The Inky Awards were announced with great panache on Wednesday at the State Library, as school kids, authors, teachers and librarians came together to celebrate all things teen literature. Each year during the Inky Awards, readers between 12 and 20 vote for their favourite books from a shortlist selected by a panel of teen judges. Five Australian and five international books are shortlisted, then the books that attract the most reader votes online win.

And so with no further ado, here are the 2014 winners …

Gold Inky The first third by Will Kostakis (Penguin)

‘Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you’re embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you’ve made.’

Silver Inky All the truth that’s in me by Julie Berry (HarperCollins)

‘Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years later, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by her friends and family.’

Gold Inky winner Will Kostakis said it was sensational to see schools embracing the entire shortlist, and encouraging students to read, critique and vote. ‘To be part of the Inky’s process has been so rewarding – and to win, well, that’s the icing on an already awesome cake.’

The Centre for Youth Literature’s Reader Development Manager Anna Burkey said the Inky Awards encourage teens to read for pleasure and share the stories they enjoy. ‘The Inky Awards show us what Australian young people are really interested in reading. This year’s shortlist is full of first love and family life, struggles with survival, the unknown and finding your place in the world,’ Ms Burkey said.

The Inky Awards were founded by the State Library’s Centre for Youth Literature in 2007 as Australia’s first national teen choice awards for young adult literature. For more on teen reading and books, head to their site Inside a Dog.