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The 2008 Hampshire Book Award has been won by Derek Landy for his debut novel ‘Skulduggery Pleasant', a pacy thriller starring the wise-cracking skeleton of a dead wizard. Year eight students from over 50 Hampshire secondary schools helped choose the winning book after a lively debate and final voting at Winchester Discovery Centre. ‘Skulduggery Pleasant' beat off tough competition from a short-listing of six books: ‘The boy in the striped pyjamas' by John Boyne, ‘H.I.V.E.' by Mark Walden, ‘Nathan Fox: Dangerous times' by L. Brittney, ‘School's out forever' by James Patterson and ‘Kat got your tongue' by Lee Weatherly. Executive Member for Recreation, Heritage and Communities, Councillor Margaret Snaith said: "The Hampshire Book Award which is organised by Hampshire County Council is a great way to promote reading in schools especially as 2008 is the National Year of Reading. "I hope this will also inspire children to pick up our Hampshire Big Read book, ‘Private Peaceful' by Michael Morpurgo and pass their judgement by posting their expert comments on line at: www.hants.gov.uk/year-of-reading." The Hampshire Book Award is an annual event organised by Hampshire County Council's School Library Service. Pupils are involved at every stage of the award and the young judges from this year's award will go on to select the shortlist for next year's award. For more information about the Hampshire Book Award, go to: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/sls/hampshire-book-award.htm For more information about the winning author, go to: http://www.skulduggerypleasant.com/ Please find attached an image for your use fromthe award presentation. From Left to right: Michael Weekes,Anna Geatrell,Derek Lany, Judith Moore and Clare Trevenna. The students are all from Oaklands Catholic School, Waterlooville. For more information visit Hampshire County Council |
