Lively literary debate

There was plenty of noise in the Library at Pipers Corner on Wednesday this week, when 64 students, representing six local schools came together to discuss and debate the merits of the eight books shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2017. 

The Carnegie Medal is a prestigious children’s book award, awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. Past winners include such well-known books as “Watership Down”, “Northern Lights” and “Tom’s Midnight Garden”. You can read more about the award and see the full list of books on this year’s shortlist on the Carnegie website.

This is the sixth year that local Buckinghamshire schools have met to discuss the shortlist and we were delighted to be the hosts this time, welcoming students from Aylesbury High School, Beaconsfield High School, St Mary’s School for Girls, Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School and The Misbourne. 

Following the discussions each student voted for their favourite book and the overwhelming winner was “Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys. On Monday 19 June the actual winner will be announced at a ceremony held in London, so we wait to find out whether our choice matches that of the judging panel. 

The scheme shadowing the Carnegie Medal judging process has thousands of registered reading groups across the UK and internationally - engaging tens of thousands of children and young people in reading. Pipers’ girls have been writing reviews on the shortlisted books and these can be found on our Carnegie homepage.
 
School Librarian, Mrs Harris, said, “Shadowing the Carnegie Medal is a brilliant way to inspire students to read contemporary children’s and teen literature. It is also a wonderful opportunity to share the experience of reading and promote a lively reading culture.”