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YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR WRITING AWARDED TO CHILDREN’S LAUREATE JOSEPH COELHO WITH DOUBLE ILLUSTRATION WIN FOR AARON BECKER
Thursday 20 June 2024: The winners of the UK’s longest-running and best-loved book awards for children and young people, the Yoto Carnegies, were announced today in front of an audience of over 600 children at a live-streamed ceremony at the Cambridge Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s award-winning Matilda The Musical. The character of Matilda’s beloved librarian Mrs Phelps welcomed the audience to the theatre ahead of the winners being announced.
For the first time, the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing is awarded to a Black British author, and the current Children’s Laureate – Joseph Coelho – for his “beautifully descriptive” novel in verse The Boy Lost in the Maze illustrated by Kate Milner (Otter-Barry Books). The story portrays a boy’s journey into manhood and “cleverly integrates” the ancient legacy of the Minotaur with the contemporary journey of a teenager searching for his biological father.
Coelho’s win is a fitting tribute to an award that is uniquely judged by librarians and to his outgoing tenure as Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2022-2024) where he launched the ‘library marathon’ project – a personal mission which saw him visit and join a library in every region of the UK, a total of 213 nationwide, to highlight their importance and show the support they provide to local communities.
The winner of the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration is Aaron Becker for his “beautifully crafted” and “universal” wordless picture book The Tree and the River (Walker Books). Looking at the evolution of human impact on the natural environment through the fate of a lone tree and an enduring river, the timely story gives “a sense of hope”, with Becker’s use of colour to depict the seasons “transformative” and use of light “exceptional.”
The Yoto Carnegies celebrate achievement in children’s writing and illustration and are unique in being judged by an expert panel of children’s and youth librarians, including 12 librarians from CILIP: the library and information association’s Youth Libraries Group. The winning titles were selected from a shortlist of eight books in each category with the judges praising the “timeless storytelling” and “cyclical nature” of the winning author’s and illustrator’s work, allowing them to be “enjoyed in perpetuity”.
Each year thousands of reading groups in schools and libraries in the UK and around the world get involved in the Awards, with children and young people ‘shadowing’ the judging process, debating and choosing their own winners. They have voted for their favourites from this year’s shortlist with Aaron Becker’s The Tree and the River scooping a coveted double-win. He adds the Yoto Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Illustration to his Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration.
Thewinner of the Yoto Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing isannounced as Tia Fisher for herpowerful debut novel told in verse, Crossing the Line (Bonnier Books UK). Based on a true story about teenagers swept up into county lines, this ‘innovative and engaging’ story shows the power of poetry to convey difficult truths in a way that engages and excites young minds.
Commenting on why they chose Crossing the Line, Emelie from shadowing group KEVICHG said “the verse style fits this book like a glove” with Thomas from Team Berko saying “the verse novel structure works really well to keep the reader excited.” On The Tree and the River, Shadowers loved how the wordless story left it open to interpretation. Emilie from Rebel Readers said “it is like a movement of time and it could be in the past or in the future” and Rapha from Roche Readers added it was “a beautiful book, about growth, life and rebuilding.” Dyslexic reader Alec from BurlingtonBookReaders said it helped him learn about the “cyclical nature of the world.”
The winners were revealed at an in-person ceremony held for the first time at the Cambridge Theatre, home of the RSC’s award-winning Matilda The Musical. Over 600 children enjoyed the ceremony in-person with the event live-streamed and watched by thousands of shadowing groups around the country. The awards were hosted by Manjeet Mann, winner of the 2021 Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing for her debut novel, Run, Rebel. Her second novel, The Crossing, was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing in 2022.
Maura Farrelly, Chair of Judges for The Yoto Carnegies 2024, said:
“The Boy Lost in the Maze is an extraordinary novel told through poems about two boys searching for their fathers. It is multi-layered immersive read which is playful in its language and construction and is as architectural as the mythical maze itself. The Tree and the River is a beautiful visual narrative of the natural world and the impact of humankind which invites readers to become absorbed in the landscapes. The epic spreads are alive with intricate detail and gorgeous use of light and colour. Both are ambitious and exciting books that inspire the imagination and empower young readers.
Congratulations to our 2024 medal winners and to the Shadowers’ Choice winners. Thank you to all the young readers who took part in the Shadowing programme and to the librarians who continue to support and inspire readers and to champion the best in books for children and young people everywhere.”
Award-winning and bestselling author Joseph Coelho lives in Kent and is currently the Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2022-2024). His debut poetry anthology Werewolf Club Rules won the CLPE CLiPPA Poetry Award in 2015. He has also written plays, picture books and non-fiction, with all of his work having an element of performance at its heart.
The judges admired the “unique” and “expertly crafted” story of The Boy Lost in the Maze and described the verse novel as “perfect” and “embroidered with beautifully descriptive language”.
