All-female shortlist for Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing

An all-female shortlist for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing has been unveiled, with seven authors including Jessie Burton and Sita Brahmachari up for the award, while six “outstanding” illustrators are in contention for the Medal for Illustration.

Burton’s Medusa, illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) and Brahmachari’s When Shadows Fall, illustrated by Natalie Sirett (Little Tiger) are up against The Light in Everything by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) and The Eternal Return of Clara Hart by Louise Finch (Little Island) for the Writing award.

Also shortlisted and in the running are Needle by Patrice Lawrence (Barrington Stoke), I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (Hodder Children’s Books) and The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros (Firefly Press). It is the first time Burton, Lawrence, Brahmachari and Steffan Ros have been shortlisted.

It is also the first time three small presses – Little Island, Firefly Press and UCLan Publishing – have been shortlisted, as Bloomsbury Children’s Books dominates with three titles.

The shortlists include three previous winners; including Balen (2022) and Sepetys (2017) for the Medal for Writing and Levi Pinfold for the Medal for Illustration (2013), alongside one début title on each shortlist by Finch and Flora Delargy respectively.

The shortlist for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration features a diverse range of illustrative and artistic styles, the judges say, from a manga-inspired graphic novel, to traditional Chinese paper-cutting, from sharp, simple ink drawings to expansive watercolours. Up for the prize are six works.

They are: Rescuing Titanic illustrated and written by Delargy (Wide Eyed Editions); Alte Zachen: Old Things illustrated by Benjamin Phillips, written by Ziggy Hanaor (Cicada Books); The Worlds We Leave Behind illustrated by Pinfold, written by A F Harrold (Bloomsbury Children’s Books); The Visible Sounds illustrated by Yu Rong, written by Yin Jianling (UCLan Publishing); The Comet illustrated and written by Joe Todd-Stanton (Flying Eye Books) and Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear illustrated by Jeet Zdung, written by Trang Nguyen (Kingfisher).

The Yoto Carnegies are judged by children’s and youth librarians, with the respective Shadowers’ Choice Medals voted for by children and young people. The 31 longlisted titles were whittled down by the judging panel, which includes 12 librarians from CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals).

Janet Noble, chair of judges for The Yoto Carnegies 2023, said: "This year’s shortlists demonstrate that authors, illustrators and publishers are continuing to create outstanding books for children and young people that represent a wide range of identities, helping to ensure the diversity of experiences across the UK is reflected.

“Stories of bravery, compassion and community are told authentically and sensitively in a range of distinctive written and illustrative styles, with fantastic débuts taking pride of place alongside well-known names. We’re sure shadowing groups across the country will share our excitement in reading and discussing these superb books in the coming months, and we wish them luck in choosing their winners – we know it’s not going to be an easy decision. The 2023 judges and I are proud that these 13 books will become part of the distinguished legacy of The Yoto Carnegies." 

The winners will be announced and celebrated on Wednesday 21st June at a live and streamed lunchtime ceremony at The Barbican, hosted by former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child CBE, who won the Carnegie Medal for Illustration – then known as the Kate Greenaway Medal – in 2000 for her first Charlie and Lola book, I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato (Orchard Books).

The winners will each receive £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice, a specially commissioned and newly designed golden medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. The Shadowers’ Choice Medals, voted for and awarded by children and young people shadowing the shortlist from today, will also be presented at the ceremony. Following the brand refresh of the Awards this year, the Shadowers’ Choice winners will also receive a golden medal for the first time.