HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR NSW PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARDS THE PATRICIA WRIGHTSON PRIZE FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE 2022
SHORTLISTED FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S LITERARY AWARDS CHILDREN'S LITERATURE 2022
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ABIA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN (AGES 7-12) 2022
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNGER READERS 2022
Anahita Rosalind Ghorban-Galaszczuk (yes, that really is her name but you can call her Ana) is discovering that life is absurd. As if dying of cancer at the age of 12.5 isn't bad enough, she still has to endure daily insults from her nemesis, Alyssa (Queen Mean) Anderson.
Ana's on a wild roller-coaster of life and death, kindness and cruelty, ordinary and extraordinary.
And she's got a few things to do before she exits . . .
SHORTLISTED FOR THE YABBA AWARDS 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE YABBA AWARDS 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LITERARY AWARDS 2024 CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN BOOK DESIGN AWARDS 2022 BEST DESIGNED CHILDREN'S FICTION BOOK
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WEST AUSTRALIAN YOUNG READERS' BOOK AWARDS MIDDLE GRADE READERS 2023
Praise for Exit Through the Gift Shop
'Maryam is a brilliantly funny writer for kids. I have asked her to adapt my own books for the stage and she did a magnificent job every time. This original story of hers is an absolute joy.' - David Walliams
Author Information
Maryam Master is an author, playwright and screenwriter who loves creating stories for young people.
Her first novel, Exit Through the Gift Shop, was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers, the ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children, and the South Australian Children's Literature Award. Her second novel, No Words, was winner of the Children's Peace Literature Award and the Readings Children's Prize, and was a CBCA Notable Book for Younger Readers. Her third novel, Laughter is the Best Ending, is the winner of the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers 2025, the CBCA Shadow Judging 2025 and the State Library of NSW's Russell Prize for Humour Writing.
Maryam wrote the acclaimed stage adaptations of David Walliams' best-selling books Mr Stink, The Midnight Gang, Billionaire Boyand Ratburger - as well as Oliver Jeffers' The Incredible Book Eating Boy, all of which premiered at the Sydney Opera House and toured across Australia. She also collaborated with Australian Children's Laureate Leigh Hobbs on Horrible Harriet: Live on Stage.
She began her career in TV, writing for shows like Home and Away, Blinky Bill and the Jim Henson Company's Bambaloo. In 2011 she was selected by Sesame Workshop as the writer for Elmo's tour of Australia. Most recently, Maryam wrote two episodes of the 10-part BBC audio drama Central Intelligence, starring Kim Cattrall and Ed Harris.