Coelho has had a personal connection with libraries since he was young; his first job was at West Hill Library in Wandsworth, and he later worked in the rare books section at The British Library as an undergraduate. In his role as Children’s Laureate his personal goals included showcasing diversity, celebrating poetry and highlighting the vital role libraries have in inspiring a love of reading in young people. Coelho’s tenure comes to an end in July 2024.
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing winner, Joseph Coelho, said:
“I am absolutely delighted to be the recipient of this year’s Carnegie Medal for Writing. The Boy Lost in the Maze is a novel that means a great deal to me and so to have it recognised by the UK’s, if not the world’s, most prestigious award for children’s literature feels particularly special.
During my tenure as Laureate I have had the pleasure of joining a library in every local authority in the UK, meeting librarians and patrons of libraries on buses, in converted flats and in gorgeous Carnegie buildings. The one thing that has been consistent between all libraries has been the passion, skill and creativity of the librarians. Through their essential work they are tackling social isolation, providing access to essential services and of course creating the readers of the future. I feel completely honoured that it is librarians who have deemed The Boy Lost in the Maze as worthy of a Carnegie medal and will forever be grateful to the team at Otter-Barry Books, illustrator Kate Milner and my agent Caroline Sheldon for helping me bring this story to bookshelves and into the hands of readers.”
Aaron Becker is the bestselling American author and illustrator of the wordless picture book trilogy, Journey.His love of travel inspired The Tree and the River and to prepare for the illustrations, he constructed a scale model of the book’s rolling landscape, which he transformed with clay and wood.
With the setting of The Tree and the River deliberately not recognisable, the judges praised the “universality it has over time and space” and said the wordless nature “empowers the reader” and “rewards close inspection”. With the muted colour palate and purposeful use of space throughout it has “great visual impact” and adds to the visual narrative for the reader to create their own story.
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration winner, Aaron Becker, said:
“I’m incredibly grateful to have received the Carnegie Medal for Illustration for The Tree and the River. It’s an honour and a testament to the power of wordless books.
Growing up, I was always drawn to illustrations and would get lost in pictures. When I began drawing images of my own I was able to create a space where I could create, imagine and escape into worlds of my own design. Pictures became the way I processed the world. Within the pages of my wordless books, I invite readers to slow down and interpret stories on their own terms. Children and adults alike can project themselves onto the characters within my stories and find their own meaning and discoveries within the details of each spread, free of a narrator to dictate their pace and thoughts. My hope is that winning this award promotes the idea that books can be for anyone, even the reluctant readers among us for whom story resonates more deeply through imagery than words.”
The winners will each receive a specially commissioned golden medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. The winners of the Shadowers’ Choice Medals – voted for and awarded by the children and young people – will also be presented at the ceremony. They will also receive a golden medal and, for the first time this year, £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice.
Yoto, the innovative, screen-free audio platform for children, is the headline sponsor of the Awards. The Yoto Carnegies are also sponsored by ALCS. Scholastic are the official book supplier and First News are the official media partner.
Something to be Proud Of
Imogen Quinn is a chaotic bisexual with dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian, crushing stereotypes about autistic people. When she decides to put on a pride festival that’s accessible for everyone, she enlists the help of the openly gay captain of the football team, Ollie Armstrong.
Dealing with the fallout from his parents’ divorce, Ollie is initially hesitant. But it doesn’t take long for him to be swept up by Imogen’s passion, and he’s not the only one. Joined by the (infuriatingly perfect) head girl, musicians, an artist and a star baker – a dream team soon assembles to help plan pride and tackle injustices in their school and beyond. You’d better listen out – they’re getting ready to make some noise.
Packed full of fun, forever friendships and fighting back, this YA debut is perfect for fans of I Kissed Shara Wheeler, Gwen and Art are Not in Love, Feel Good, Heartstopper and Not My Problem.
Little Tiger
SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF is Anna Zoe Quirke‘s debut novel and published TODAY! I really loved this book, it ticks most of my boxes: realistic teens, humour, friendship, angst (but not too much), romance (but not too much), positive disability rep, unashamedly LGBTQIA+ characters, present but imperfect families…and, a personal highlight: a non-US based author as I am often annoyed by the number of American titles published and highlighted in the UK when there is so much home-grown (or anywhere-else-on-the-globe-grown) talent we could be supporting. I got the chance to ask a few questions!
The book is own-voices but is it autobiographical at all?
Not really. Imogen is an own-voices character as I’m also a queer autistic person, but I definitely wasn’t brave enough in high school to get up to half the shenanigans that they do! (Although there was a photoshopping incident with my headteacher but that was less an act of protest and more a ‘teenager being a little sh*t’ thing.)
I’ve always thought that I would have been more like Imogen had I known I was autistic and been able to unmask earlier. There are hints at what Imogen used to be like before they fully came into their own and felt comfortable in their identity and those experiences and feelings were definitely inspired by how I felt when I was younger.
