13/11/2001

2001 Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Shortlist

SHORTLIST FOR THE 2001 WHITBREAD CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR

JUDGES
Julia Eccleshare Journalist
Roy Flowers Kendrake Children’s Bookshop, Sutton
Jamila Gavin Author

Two young judges and CBBC Newsround presenter, Lizo Mzimba, joined the judges on the shortlisting panel. Annalisa Middleton (13) from Thorpe St Andrews High School, Norwich and Harry Cheetham (11) from Fallibroome High School, Macclesfield, were winners of the Whitbread Book Awards/CBBC Newsround Presspackers competition.

The following shortlist of four books was selected from 107 entries.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (Penguin £12.99)
Twelve-year old Artemis Fowl is a brilliant criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren’t the fairies of the bedtime stories. These fairies are armed and they’re dangerous. Artemis thinks he’s got them just where he wants them, but then they stop playing by the rules…
One of the most eagerly-awaited children’s books ever, Artemis Fowl, described as “Die Hard with Fairies”, is Irish teacher-turned-author Eoin Colfer’s sixth novel. He wrote the book while still working full-time as a teacher but is now taking a break from teaching to focus on the next book in the trilogy. He lives in Wexford, Ireland with his wife Jackie and son Finn.
The judges: “A laugh-out loud, hugely inventive fantasy tale that engrosses the reader in its topsy-turvy universe of leprechauns, goblins and kleptomaniac dwarves. A fast, funny story which often lives up to its “fowl” name”.

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (Macmillan £9.99)
Mrs Minton and Maia are sailing to the city of Manaus, a thousand miles up the mighty Amazon river. Maia, a lonely orphan, is excited to be starting a new life with relatives she’s never met. Mysterious Miss Minton has secret reasons of her own for making the journey. In her wildest dreams, Maia could never have imagined the extraordinary adventures that await her on the shores of the River Sea.
Born in Vienna and now living in Newcastle-upon-Tyne,Eva Ibbotson has four grown-up children. She wrote Journey to the River Sea to share her life-long passion for the exotic world of the Amazon. She is also the author of six ghostly adventures for children - children like to read about ghosts, wizards and witches “because they are just like people but madder and more interesting”.
The judges: “A vividly realised magical tale that takes the reader into the heart of the Amazon. A story with real feeling and compassion for readers of all ages.”

The Lady and the Squire by Terry Jones ( Pavilion Books £12.99)
The sequel to The Knight and the Squire, this is the start of a new series of headlong adventures for Tom and Ann as they find themselves caught up in the chaos and bloodshed of the wars between England and France that scarred the fourteenth century. Their incredible adventures take place in a Medieval France that is vividly visualised and historically accurate.
Probably best-known as a scriptwriter and member of the Monty Python team, Terry Jones is also a highly successful performer, director and writer for film, radio and television. His previous award-winning books for children include The Saga of Erik the Viking and Fantastic Stories.
The judges: “ An hilarious, fast and furious adventure through fourteenth century France at its worst - a world where hygiene and religion go out the window. We hugely enjoyed reading it.”

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman (Scholastic £6.99)
The third and concluding volume of Pullman’s highly-acclaimed and best-selling His Dark Materials trilogy, which began with Northern Lights and continued with The Subtle Knife, takes many of its themes from the story of the Garden of Eden and the Fall of Man. The Amber Spyglass moves between the universes of the previous books and to new universes and worlds not yet visited in the first two volumes.
Philip Pullman was born in Norwich in 1946 and spent the early part of his life travelling the world because his father was in the RAF. He subsequently returned to North Wales aged 11, read English at Oxford when he left school and was a teacher for many years before leaving to write full-time. He still lives in Oxford with his wife Jude where, famously, he writes his award-winning books in a shed at the bottom of his garden.
The judges: “Compelling, thrilling, exceptional: The Amber Spyglass explores every dimension of human existence: fantasy, love, death, betrayal and redemption. No ordinary person could write this.”

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