Celebrated Author Heads the Most Subversive Shortlist Yet for the Booktrust Teenage Prize

8/14/2019 Celebrated Author Heads the Most Subversive Shortlist Yet for the Booktrust Teenage Prize

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Celebrated author heads the most subversive shortlist yet for

the Booktrust Teenage Prize.

www.bookheads.org.uk

The highly acclaimed author Neil Gaiman joins five other talented writers whose work

has been shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009.

This years shortlist, announced today, is the darkest yet for the Booktrust Teenage

Prize. Death, misfits, and life-changing tragedy feature in all six shortlisted books for the

prize which celebrates the best contemporary writing for teenagers.

Neil Gaiman is listed as one of the top ten living post-modern writers, and is a

prolific creator of works of prose, poetry, film, journalism, comics, song lyrics, and

drama. He is the creator of the iconic DC comic series The Sandman, the only

comic to ever make the New York Times Bestseller list.

Neil Gaimans books have been adapted for a number of successful films, most recently

the animated adventure Coraline. His screenplay Beowulf starred Angelina Jolie and

Ray Winstone, and his book Stardustwas adapted for a film starring Robert De Niro and

Michelle Pfeiffer.

The Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009 shortlist is:

Auslander by Paul Dowswell (Bloomsbury)

Its 1942 and Peter is seized from an orphanage in Warsaw by Nazi soldiers, only to be

classified as an Aryan and adopted by the prominent Nazi Professor Kaltenbach. Peter
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is expected to perfectly embody the values of the regime, but he has his own ideas on

how to undermine its horrific pursuit of perfection.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Bloomsbury)

This chillingly fantastical tale is Gaimans first full-length novel since his internationally

bestselling and highly acclaimed Coraline. Bod is alivebut his friends are not. Raised

by ghosts, werewolves and other ethereal graveyard inhabitants, how will Bod reconcile

the world of the living and the dead?

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray (Definitions)

Left despondent after the funeral of their friend Ross, three friends Kenny, Sim and

Blake - steal Ross ashes and embark on an epic journey in search of a more fitting

memorial. Described as a modern classic (Jake Hope, The Bookseller), this tale

explores deep friendship and devastating loss.

The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine (HarperCollins)

33 Georgiana Street is home to an eclectic and chaotic assortment of runaways and

misfits. Their disparate lives only briefly cross paths as they each purse their isolated

existence; no questions asked. Yet below the surface everyone has a secret to hide.

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant (Puffin)

Intrigue and eerie mystery lie at the heart of Grants captivating debut novel, which

entwines ancient German folklore with contemporary life-changing tragedy. The

disappearance of ten-year-old Katharina reduces the small German town of Bad

Munstereifel to panic. Only young Pia is determined to discover the truth.

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (Walker)


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The second sci-fi fantasy novel in the Chaos Walking trilogy and sequel to the Booktrust

Teenage Prize-winning The Knife of Never Letting Go, this fast-paced thriller continues

the adventures of Todd and Viola. Fuelled by tension and mistrust, the pair find

themselves on opposites sides of a civil war in this work of dystopian fiction.

Judi James - Chair of Judges, comments:

Judging the Booktrust Teenage Prize has been a fascinating journey. The shortlisted

books represent a diverse range of titles with one thing in common they are all written

by talented authors who should be celebrated! It is this remarkable quality of writing and

storytelling that lures you into their extraordinary worlds, where gloriously authentic

characters and intriguing events captivate.

The winning author will receive a cheque for 2,500 and a trophy at a ceremony in

London on 18 November.

The Booktrust Teenage Prize was launched in 2003 to recognise and celebrate the best

contemporary writing for teenagers. Booktrust administers the prize with the support of

writers, publishers, teachers, parents and libraries. Publishers may enter works of fiction,

including novels, collections of short stories and graphic novels, and non-fiction. The

Reading Agency is promoting the Booktrust Teenage Prize in libraries across the UK

primarily through coordination with public and school library services.

The 2008 Prize was won by Patrick Ness forThe Knife of Never Letting Go. Previous

winners also include Mark Haddon forThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

(2003) and Anthony McGowan forHenry Tumour(2006).


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The website for teenage books, www.bookheads.org.uk, promotes the prize and books

for teenagers, as well as carrying comments and reviews from young people.

Notes to Editors***Interviews are available with all authors and judges******Longer synopses and biographies of judges and authors available on request. ***

JudgesJudi James, Teacher and Librarian (Chair of Judges)Marcus Sedgwick, authorAlyson Rudd, journalistDaniel Hahn, authorAniketa Khushu, teenage judge

About BooktrustBooktrust is an independent charity dedicated to encouraging people of all ages andcultures to engage with books. The written word underpins all our activity and enablesus to fulfil our vision of inspiring a lifelong love of books for all. Booktrust is responsible

for a number of successful national reading promotions, sponsored book prizes andcreative reading projects aimed at encouraging readers to discover and enjoy books.These include the Orange Prize for Fiction, the Childrens Laureate, the Get LondonReading campaign, the Booktrust Teenage Prize and Bookstart, the national programmethat works through locally based organisations to give a free pack of books to youngchildren, with guidance materials for parents and carers. Booktrust has developed twofurther free book programmes in the UK: Booktime, run in association with Pearson,gives a free book to every Year One pupil, and Booked Up, which gives a free book,from a choice of twelve, to every Year Seven pupil. See www.booktrust.org.uk

About The Reading AgencyThe Reading Agency is an independent charity working to inspire more people to read

more. It is funded by the Arts Council and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.(www.readingagency.org.uk)

For interviews, images and further information: Katherine Solomon 0208 875 [email protected]

Prize information: Rosa Anderson 020 8516 2973 [email protected]
http://www.bookheads.org.uk/http://www.bookheads.org.uk/http://www.booktrust.org.uk/http://www.booktrust.org.uk/http://www.readingagency.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.bookheads.org.uk/http://www.booktrust.org.uk/http://www.readingagency.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Celebrated Author Heads the Most Subversive Shortlist Yet for the Booktrust Teenage Prize

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