At 1.00pm on Monday 22^nd June we waited, keen to discover who had won this year’s prestigious Carnegie Award…and, perhaps, more importantly, whether we were right…

For the last twelve weeks a dedicated bunch of Varndean School students and teachers have been shadowing the awards, working their way through the shortlist. Some managed to read a novel a week! Each Wednesday lunchtime, we then came together for some great debates and discussions about what we had been reading. There were favourites:  More Than This by Patrick Ness was enjoyed by many of the group, as was When Mr. Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan.

Last week we all voted and Ms Wenn is now pleased to announce that the judges agreed with us!  Our favourite, by one vote, was Tanya Landman’s Buffalo Soldier.

The commitment shown by the students was terrific as were their thoughtful, mature contributions to this yearly debate.

Copies of the full shortlist are now available for borrowing from the Varndean School library…enjoy!

The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2015 shortlist for 2015:

 When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan

 Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan

 Tinder by Sally Gardner (author) and David Roberts (illustrator)

 Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge

 The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird

 Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman

 The Middle of Nowhere by Geraldine McCaughrean

 More Than This by Patrick Ness