Finalists for Scottish Teenage Book Prize revealed

Pan Macmillan features alongside children's publishers Curious Fox and Andersen Press in the Scottish Teenage Book Prize shortlist.

The finalists for the prize, now in its second year, have been revealed as Elizabeth Laird for Welcome to Nowhere (Pan Macmillan) with illustrations by Lucy Eldridge, Caighlan Smith for Children of Icarus (Curious Fox) and Danny Weston for The Haunting of Jessop Rise (Andersen Press).

The shortlisting panel also highly commended Night Shift (Hot Key Books) by Debi Gliori and The Broken Trilogy (Usborne) by L A Weatherly.

The award was set up last year to celebrate the most popular teen books by authors in Scotland. It is run by Scottish Book Trust with support from Creative Scotland. Shortlisted authors receive £500 and the winner will collect £3,000.

Young people across Scotland can vote for their favourite shortlisted title before 8th February 2018. The winner will be announced on 28th February in a video available to those school classes who have voted.

Teenagers have also been asked create their own book trailer or graphic novel of the shortlisted books, with the chance to win Waterstones gift cards, with accompanying learning resources from the Scottish Book Trust.

Marc Lambert, c.e.o of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Each of the three books is a compelling read and a strong contender for winner. Teenage readers are among the most passionate and this prize is a great opportunity for them to get involved, be inspired to create their own piece of fiction, and vote for their favourite to win.”

She added: “We are looking forward to finding out which book comes out on top.”

Jenny Niven, head of literature, languages and publishing at Creative Scotland said: “The Scottish Teenage Book Prize provides an excellent opportunity for young people to discover, discuss and vote for their favourite books.

“This year’s shortlist includes a fantastic selection of some of Scotland’s most exciting talent in the young adult genre. It is very encouraging to see the Scottish Teenage Book Prize, alongside the What’s Your Story? Development Programme, continuing to nurture Scotland’s teenage writers and readers.”

Laird, a fiction and travel writer, described the shortlisting as an “honour” while Canadian fantasy novelist, Smith, said: “I think it's amazing that the readers get to decide the award, and I'm honored that Children of Icarus gets to be a part of that.”

Weston, who is based in Edinburgh and has published more than 15 titles as Philip Caveney, said: “I am thrilled and delighted to be shortlisted for the Scottish Teenage Book Prize. The fact that it is voted for by actual readers is the best thing of all.”

Claire McFall won the first Scottish Teenage Book Prize in February. The Borders-based author’s thriller Black Cairn Point (Hot Key Books), beat off “stiff” competition from Keith Gray’s The Last Soldier (Barrington Stoke), a dyslexia-friendly story set in 1920’s Texas, and Joan Lennon’s Stone Age Orkney-based Silver Skin (Birlinn).

For more information, visit scottishbooktrust.com.