In 2008, the Beyond Words Festival, with the generous sponsorship of the Brookwood Partnership and University College School, set up the first Book Award in which the finalist books are reviewed by young readers.
In our 2008 Pilot Scheme, one hundred readers, aged between 11 and 14, in three North London secondary schools, were asked to read eight books nominated by a team of independent children's booksellers and their readership,
In our 2008 Pilot Scheme, one hundred readers, aged between 11 and 14, in three North London secondary schools, were asked to read eight books nominated by a team of independent children's booksellers and their readership,
and to choose the book which they considered would have most appeal to a reluctant reader.
The winner, Marcus Sedgwick - author of Blood Red Snow White (Orion) - was presented with the award of £500 by Chris Bradford.
The readers were also asked to write reviews for each of the books, for this website. Book tokens for the best reviews were awarded to: Kasia Olszewska, Christina Fleischer, Ava Annahid Zamani, Oscar Volhard Dearman and Ben Levett.
All the reviews have already tempted fellow readers and non-readers alike to dip their toe into the exciting realm of contemporary fiction for young people. We hope that our reviewers are all as proud of themselves as we are of them.
We are sure our books have that magic ingredient:
The winner, Marcus Sedgwick - author of Blood Red Snow White (Orion) - was presented with the award of £500 by Chris Bradford.
The readers were also asked to write reviews for each of the books, for this website. Book tokens for the best reviews were awarded to: Kasia Olszewska, Christina Fleischer, Ava Annahid Zamani, Oscar Volhard Dearman and Ben Levett.
All the reviews have already tempted fellow readers and non-readers alike to dip their toe into the exciting realm of contemporary fiction for young people. We hope that our reviewers are all as proud of themselves as we are of them.
We are sure our books have that magic ingredient: