Craig Silvey: Publishers and bookstores pause promotion of WA author’s novels after child exploitation charges

WA author Craig Silvey’s books have been pulled off shelves and are no longer being promoted by two publishers after he faced court accused of child exploitation offences. The 43-year-old author is facing charges over allegedly distributing child exploitation material and communicating with paedophiles online. He is best known for writing Jasper Jones, a multi award-winning coming of age story set in a fictional rural town, which was turned into a film featuring Toni Collette. Publisher Allen & Unwin as well as Fremantle Press have paused promotional activity of Mr Silvey’s work while major book retailers and independent bookstores across the State have pulled his work from their shelves. “Allen & Unwin is aware of serious charges brought against author Craig Silvey in Fremantle this week,” the publisher said in a statement on Tuesday night. “The nature of the allegations is deeply distressing. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all survivors of child exploitation and their families. “We acknowledge this is an active police matter, and that Mr Silvey is entitled to procedural fairness and a presumption of innocence until the matter is dealt with by a court. “Given the gravity of the charges, Allen & Unwin will pause promotional activity of Mr Silvey’s work while the legal process takes its course. “We are unable to provide further comment while this matter is before the courts.” Dymocks chief executive David Allen said the major Australian book retailer had removed Mr Silvey’s books across the country. “Starting from Tuesday afternoon, we have taken steps to remove any Craig Silvey titles from sale across the distribution channels of our Dymocks business,” he said. Rabble bookstore owner Nat Latter, based in Maylands, had done the same — packing away the author’s books as soon as she heard the accusations. Fremantle Press said it had “ceased to promote Rhubarb by Craig Silvey and will do so while the court follows due process”. “Fremantle Press is aware of the charges of child exploitation which were brought against Craig Silvey this week. The alleged offences are shocking and abhorrent, and we acknowledge survivors of child exploitation and their families,’ it said in a statement on Wednesday. “In a tight-knit community, this news affects our authors, industry colleagues, bookstores, schools and readers. Fremantle Press is available to its creatives for support via the usual contacts. “We acknowledge the presumption of innocence and the importance of procedural fairness, and will make no further comment until legal proceedings are complete.” Education Minister Sabine Winton has also ordered all public schools to stop using books by Mr Silvey. Mr Silvey’s first published novel, Rhubarb, is featured on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority’s list of prescribed texts for Year 11 or 12 ATAR literature, alongside his far more well-known book Jasper Jones. Premier Roger Cook backed Ms Winton’s decision to suspend Mr Silvey’s books from the 2026 school curriculum. “These are accusations, and they must be treated as such, and we now allow the process of justice to take its course,” he said on Wednesday. “Through an abundance of caution the Minister has done the right thing, which is to suspend the use of those texts in the context of the 2026 education year. “I support that decision. I think it’s the appropriate one, but we must allow the court process to take place.” Mr Cook said the State Government wanted to “act in a way which reflects the concern in the community around these sort of criminal accusations”. The City of Subiaco on Tuesday announced that Mr Silvey would no longer lend his name to its annual competition for young writers, open to school-age children from across WA. Other books by the acclaimed author include Honeybee, about a transgender teen, and Runt, his first book for younger readers, about a girl and her dog, who save their family farm by winning a London dog show. Runt was made into a feature film in 2024. A sequel to Runt went on sale in late 2025 and Mr Silvey visited schools and bookshops across Australia to promote it.