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Author receives Lancashire Book of the Year Award 2021

Written by on 15/10/2021

The winner of Lancashire’s Book of the Year Award has been announced at a virtual presentation ceremony held today (Friday 15 October).

The award was won by Ben Oliver, young-adult sci-fi author, for his first book in the trilogy, The Loop. The award was accepted by Ben virtually.

The book tells the story of Luka Kane, who has been inside a hi-tech prison for over two years. Luka may now have the chance to break out of The Loop, and save himself, and the world.

County Councillor Jayne Rear, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for education and skills, said: “This Award is an engaging and fun way to encourage young people to read and help us to maintain the county’s high literacy levels. It is fabulous to see a love of reading being shared by so many pupils.

I hope that the students have enjoyed taking part in a different way this year.”

Winning author, Ben Oliver, said: “I’m really thrilled to win this award. What makes it so special is that it’s chosen by students, with representatives from 21 high schools across Lancashire debating which book to pick.

“It feels wonderful to know that the young readers enjoyed my work, and that it resonated with them. Thank you so much to everyone involved.”

Now in its 35th year, the Lancashire Book Of The Year remains one of the few awards where young people themselves are totally responsible for drawing up the shortlist and choosing the overall winner.

The Lancashire Book of the Year was the first regional book award for children when it was originally organised in 1987. It was won that year by Philip Pullman, who went on to great success with the His Dark Materials trilogy.

The judges are pupils from school year 9. 21 high schools from across the county took part, with the vast majority of Lancashire’s districts represented.

This year the young judges started with a long list of 68 young adult fiction books. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the young people weren’t able to meet up in the spring to shortlist the titles, so this was held virtually, with a final shortlist of 11 titles being selected. The library service worked with eBook partner BorrowBox to ensure that the judges had access to the shortlisted titles as eBooks as well as the physical copies in their schools. From those 11 titles, the judges were then given the task of selecting the winner, which was done via a confidential vote in September 2021.

County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “Being introduced to books at a young age is important, as it can build up a love of reading that can stay with you for the rest of your life.

“It’s fantastic to see so many young people so actively involved in judging these awards, and clearly getting so much pleasure from books.

“I really hope that their love of reading continues. I’m keen to do all I can to promote it.”

The Lancashire Book of the Year Award was sponsored by UCLan for the 20th year.

This year’s judging schools were:
• Shuttleworth College, Burnley
• Sir John Thursby Community College, Burnley
• Albany Academy, Chorley
• Parklands Academy, Chorley
• Shaftsbury High School, Chorley
• Accrington Academy, Hyndburn
• Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School, Hyndburn
• Our Lady’s Catholic College, Lancaster
• Kirkham Grammar School, Fylde
• Lytham St. Anne’s High School, Fylde
• Colne Primet Academy, Pendle
• Marsden Heights Community College, Pendle
• Our Lady’s RC High School, Preston
• Stonyhurst College, Ribble Valley
• Leyland St. Mary’s Catholic High School, South Ribble
• Penwortham Girls’ High School, South Ribble
• Lathom High School, West Lancashire
• Upholland High School, West Lancashire
• Fleetwood High School, Wyre
• Millfield Science and Performing Arts College, Wyre

The shortlisted authors and books were:
Danielle Jawando – And the Stars Were Burning Brightly
Kerry Drewery and illustrated by Natsko Seki – The Last Paper Crane
Amanda K. Morgan – Five Little Liars
Nathan Parker – The Rise of the Chemist
Christina Hammonds Reed – The Black Kids
S.A Domingo – Love on the Main Stage
Rob Harrell – Wink
Kesia Lupo – We Are Bound By Stars
Ben Oliver – The Loop
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick – On Midnight Beach
Jenny Oliver – Chelsea High

Find out more about Lancashire County Council libraries and the Lancashire Book of the Year at https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/libraries/lancashires-book-of-the-year/