The shortlist was revealed yesterday and I am so pleased to see several authors and books that I "know" through having read / reviewed / received them.
In this poignant novel, Lucy Christopher explores the extraordinary attachment between a young girl and a wild bird. 13-year-old Isla doesn’t want to think about the fact that her dad may be dying until she meets Isthmi, a young swan who can’t fly.
About the author
After various attempts at being an actor, a coffee maker, a waitress and a nature guide, Lucy earned a distinction in a Creative Writing MA. In her spare time, Lucy helps run a children’s wildlife group at Newport Wetland.
THE GREAT HAMSTER MASSACRE BY KATIE DAVIES
A natural and honest version of life’s events from the perspective of a young girl – from her suspicions about her neighbours, to her rocky friendship with the girl next door; from the sudden death of her granny to her relentless quest for a pet hamster. The Great Hamster Massacre is a bittersweet but hilariously funny domestic tale.
About the author
Katie is the wife of comedian Alan Davies and recently gave birth to their first child. She is a literary agent who has also written for radio. The Great Hamster Massacre is the first in a charming series of pet-related dilemmas drawn from real-life experiences of friends and family.
THE GIRL WHO COULD FLY BY VICTORIA FORESTER
Piper McCloud can fly, but even at her top-secret, maximum-security school for kids with exceptional abilities she’s special, and there are consequences.
About the author
Victoria Forester lives in Los Angeles with her husband. She has spent most of her time writing screenplays; this is her first book.
SEVEN SORCERERS BY CARO KING
Enter the Drift, a land filled with the fabulous and the dreadful; tombfolk, mudmen and the spirits of the seven sorcerers who once ruled the land. Our heroine must cross the Drift to retrieve her brother, stolen by the bogeyman and taken to the terrible House of Strood.
About the author
Caro tackled a series of widely varied jobs before joining the Civil Service, working in the Official Receiver's Office. She now works part-time and lives in Surrey with her husband, writing and restoring their Edwardian house.
LOVE, AUBREY BY SUZANNE LAFLEUR
Something terrible has happened and 11-year-old Aubrey is on her own. She’s determined to hide away and take care of herself, because facing the truth is too much to bear. Love, Aubrey is a must-read with the emotional power of Before I Die, the readability of Gathering Light and the comfort of Little Women.
About the author
Suzanne grew up in Massachusetts, where she used to read her stories out loud to anyone who would listen. She began writing her first novel Love, Aubrey at graduate school and now lives in Manhattan, where she works at The Anderson School, a New York City Public School for gifted children.]
THE TOYMAKER BY JEREMY DE QUIDT
What good is a toy that will wind down? What if you could put a heart in one? A real heart? From the moment Mathias finds a mysterious piece of paper he is entangled in devious plots and pursued by the sinister Dr. Leiter and his devilish toys. The Toymaker is a truly chilling story that will haunt you long after you reach the end.
About the author
The Toymaker was written after the author Jeremy was asked to do some story-telling at a local school. He went in and each week told them a new chapter of a story he had begun writing especially for them – that story became his first published work.
DESPERATE MEASURES BY LAURA SUMMERS
Vicky and Rhianna are twins but they couldn’t be more different. For their fourteenth birthday,
Vicky wants a card from the hottest boy in school. Rhianna, brain-damaged at birth, wants a Furby. Instead they get a nasty shock – their foster parents can’t cope and it looks as if Vicky and Rhianna and their younger brother Jamie will have to be split up. How can they stay together?
Desperate times call for desperate measures …
About the author
Laura Summers grew up in South London and was a teacher before turning to writing full time. She has written extensively for many popular children’s television series and was recently nominated for a children’s BAFTA for one of her scripts for The Little Princess - a pre-school animation series based on the picture books by Tony Ross. Laura now lives in North Devon with her husband and children and when not writing loves to draw and paint.
SUPERHUMAN: METEORITE STRIKE BY A.G. TAYLOR
Introducing mesmerizing heroes with mind-blowing powers, this roller-coaster read of chilling conspiracies and secret organizations is the perfect escape for anyone who’s longed to be just a little bit special.
About the author
Andrew Taylor was born in New Zealand and grew up in England, and has worked as a teacher in England, Poland, South Korea and Australia. He lives with his girlfriend, her whippet and his Italian greyhound. This is his debut novel.
THE CROWFIELD CURSE BY PAT WALSH
What happens when you bury an angel? It’s 1347 and Will, an orphan boy, lives at Crowfield Abbey. When two hooded strangers arrive at Crowfield asking questions about the angel’s grave, Will is drawn into a world of dangerous Old Magic. The Crowfield Curse is a thrilling clash between the forces of old natural magic and new ideas of Christianity.
About the author
Pat spent summers and school holidays working on archaeological digs, took an archaeology degree and spent most of her life since then working as an archaeologist. From the age of twelve she has written short stories based in history and fantasy, and The Crowfield Curse is her first novel for children.
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I wish all of these authors the best of luck! The winner is announced on February 2010 here in London.
1 comment:
This is the first place I have spotted the shortlist, thanks for posting.
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