Carnegie Award Debate

There was a hive of activity in the Library this week, when over 60 students, representing seven local schools, joined 18 Pipers Corner students to discuss and debate the merits of the eight books shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2018.

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. The roll-call of past winners includes: Arthur Ransome, C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, Noel Streatfeild, Sally Gardner and Penelope Lively. You can read more about the award and see the full list of books on this year’s shortlist at http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/

This is the seventh year that local Buckinghamshire schools have met to discuss the shortlist and we were delighted to host students from Aylesbury Grammar School, Aylesbury High School, Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, The Misbourne School, Beaconsfield High School, St Marys, Gerrards Cross, and Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.

The books shortlisted for this year’s award formed the basis of the day’s activities. Within mixed groups of pupils from the different schools the students discussed which book they felt deserved to win and shared what they liked and didn’t like about each title. Everyone then broke into teams for a general literacy quiz before regrouping to cast their votes and predict a winner for 2018.

It was very encouraging to see so much passion for literature, and to listen to the animated and well- constructed debates. The overwhelming winner on the day, with 40 votes was Will Hill's “After the Fire”. The actual winner will be announced on Monday 18 June and the students will now wait in anticipation to see if their prediction is correct! It was a fabulous event and everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to immerse themselves in the shortlisted books and challenge their peers’ perspectives.