Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His new book for August 2023 is a suspense-thriller, Scar Town, for age 10+. His other books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, Cop & Robber, Ginger Meggs and the Tom Weekly series. His books have won and been shortlisted for many awards, including a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, and the YABBA children’s choice book awards.

Tristan is an author-advocate for literacy non-profit Room to Read. He is currently working with producers to develop a number of his books for the screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. You can find out more about Tristan’s books, play games, watch videos, join his Young Writer’s StorySchool and help him try to change the world at tristanbancks.com

Tristan's Latest Books:

(See Tristan's Videos and individual Book Trailers in LINKS) 

Scar Town (2023)

A missing father. A drowned town. A buried secret. Three friends on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth. Seven years after Old Scarborough was drowned, a house is emerging from the water. Will and his friends Dar and Juno dare each other to explore it. But when they find bones – and a stash of cash – they realise they’re not the only ones interested in its secrets. Now they’re fighting for their lives against the men who want what they found. Will can’t leave the mystery alone, though. What if the bones belong to his missing dad? A DANGEROUS JOURNEY TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH IN A TOWN THAT WANTS THE PAST TO STAY BURIED.

Cop & Robber (2022)

If your mum was a cop and your dad was a crim who needed your help to commit a crime, would you do it to save him? At what cost? Nash Hall's dad is a criminal who just can't seem to go straight. He wants Nash to help him commit a robbery. A big one. The trouble is, Nash's mum is a cop. And the robbery is at Nash's school. But Dad owes a lot of money to some very dangerous people and if Nash doesn't help him do the job, it could cost both their lives. 

Ginger Meggs (2021)

Celebrating 100 years of the iconic character and Aussie legend Ginger Meggs, these four brand new and original stories are written by Tristan Bancks, the great-great nephew of original creator Jimmy Bancks, and illustrated in full colour by the current Meggs comic strip artist, Jason Chatfield. Kids and grown-ups alike will revel in the rambunctious adventures and comical capers of the ginger kid who never gets old.

Detention (2019)

Sima and her family are pressed to the rough, cold ground among fifty others. They lie next to the tall fence designed to keep them in. The wires are cut one by one. When they make their escape, a guard raises the alarm. Shouting, smoke bombs, people tackled to the ground. In the chaos Sima loses her parents. Dad told her to run, so she does, hiding in a school and triggering a lockdown. A boy, Dan, finds her hiding in the toilet block. What should he do? Help her? Dob her in? She’s breaking the law, but is it right to lock kids up? And if he helps, should Sima trust him? Or run?This moment, these decisions, will change their lives.

The Fall (2017)

In the middle of the night, Sam is woken by angry voices from the apartment above.He goes to the window to see what’s happening – only to hear a struggle, and see a body fall from the sixth-floor balcony. Pushed, Sam thinks.Sam goes to wake his father Harry, a crime reporter, but Harry is gone. And when Sam goes downstairs, the body is gone, too. But someone has seen Sam, and knows what he’s witnessed.The next twenty-four hours could be his last.

My Life & Other Weaponised Muffins (2017)

Have you ever been trapped inside a runaway car? Have you broken a world record? Is there someone in your class who will stop at nothing to kiss you? Have you ever tricked your dog into doing your homework? Or found something seriously disgusting in your food? Have you sold head lice for fun and profit? Or has your mum ever used raspberry and white chocolate muffins as weapons of minor destruction?I’m Tom Weekly and all of these things have happened to me. I’ve captured them here in stories, jokes, cartoons, quizzes and lists. Believe me, real life is weirder than anything you can make up.

Two Wolves (2014)

One afternoon, police officers show up at Ben Silver's front door. Minutes after they leave, his parents arrive home. Ben and his little sister Olive are bundled into the car and told they're going on a holiday. But are they? It doesn't take long for Ben to realise that his parents are in trouble. Ben's always dreamt of becoming a detective – his dad even calls him ‘Cop'. Now Ben gathers evidence and tries to uncover what his parents have done. The problem is, if he figures it out, what does he do? Tell someone? Or keep the secret and live life on the run?

Online Talks and Workshops

Tristan has been innovative in creating content that caters for teachers and students operating in physical and/or social isolation.Check out the options in his Online Talks and Workshops tab (above) for the latest initiatives.

Recent Awards & Nominations:

2020 CBCA Book of the Year Younger Readers Notable Book – Detention

Winner: YABBA & KOALA Children’s Choice Awards – Detention

Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) Shortlist – Detention

NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Shortlist – Detention

QLD Literary Awards Finalist – Detention

Shortlisted WAYRBA Children’s Choice Book Awards, 2019 - The Fall

Winner, YABBA & KOALA Children’s Choice Book Awards 2015 and 2018 - Two Wolves & The Fall

Shortlisted, Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, 2018 - The Fall

Notable Book, Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, 2018 - The Fall

Honour Book, Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, 2015 - Two Wolves

Shortlisted, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2015 - Two Wolves

Winner, Byron Writers Festival Books to Screen pitching competition 2016 - Two Wolves

Shortlisted, KOALA and YABBA Children’s Choice Book Awards, 2014-16 - Tom Weekly series