HOW ON EARTH DID WE GET HERE . . . ?
Outstanding fiction unravels history for young people

“History.... cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again..."
Maya Angelou

Seven children's writers, including two previous winners and a first-time novelist, go head to head for the 2008 CILIP Carnegie Medal. Their stories take young readers on exhilarating journeys across two millennia and three continents that are guaranteed to challenge their perceptions of both past and present.

“As adept storytellers and masters of their craft, these writers employ great lightness of touch in dealing with eternal themes from an historical perspective-, comments Tricia Adams, Chair of the Judges. “Each one illuminates something different about the world we live in today, making the past accessible and relevant to the present. This is strong, imaginative writing for young people that unlocks history way beyond the classroom.-

Three of the four titles are set in the latter half of the 20^th century. Linzi Glass deals with race, first love and fear in 1980s South Africa;  last year's winner, Meg Rosoff challenges our perceptions of gender within the confines of a 1960s English boarding school and Jenny Valentine gives us a unique and witty new voice as her contemporary hero unravels a mystery dating back to 1950"s North London.

Tanya Landman transports us to the Mexican border in the late 1800s where we meet a 14 year old Apache Indian girl, seeking to avenge her family, and striving to become a warrior alongside the men of her tribe. 

Elizabeth Laird takes us to 12^th century Jerusalem at the time of the Crusades where two young boys - one Christian, one Muslim - come face to face at a time of war, and Kevin Crossley-Holland's much loved heroine, the bold and resolute Gatty, returns to make a pilgrimage from North Wales to the Holy Land. And, finally we land in 500 AD where Philip Reeve reveals the truth about King Arthur, and dissects the nature of myth, story and "spin-doctoring".

In 2007 the CILIP Carnegie Medal celebrated its 70^th Anniversary. It is the UK's oldest and most prestigious award for children's writing: the prize writers describe as "the one they want to win". Although there is no cash reward, its prestige is rooted in the unique judging process which pools the professional expertise of librarians from across the country, who nominate titles for the long list. 

Twelve librarians from CILIP"s Youth Libraries Group then meet to discuss a long list of up to 50 titles and agree on a maximum of eight outstanding titles for the shortlist. Members of the panel combine an in-depth knowledge of books with daily experience of working and reading with young people. 

The Carnegie Medal and its sister award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, are awarded annually by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the British Library in London on Thursday 26 June.

The CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2008

KEVIN CROSSLEY-HOLLAND Gatty's Tale   
Orion (Age range: 10+)
ISBN: 9781842552735

LINZI GLASS Ruby Red  
Penguin (Age range: 12+)
ISBN: 9780141382807

ELIZABETH LAIRD Crusade
Macmillan (Age range: 10+)
ISBN: 9780330443111

TANYA LANDMAN Apache 
Walker (Age range: 12+)
ISBN: 9781406303315

PHILIP REEVE Here Lies Arthur  
Scholastic (Age range: 12+)
ISBN: 9780439955331

MEG ROSOFF What I Was  
Penguin (Age range: 12+)
ISBN: 9780141383439

JENNY VALENTINE Finding Violet Park 
HarperCollins (Age range: 12+)
ISBN: 9780007214457

-Ends-

18 April 2008