David Metzenthen author page

David Metzenthen biography

David Metzenthen is an Australian author of books for children and young adults. He worked in advertising as a copywriter and travelled extensively before establishing his career as a writer.

Metzenthen’s fiction includes novels, picture books, and series for younger readers. His works often address themes of friendship, identity, and resilience, written for both middle-grade and teenage audiences. His early titles include Danger Wave (1996) and Wildlight (1999), which was named an Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Awards.

He has written several award-winning novels for teenagers, such as Boys of Blood and Bone (2003), which received the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers, and Jarvis 24 (2009), which won the same award. Other recognised titles include Stony Heart Country (1999), Blackwater (2007), and One Minute’s Silence (2014), the last illustrated by Michael Camilleri and awarded the CBCA Picture Book of the Year.

Metzenthen has also written series fiction, including the Ricky and Flea books for younger readers, and picture books such as Hide That Horse! (2007). His novels are frequently studied in Australian schools.

In 2010 Metzenthen received the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction for Jarvis 24.