If anything, Ollie’s story is the more autobiographical one for me. Nothing was taken directly from my life because, you know, boundaries, but my parents also got divorced when I was in high school, and I’ve had to navigate tricky dynamics with loved ones like he does. Plus, his journey with figuring out what his gender means to him was really special for me to write, as I’ve had to do a lot of figuring out what I wanted my gender to mean to me too.
Was the dual narrative there from the very first draft?
It was. I’m a very character-focused writer so when I’m coming up with a book idea I always know who the characters are first before I know exactly what the plot will be, and Something to be Proud Of was no exception. Both Imogen and Ollie burst into my head and demanded that I write about them, so yes, it was always going to be a dual narrative story – I always knew they both had really important things to say and I felt like they deserved to say them in their own voice. Plus – in my very unbiased opinion – I feel like it’s really lovely that we get to see what their friendship means to them from both their perspectives as it’s developing.
Which character was your favourite to write?
I loved writing all of the characters, but I think I do have to go with Imogen. Writing Imogen’s character was the most fun I’ve had writing ever. They’re funny, silly, unashamedly passionate and I’ll always have fond memories of sitting at my desk cackling out loud to myself and making my dog think I’d lost my marbles while I was writing certain chapters of Imogen’s. However, that being said, all of my absolute favourite moments to write were the ones that were between Imogen and Ollie. Their friendship was an utter joy to write and I’m so grateful that I had them to keep me company during the COVID lockdowns!
What advice would you give to a teen if you’ve inspired them to get involved in setting up an inclusive Pride event in their area?
I love this question and I really do encourage everyone to try and make all their Pride events as inclusive as they can! Here are some thoughts/questions you might want to consider:
– Think about the specific community you want to do your event in – do you know of any particular needs there that you can take into consideration?
– What’s been lacking from other pride events you’ve been to? Were they accessible for wheelchairs/people with other mobility aids? Did they cater to different sensory needs?
– Don’t be afraid to do some research – no one’s expecting you to know absolutely everything straight away, in fact, it’s really important to recognise that you don’t know things. If you think you know everything then you’re closing off the possibility to continue learning. (Also, just as a reminder, when you’re doing research, reading the thoughts and opinions of the groups of people you’re trying to involve in your event is always best, rather than people without that lived experience.)
– Imagine an environment where you are entirely comfortable, calm, and feel celebrated for who you are. What does that space look like? How can you take even just small steps towards creating that space?
– If you can, try and gather an amazing team around you. Chances are you’re not the only person that cares about making things more inclusive and besides, everything’s easier with a great team around you so that you can support each other, brainstorm ideas, commiserate when things don’t go to plan and celebrate together when they do.
– A last reminder: the fact that you’re trying is such a wonderful starting place. You have that softness and that ‘I just want everyone to feel safe’ part inside you, and that’s a really beautiful thing. Be gentle with yourself, and if you feel like you didn’t do something right or forgot something you feel like you should have included, then give yourself grace and just make a note to do that next time. There’s so much pressure to be the ‘perfect’ activist and it’s often really counterproductive. If people worry too much about being perfect, then they might become so anxious that they can’t do anything at all. But doing something is always better than nothing.
What are you reading at the moment and who would you recommend it to?
I’m currently rereading Jane Austen’s Emma. I’d recommend any of Jane’s work (Persuasion is my favourite!) to pretty much anyone. Jane’s stories are so warm, her characters feel so real, and she writes with such wit – she’s a huge writing inspiration of mine.
And then I’m also rereading the Northern Lights trilogy with the students in the ‘Book to Screen Club’ that I run in my library (alongside watching the BBC adaptation) and we’re having an excellent time with it. If you like magic, adventure and high stakes, whether you’re a teen or adult, I definitely recommend those books.
I’ve also just been sent an ARC of Not for the Faint of Heart by my friend, Lex Croucher, which is a historical queer romance/adventure inspired by the story of Robin Hood. Lex’s books are always super fun, laugh-out-loud reads, so I’m very excited to dig into this one.
Will we see more of Imogen or are you working on something different?
Both Imogen and Ollie will always occupy a big chunk of my brain. I have dozens of little snippets of scenes written in my phone notes because I’m always thinking about them and what might have happened in their lives after we leave them at the end of STBPO. Unfortunately though, sequels are pretty rare, so I doubt I’ll ever fully return to the world of STBPO in that way.
But, I am currently working on edits for another book that’s coming out in 2025. It’s a queer rom-com this time, with similar found family vibes and hijinks to STBPO but alongside themes of mental health and figuring out (or not) the nuances of your sexuality. I feel like I’ve properly fallen in love with this book during the editing process and I can’t wait for people to read it next year!
Anna Zoe Quirke is a queer and autistic author and librarian from the North of England. She currently lives in Manchester with her partner, Rachael, and their very angry tortoise, Sheldon. They’re at their happiest writing stories about queer and neurodivergent people finding and claiming their place in the world, exploring the literary wonders of the UK, or making a big ol’ mess in the kitchen baking things for their loved ones.
