Senker wins educational writing award for refugee title

Cath Senker has won this year’s £2,000 Educational Writers’ Award for her book about refugees and mass migration.

Far From Home: Refugees and Migrants Fleeing War, Persecution and Poverty (Franklin Watts/Hachette Children’s Group) examines the reasons behind worldwide mass migrations of people in the 21st century, whether that be war, extreme poverty or persecution, and explains the political situations and cultural issues behind the headlines.

The judges - teacher Philip Arkinstall, author Elspeth Graham and librarian Océane Toffoli - said: “This heart-breaking, powerful and very special book takes a thoughtful and relevant look at a subject we all need to understand and care about. It fully utilises every page, from the maps on the inside covers to the timeline, glossary and further reading section and is extremely readable and accessible for its secondary school audience. Never giving in to media stereotypes, it also provides a clear and compassionate catalyst for discussions about the plight of refugees, highlighting individual experiences and presenting different viewpoints in an impeccably non-judgmental way.”

The Educational Writers’ Award is run by the Society of Authors (SoA) and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and is for educational writing for readers aged 11-18.

Senker beat off competition from four other titles and was presented with the prize yesterday (4th December) at the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group (APWG) Winter Reception at the House of Commons.