Carnegie Challenge

Hi All,

As previously mentioned, I took up the challenge of reading and reviewing all of the six books on the Carnegie Medal shortlist. The Carnegie Medal is a literary prize given annually to an outstanding children’s book. Books are nominated, and then they are reduced to a shortlist of the six best by a panel of judges. This shortlist is then circulated to schools and libraries across the country, who then form shadowing groups. Shadowing groups consist of young people who read all the books on the shortlist, and participate in activities that link to the books, such as art and drama. They try and decide which book they think should win the prize, and sometimes groups will get together for a day of challenges, for example, an inter-school event.

The six shortlisted books are;
SEDGWICK, MARCUS WHITE CROW
Orion (Ages 12+)
ISBN: 9781842551875
ROSOFF, MEG THE BRIDE'S FAREWELL
Puffin (Ages 12+)
ISBN: 9780141383934
BRESLIN, THERESA PRISONER OF THE INQUISITION
Doubleday (Ages 12+)
ISBN: 9781406310276
McCAUGHREAN GERALDINE THE DEATH DEFYING PEPPER ROUX
Oxford Children's Books (Ages 10+)
ISBN: 9780192756022
WALLACE, JASON OUT OF SHADOWS
Andersen Press (Ages 14+)
ISBN: 9781849390484
NESS, PATRICK MONSTERS OF MEN
Walker (Ages 14+)
ISBN: 9780385617031
I have now read five of the six, and I will start adding the reviews. I had hoped to have finished reading them all by now, but my university course and two sick children have meant that I have admitted defeat on that score. The official winner of the prize is now announced as MONSTERS OF MEN, Patrick Ness, Walker (Ages 14+) ISBN: 9780385617031. Ironically, this is the one book I have not yet read, although I have started it. I will continue to read and then review whilst I am in the process of adding the reviews of the other five. I’m going to blog them in the order that I read them.
If you want to find out more about the Carnegie Medal, you can visit http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/carnegie/current_shortlist.php
Gail