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70 Years Celebration

 


THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL SHORTLIST 2002 (presented in 2003)
JUDGES' COMMENTS

Kevin Brooks Martyn Pig
The Chicken House, £5.99 (pbk)
ISBN: 1903434998 (Age range: 12+)

A dark yet bizarrely comic murder mystery; the story of Martyn Pig, a teenager caught in a macabre web of deceit when his father is killed.  This comedy of errors is tightly plotted and full of moral ambiguity.  By turns funny and nightmarish, the writing has a “film noir” quality to it.  It conjures up images that stay with the reader long after the book is finished. 

Sharon Creech Ruby Holler
 Bloomsbury Children’s Books, £5.99 (pbk)
ISBN: 0747560293 (Age range: 9+)

The “trouble” twins, Dallas and Florida look likely to stay in the orphanage for good until they are invited to live with an elderly couple in Ruby Holler.  This is a beautifully written “over the rainbow” tale of discovery with a strong sense of place.  Authentic dialogue gives the story an edge coupling the fairy tale quality with an air of reality. A story about love and trust and how the strength and goodness of human beings can overcome all the odds.


Anne Fine Up On Cloud Nine
Corgi Books, £4.99 pbk
ISBN: 0552548405 (Age range: 12+)

A life-affirming novel that tells the story of a deep friendship between two teenage boys:  Stolly and Ian, revealed through the course of a single day, as one of the boys lies in a hospital bed fighting for his life.   Fine writes about a serious subject with a deftness of touch that is at times darkly comic. The language is poetic and powerful, the effect reflective and moving.  At the end the reader is left to draw their own conclusion.

Alan Gibbons The Edge
Dolphin Paperbacks, £4.99 pbk
ISBN: 1842550942 (Age range: 11+)

A story of a mother and son escaping from domestic violence only to encounter prejudice and danger of another kind, when they start a new life.  A tense and dramatic thriller, the story is incredibly well plotted and paced with excellent characterisation.  It tackles the big themes of domestic violence and racism but the strength of the characters makes it far more than an “issue” book.

Lian Hearn Across The Nightingale Floor
Macmillan Children’s Books, £12.99 hbk
ISBN: 1405000325 (Age range: 14+)

This is an epic story set in an imaginary world reminiscent of feudal Japan.  It follows a young man, Takeo on a hazardous and violent journey that will lead him to his hidden destiny. It is a journey of revenge, treachery, honour, loyalty, cruelty, magic and overwhelming passion. An exciting adventure story with two narrators making for a balanced and well-constructed read. The whole atmosphere is beautifully conveyed through description of nature, sound and colour.

Linda Newbery The Shell House
David Fickling Books, £10.99 hbk
ISBN: 0385603894 (Age range: 14+)

This beautifully written novel, subtly weaves together two stories set generations apart in 1915 and the present day, linked by a stately home. The characters are strong and dynamic, and their philosophical discussions are mature and honest. Newbery deals in an open and honest way with issues that concern older teenagers today, including: the futility of war, explorations of sexuality and issues of faith.

Marcus Sedgwick The Dark Horse
Dolphin Paperbacks, £4.99 pbk
ISBN: 1858818842 (Age range: 11+)

Set in a distant time and place this is the story of a clan whose lives are changed forever on the day of a wolf hunt.  Sig rescues a howling child, more like the wolves she came from than a human being and it is many years before her true identity is discovered and a terrifying legend comes to life.  A riveting and convincing tale of betrayal told in a powerful storytelling voice. It has a timeless quality, and a mythical feel. The quality of the writing is such that it gives it a strong sense of place and makes it easy to visualise events as they unfold.