Angus Book Award
The Angus Book Award was launched in 1996 as an Angus Council initiative to encourage pupils to read and enjoy quality teenage fiction. It is based on pupils not only voting for the winner, but actively participating in all aspects of the Award from the selection of the shortlist to the Award ceremony. The Award was the first of its kind in Scotland and is now one of the most established and highly regarded regional book awards.
The Award involves 3rd year pupils from all eight secondary schools in Angus in reading five short listed titles. The shortlist is selected by teachers, librarians and pupils from books appropriate for the 13/15 year old age group, written by authors living in the UK and published in paperback between July and June of the preceding year. The titles are often challenging, dealing with powerful themes and issues and reflect the context and expressions of contemporary teenage life. We aim to interest both committed and less enthusiastic readers.
The books are read and discussed in detail between January and May during which time a variety of activities are undertaken to stimulate discussion and debate about the merits of each book, culminating in a secret ballot to select the winner.
As part of the short listing process authors agree to visit schools and attend the Award ceremony. This is an important part of the Award; meeting authors motivates pupils to read and helps them to develop their own potential as writers. The visits to schools on the day of the Award ceremony also help to build a sense of anticipation as authors, pupils, teachers and librarians wait to hear who has won.
The evening ceremony gives pupils the chance to hear from all the authors and is staged to highlight the high profile status of the Award. One of its great strengths is that it is entirely conducted by pupils and the only adults on stage are the five authors. Two pupils from the host burgh lead the proceedings and then pupils from the remaining schools talk about why they think each book deserves to win.
Finally the waiting is over and the Chairperson of the Angus Youth Congress announces the winner and presents them with the Angus Book Award trophy - a miniature replica of the Pictish Aberlemno Serpent stone - and a cheque for £500.
Angus Council is delighted to welcome two official sponsors to the Award - local firm Blackadders Solicitors and Micro Librarian Systems, producers of the Eclipse library management software used in Angus secondary schools. Together with Scottish Executive Quality of Life funding and Angus Council’s own commitment, their sponsorship helps to consolidate the future of the Award until 2008.