The 2011 shortlist for the Branford Boase Award is announced today. The Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children.
The books on the shortlist are:
I Am The Blade by J.P. Buxton, edited by Beverley Birch (Hachette, £5.99)
When I Was Joe by Keren David, edited by Maurice Lyon (Frances Lincoln, £6.99)
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay, edited by Bella Pearson (David Fickling, £5.99)
Unhooking The Moon by Gregory Hughes, edited by Roisin Heycock (Quercus, £5.99)
Out Of Shadows by Jason Wallace, edited by Charlie Sheppard (Andersen Press, £6.99)
The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh, edited by Imogen Copper (Chicken House, £6.99)
Carousel has reviewed all the shortlisted titles in the last few issues.
The Branford Boase Award was set up to encourage new writers and is given each year to the most promising work of fiction for children by a first time novelist. The Branford Boase Award also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent.
The Branford Boase Award judging panel has had an uncanny ability to pick future best-selling and critically acclaimed authors. Previous shortlisted and winning writers include Marcus Sedgwick, Meg Rosoff, Philip Reeve, Cathy Cassidy, Kevin Brooks, William Nicholson,Frank Cottrell Boyce, Mal Peet and Bali Rai.
This year’s eminent judging panel is: independent bookseller Isla Dawes, of The Barnes Bookshop; Jake Hope, librarian and Bookseller Magazine reviewer; Damian Kelleher,journalist and writer and Lucy Christopher, author of Stolen, winner of last year’s Branford Boase Award. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, children’s books editor of The Guardian.
Julia Eccleshare says: “This year’s varied and impressive shortlist is a very positive statement about the strength and health of children’s books. Everyone is looking for creative new authors and it good to see them being spotted by both the major houses and the small and independent publishers”.
The winner of the Award will be announced on July 6th at a ceremony in London. The
winning author receives a cheque for £1,000 and both author and editor receive a unique,hand-crafted silver-inlaid box.
The Branford Boase Award gratefully acknowledges support from Walker Books and
Dame Jacqueline Wilson O.B.E.
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