Only Ever Always

Notable book, 2012 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Award - Older Readers
Winner, 2011 Aurealis Awards - Young Adult Novel
Winner, 2012 WA Premier's Book Award
Winner, 2012 NSW Premier's Literary Awards

Mysterious, complex and challenging, Only Ever Always is a beautifully written story of parallel lives where Claire in the now, and Clara in a dystopian, timeless world, each face similar difficulties. Is one the dreamer, the other the dream, and if so, which? Changing voices, points of view and place make this a very satisfying novel for a reader willing to give it the close attention it deserves.
Judge's comments, Western Australia Premier's Book Award

Only Ever Always is a mysterious, elliptical novel of place, dreams, grief and identity. Russon’s dazzling narrative choices draw in and implicate the reader as a participant, as a third version of Claire/Clara. Melancholy drives the narrative, creating a haunting and suspenseful atmosphere of foreboding, gently leavened with warmth. The language style is lyrical and poetic, yet characters dwell ‘only just inside language’ in a way that is refreshingly original. This is not a novel for a casual reader – it requires close attention, not just from the intellect, but from the heart. 
Judge's Comments Ethel Turner Award, NSW Premier's Literary Awards

Only Ever Always on the Internet
Guest post on the blog of Fleur Macdonald
Anatomy of a novel on post teen trama the blog of Simmone Howell
Writing in Second Person Point-of-View on http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com.au/
Interleaves: an interview with Penni Russon on The Shake
Interview: Walking the Tightrope of Adolescence on The Signal Express
Video of The Launch taken by @Miscmum