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Balen and Novgorodoff win Yoto Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals
Katya Balen has won the Yoto Carnegie Medal for her second novel, October, October (Bloomsbury), while Danica Novgorodoff’s illustrated edition of Jason Reynolds’ 2019 Carnegie shortlisted book, Long Way Down (Faber), has scooped the Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal, the first graphic novel to win since Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas (Puffin) in 1973.
Balen’s novel is the story of a girl, October, who must learn to spread her wings after a childhood spent living wild in the woods changes dramatically the year she turns 11. The story was inspired by Balen’s father-in-law who lives off-grid, and her own love of mudlarking and the outdoors.
Novgorodoff’s illustrated edition of Reynolds’ Long Way Down is her debut children’s book published in the UK and is an adaptation of the original verse novel of gun violence and grief. The book features hundreds of watercolours depicting the decision that 15-year-old Will must make when his brother is shot.
Chair of judges Jennifer Horan praised both books for their ability to build empathy and “offer hope, comfort and enjoyment”.
The winners were revealed at a lunchtime ceremony on 16th June, held in person at The British Library for the first time since 2019. Horan said: “October, October by Katya Balen is a captivating story featuring exquisite descriptions of the natural world and relationships that develop and heal. It is an expertly written, beautiful and lyrical novel alive with wonder and curiosity.”
She praised Long Way Down as “a brilliant, innovative adaptation” of Reynolds’ novel. “It uses stunning watercolour to powerfully portray the tragedy of gun violence and the emotional impact it has on young people’s lives.”
Balen’s October, October has done the double and also scooped this year’s Shadowers’ Choice Award for the Yoto Carnegie Medal, after tens of thousands of young people across the UK and internationally read and debated the shortlisted books before voting for their favourites.
The winner of the Shadowers’ Choice Award for the Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal is The Midnight Fair (Walker Books) illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio and written by Gideon Sterer. It is an immersive wordless picture book that uncovers the secret life of animals who prowl a fairground at night.
Balen said she was “thrilled” with her win, praising the award for its commitment to “promoting reading and sharing stories”.
“Sharing stories is something I believe to be one of the most important parts of our lives, simply because stories are our lives,” she said. “They are threads that connect us all. They make us understand, they give us a shared experience, and they give us something special and private too. They give us wild freedom and they give us safety and comfort.”
Rebecca NcNally, editor in chief for children’s publishing at Bloomsbury, commented: "What a stunning victory for a deep and dazzling book, which has set light to the hearts and imaginations of readers, reviewers and prize judges alike. This is only Katya Balen’s second novel and she is a huge, distinctive and original talent. We’re also especially proud that this is Bloomsbury’s fifth Carnegie Medal. It is unquestionably the most prestigious award for children’s fiction and it’s chosen by librarians, who make books and reading accessible to everyone. This is so important. Katya Balen joins Sarah Crossan, Neil Gaiman, Sharon Creech and Jennifer Donnelly in pride of place on our award-winners’ shelf."
Novgorodoff said she was "honoured and humbled” by her win. "Working on Long Way Down, interpreting Jason Reynolds’ beautiful text into images, was a dream project for me and its own reward, but I am thrilled to find that the graphic novel has resonated with readers as well.”
She added: “Graphic novels can be an especially engaging form of reading, and a gateway to all types of literature. But graphic novels are also an extraordinary, complex, versatile medium in themselves, not dumbed down versions of ‘real’ books. You wouldn’t discourage a kid from going to a museum to look at paintings or sculptures or photography, so why would you tell them not to look at artwork in a book? Images are visceral in a different way than text, and when an artwork moves you, it’s speaking to you in a different language than words. There is no single way to tell a story, and graphic novels are one fascinating way to express emotions and ideas that can’t be put into words alone.”
The winners each receive £500 worth of books to donate to their local library of their choice, a specially commissioned golden medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize.
Novgorodoff has chosen to donate her books to the western branch of the Louisville Free Public Library. It opened in 1905, and was the first library in the nation to serve and be fully operated by African Americans.
Balen is making her donation to London’s South Norwood Library, which was recently threatened with closure.
