Issued: 08 December 2006
Angus Book Award 2007: the countdown begins
Over 500 Angus pupils gathered in Montrose Academy today (Friday 8 December) for the launch of the Angus Book Award 2007.
Since the first book award in 1996, the event has captured the imagination of S3 pupils throughout the county.
Over the coming months, pupils will read their way through the shortlist, before voting for their favourite in a secret ballot.
Launching the 2007 award in front of pupils from all eight Angus secondary schools was author and the current holder of the award, Graham Joyce.
Graham, who won the award for his novel TWOC, said: "The Angus award has become a major event in the young adult book world. The young people of Angus take part in a massive popular vote, advocating their favourites and presenting the awards. The excitement and energy of the award ceremony is sensational."
At the launch, Graham talked about the award and its importance to shortlisted authors as well as giving pupils the benefit of his own experience of being a judge on a book prize panel. He will then announce the 2007 shortlisted titles and give pupils a taster of what they have to look forward to.
This year the shortlist features three novels by authors new to the Angus Book Award and a return by two authors previously shortlisted, Alan Gibbons 2004 and Theresa Breslin 1996.
- Divided City by Theresa Breslin, is a tense and thought-provoking tale which explores loyalty, prejudice and the ugliness of sectarianism
- Candy by Kevin Brooks, a walk on the wilder side of life through the dark world of drug addiction and prostitution, this sharp, sensitive and exciting read is a real gripper.
- Hold On by Alan Gibbons, a perceptive and powerful exploration of family relationships and how society feels the need to ridicule or exclude individuality.
- Damage by Sue Mayfield, a disturbingly realistic novel, which exposes the raw emotional wounds of those who are scarred by the events of one winter night.
- The Foreshadowing by Marcus Sedgwick, takes the reader on a journey through the gift of foresight and its consequences in this dark and mesmerising novel of gothic spirit.
The 2007 winner will be announced at the award ceremony in Arbroath on 15 May 2007.
The Angus Book Award is supported by Blackadder Solicitors and Micro Librarian Systems.