Issued: 7 December 2004
10th Angus Book Award Launched In Style
HUNDREDS of Angus pupils gathered in Forfar on Tuesday (7 December) to mark the launch of the 10th Angus Book Award.
Since the first book award in 1996, the event has captured the imagination of S3 pupils throughout the county.
The first of its kind to be launched in Scotland, the award is now a model for other authorities and enjoys a high reputation among authors and publishers.
Launching the 2005 award at the Reid Hall in front of pupils from all eight Angus secondary schools will be author and former winner Keith Gray.
Keith, who won the award in 2003 for his novel Warehouse, said: “The Angus Book Award is one of the most highly prized by authors because of the way the final decision comes down to teenage democracy - the most popular book wins.”
At the launch Keith will speak about the award and what it means to him and why reading and writing by and for young people is so important and then announce and introduce the 2005 shortlisted titles.
“It's a real privilege to be invited back to launch the new shortlist for what has genuinely become one of the most respected, and now into its tenth year, most well-established book prizes for young people's fiction,” he said.
“The night of the award ceremony is probably the most exciting of any book award anywhere - hundreds of teenagers cheering for their favourite book - it's undeniable proof for any doubter of teenage fiction that the books are needed, important and, above all, enjoyed.”
The innovative scheme is designed to encourage pupils to read and enjoy quality teenage fiction.
At its heart is the principle that pupils not only vote for the winner, but actively participate in all aspects of the award from the selection of the shortlist to the award ceremony.
The 2005 Award will be held in Montrose and enthusiastic S3 pupils from Montrose Academy are among those looking forward to the launch.
Caity Cooper, Marlies Nicholl and Kirsty Bell are all looking forward to taking part having had a sneak preview of the books in the school library.
Kirsty Bell said: “The books look really enthralling and I'm excited about reading all of them.” Fellow pupil Steven Donaldson added: “I'm interested in comparing debuting authors with well established ones.”
Over the coming months, pupils will read their way through the shortlist, before voting for their favourite in a secret ballot.
On the day of the award ceremony in May, all the authors undertake school visits, and the tension mounts before the winner is finally revealed.
A leaflet about the award has been produced for distribution to parents and other interested organisations and copies will also be available at local libraries; information is also available on the website www.angus.gov.uk/bookaward.