The Carnegie Medal Winner 2011 and the Kate Greenaway Award Winner 2011 have been announced today, 23 June 2011. And they are...
CARNEGIE MEDAL
Patrick Ness, MONSTERS OF MEN - the final book in the Chaos Walking trilogy.
This is what the Carnegie Medal judges themselves say about the shortlist and the ultimate winner:
The shortlist for the 2011 Carnegie was incredibly strong, and each was a potential winner. However, the judges chose Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness because it really is outstanding. It is an extraordinary achievement. Not only does the author succeed in creating a richly imagined world that completely convinces the reader while challenging the imagination, he also poses profound questions about relationships, war, the horrors and heroism that can result and the nature of government. In the characters of Todd and Viola the reader meets real people facing real dilemmas. Above all Monsters of Men is an enthralling read that is well nigh impossible to put down and while a fitting conclusion to a remarkable trilogy, it is novel that both stands alone and stands out.
KATE GREENAWAY AWARD
Grahame Baker-Smith, FArTHER
Let's hear from the Kate Greenaway Award judges:
The judges had a real challenge in selecting a winner from the eight titles on the Greenaway shortlist. All were exceptional, yet each demonstrated a different approach, style and technique. In FArTHER by Grahame Baker-Smith, the judges found a beautifully conceived picture book, in which technique, style and vision combine to create a dream-like quality that captures the imagination of readers of all ages. The wealth of detail – a delight to the eye – allows the artist to convey not only darker emotions as he explores both loss and bereavement but also the hope symbolised by the birth of a new generation. This combined with consummate draughtsmanship, and an unerring sense of colour, makes FArTHER outstanding and a Greenaway winner.
Hear hear! Both deserving winners, I think: Patrick Ness for his sparkling achievement over the course of three books and Grahame Baker-Smith for the beauty and truth of his book.
Tell us what YOU think!
PROLOGUE has been shadowing the Carnegie Medal this year; reading Patrick Ness is a pleasure that awaits the children when they are about 13 or 14.
STICKY STORIES has been shadowing the Kate Greenaway Award and will be exploring FArTHER at our next meeting on 11 July.
Ta ta for now!
Kate x
Finally! Monsters of Men really deserved to win this year. :D
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly! So Manchee didn't die for nothing, after all... =] Technically, I think that probably all three of his books should have won (except maybe the first - Cosmic was also really awesome), but hey... Better late than never!!
ReplyDelete~xx