No less than four debut novels feature on the eight-strong shortlist for this year's CILIP Carnegie Medal; the UK's most prestigious children's book award which has a long track record of spotting new writing talent ahead of the game.
First children's novels by Lissa Evans, Ali Lewis, Annabel Pitcher and Ruta Sepetys go head to head with books by former CILIP Carnegie Medal winner, David Almond; Sonya Harnett; Andy Mulligan, and Patrick Ness, the 2011 CILIP Carnegie winner.
The eight books on this year's shortlist are variously suitable for readers of 12 years, or younger, bucking the trend of recent shortlists which have majored on teenage and young adult fiction. Against diverse settings ranging from contemporary England, outback Australia and wartime Siberia; to places imagined but with strong echoes of our turbulent world today; the shortlisted novels take young readers into the lives and minds of a diverse cast of characters as they contend with everything from bereavement; poverty, corruption and tyranny, to a recalcitrant young camel, and the difficulty of finding the right words.
CILIP Carnegie shortlist 2012
David Almond
MY NAME IS MINA
Hodder (9+)
ISBN: 9780340997253
Lissa Evans
SMALL CHANGE FOR STUART
Doubleday (8+)
ISBN: 9780385618007
THE MIDNIGHT ZOO
Walker (9+)(Penguin in NZ/Aust)
ISBN: 9781406331493
Ali Lewis
EVERYBODY JAM
Andersen (12+)
ISBN: 9781849392488
Andy Mulligan
TRASH
David Fickling (12+)
ISBN: 9780385619011
A MONSTER CALLS
Walker (9+)
ISBN: 9781406311525
Annabel Pitcher
MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE
Orion (10+)
ISBN: 9781444001839
Ruta Septys
BETWEEN SHADES OF GREYPuffin (12+)
ISBN: 9780141335889
Commenting on this year's shortlist, Rachel Levy, Children's Library Services Manager for Sutton Libraries and chair of the CILIP Carnegie judging panel says:
"Choosing the CILIP Carnegie shortlist is always a tough call but the strength of this year's field was exceptional. Readers of the final eight books will meet some outstanding characters who will make them laugh like Stuart; cry like Conor and think outside the box like Mina. Their Carnegie reading journey will take them to some dark and difficult places, but all the books are ultimately about the beauty and hopefulness of life and all are beautifully written".
The CILIP Carnegie Medal is the UK's oldest and most prestigious book award for children's writing. Although there is no cash prize, the CILIP Carnegie is regularly described by writers as "the one they want to win". 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 longlist.
Twelve librarians from CILIP's Youth Libraries Group then meet to discuss the long list and agree on titles for the shortlist. Members of the panel combine an in-depth knowledge of children's books with daily experience of working and reading with young people.
Both 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 2012 winners will be announced at a ceremony at London's Barbican Centre on Thursday 14th June.
Comment on the shortlist at The Guardian.