Parr wins Tir na n-Og children’s literature award for ‘heartfelt’ début

Lesley Parr has won the Tir na n-Og English language award for children’s and young people’s literature with her novel The Valley of Lost Secrets (Bloomsbury Children’s Books). 

The award celebrates the best books for children and young adults in Wales and is organised by the Books Council of Wales and sponsored by the librarians’ association CILIP Cymru Wales. 

Parr wins a cash prize of £1,000 as well as a specially commissioned award created by Cardiff-based designers The Patternistas.  

The Valley of Lost Secrets is for readers aged eight to 12 and is described as “a gripping wartime drama” set in the South Wales valleys. Jimmy, his little brother Ronnie and their class have been evacuated to Llanbryn from London. Their hosts Gwen and Alun Thomas offer a warm Welsh welcome, but it’s a completely alien landscape and Jimmy finds it hard to settle into the community. Up on the mountains Jimmy finds a skull hidden in a tree and needs to share the mystery with someone. His best friend is no longer an option; his brother is too young. Instead, he discovers an ally in someone unexpected and they unearth secrets, find friendship and heal the past. 

Simon Fisher from the judging panel said: “Lesley Parr has written a beautiful, tender and totally absorbing début with characters to care about. You are drawn into this captivating story from the beginning, connecting immediately to the authentic characters. 

“David Dean’s beautiful cover and illustrations add something rather special to the book. At the start of each chapter there is a tree spreading out over the page. As the story develops items of relevance are added to the tree. These additional puzzles make for an intriguing and utterly beguiling read. 

“Despite being a fictional name for the valley, the landscape and community are totally authentic, evocative and lovingly described. A book which will stay with you and you will want to return to the Valley again and again.” 

Parr said: “I’m absolutely landed (as we say in Port Talbot!) to have won a Tir na n-Og Award for my début book, The Valley of Lost Secrets. This feels extra special as I’m very proud to be Welsh, and love setting my stories in the sort of valley community I know so well.” 

The winners of the two Welsh-language category Tir na n-Og Awards 2022 will be revealed at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Denbighshire on Thursday 2 June 2022. Three titles are shortlisted for the prize in each category. 

The shortlists are

Primary age category 

• Gwil Garw a’r Carchar Crisial by Huw Aaron (Broga) 
• Sara Mai a Lleidr y Neidr by Casia Wiliam (Y Lolfa) 
• Gwag y Nos by Sioned Wyn Roberts (Atebol) 

Secondary age category 

• Fi ac Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros (Y Lolfa) 
• Hanes yn y Tir by Elin Jones (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch) 
• Y Pump, ed. Elgan Rhys (Y Lolfa)