne with his wife and two children.

Novels

Lee Spain Johnny Hart's Heroes Finn and the Big Guy Falling Forward Gilbert's Ghost Train Mick the Mimic The Red Hot Footy Fiasco Stony Heart Country The Colour of Sunshine Wildlight: A Journey Boys of Blood and Bone Tiff and the Trout Blackwater Jarvis 24 Tigerfish
  • ''Dreaming the Enemy''

Novellas

Roadie Animal Instinct Dreaming the Enemy The Secret History of the Rainbow Trout Private Hotel
  • ''The Truth of It''

Children's fiction

Brocky's Bananagram Cody and Zero The Diary of Fat Robbie Pile Lefty Lemon Kicks Goals Fort Island Adrian Over the Top Adrian Goes Out There The Red Boxing Gloves The Really Really High Diving Board Spider! Time Turns on Spooky Hill Anton Rocks On Roller-Coaster The Really Really Epic Mini Bike Ride Winning the World Cup The Really Nearly Deadly Canoe Ride Hide that Horse! Squidnapped! Save Our Sharks Freda the Free-Range Chook George Parker Goes Global
  • ''Augustin and the Hot Air Balloon''

Picture books

The Rainbirds illustrated by Sally RippinOne Minute's Silence illustrated by Michael CamilleriOne Runaway Rabbit illustrated by Mairead MurphyWhere Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep? illustrated by Jonathan Bentley

Awards

  • 1996 winner New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards — Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature — The Ethel Turner Prize for Children's Writing — Johnny Hart's Heroes
  • 1997 honour book Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards — Book of the Year: Older Readers — Johnny Hart's Heroes
  • 1998 honour book Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards — Book of the Year: Older Readers — Gilbert's Ghost Train
  • 2003 winner Victorian Premier's Literary Awards — Prize for Young Adult Fiction — Wildlight: A Journey
  • 2003 winner Queensland Premier's Literary Awards — Best Young Adult Book — Boys of Blood and Bone
  • 2004 honour book Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards — Book of the Year: Older Readers — Boys of Blood and Bone
  • 2007 honour book Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards — Picture Book of the Year — The Rainbirds
  • 2008 honour book Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards — Book of the Year: Older Readers — Black Water
  • 2010 winner Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards — Book of the Year: Older Readers — Jarvis
  • 2015 honour book Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards — Picture Book of the Year — One Minute's Silence
  • 2016 winner Queensland Literary Awards — Griffith University Young Adult Book Award — Dreaming the Enemy
  • 2025 winner Children's Peace Literature Award — South Australian Psychologists for Peace — ''The Truth of It''