During the summer of 1943, Los Angeles became a hotbed of tension and conflict as a series of fierce clashes erupted between U.S. Navy members and Mexican American youth stemming from the murder of Carlos Urbano. Private eye Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez needs to find the Sleep Lagoon Killer before the racist mob kills him in the Zoot Suit Riots.
The clock is ticking—and it’s a bad time to be a Mexican.
TL;DR Review: A bloody brilliant example of Chicano Noir that belongs in any (& every) collection! Henry and Rachel’s writing and art complement each other in this grim and engrossing historical mystery! Buy it and read it – you will not regret it! Trust me I am a Librarian!
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Just in case you were wondering: Pachuco: (slang) a young Mexican-American having a taste for flashy clothes and a special jargon and usually belonging to a neighborhood gang Thanks to Merriam-Webster
I got pulled into appreciating noir early in life, thanks in part to being exposed to Chinatown and The Maltese Falcon as a child. In recent years comic noir has held my interest due to the works of Ed Brubaker, Frank Miller, Jason Aaron and Greg Rucka to name but a few! To my personal canon of favorite graphic novel noir yarns I have now added Death to Pachuco by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill. A dark detective yarn that took me down the gritty streets of the 1940’s City of Angels, serving up action, mystery, morally ambiguous characters and shining a light on the historical plight and experiences of Mexican-Americans in California. All in all a phenomenal introduction to the Chicano Noir subgenre that has left me wanting more! Fortunately this is only the first of what I hope will be many stories about Ricky Tellez.
One of the things I love about reading is, that almost without exception I learn something new no matter what I am reading. Death to Pachuco introduced me to so many things I had no idea existed or only had a passing knowledge about, from the Zoot Suit Riots and the Sleepy Lagoon Murder to the Tongva people, the history of Los Angeles (Calle Olvera, Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas and other places – I have bookmarked a number of sites to read at my leisure and indulge my joy of learning about history).
I have been a fan of Henry’s work for a few years now, thanks to an interview with him I heard on All Things Considered where he discussed Helm Greycastle and discussed La Voz De M.A.Y.O.: Tata Rambo based on the oral history of Ramon Jaurigue, an orphan and WWII veteran who co-founded the Mexican, American, Yaqui, and Others (M.A.Y.O.) organization. I also highly recommend those two works, they are phenomenal and would make worthy additions to personal and library collections!
In Ricky Tellez, Henry Barajas has created a quintessential noir protagonist, damaged, flawed and haunted by his past but still driven to do the right thing. Rachel Merrill’s art style is perfect for noir storytelling!
Death to Pachuco was created by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill. It is published by Image Comics and will be available wherever comics can be purchased on April 14.
You can also find Henry and Rachel collaborating on long-running sports comic strip Gil Thorp.
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay was my book of the year for 2023. This is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful book told in a first-person narrative by Luki, one of the protagonists of Candy’s previous book Bone Talk.
You can find out more about Bone Talk in this 2018 interview with Candy in which I discovered that the foundations of Wind Song had already been laid.
If you have not already read Bone Talk I urge you to do so, as it will give you context for Wild Song; as Candy says in the interview: I actually wanted to write another book, set in a World Fair in 1904 where American exhibited Filipinos in a human zoo. But it would have been a disservice to the tribal people AND to Americans not to show the context of that story. So I decided to begin at the beginning, when the United States invaded the Philippines in 1899 and annexed it as “unincorporated territory”. We became a republic in 1945 but Puerto Rico, which was annexed by the US on the same year, continues to be unincorporated territory. It’s odd how so much of the world has no idea of this. I realise that the Philippines is a small state that doesn’t do much to influence the world, but the United States is a major world power.
Wild Song uncovers a piece of forgotten history of the world – a tale that takes us from from the mountains of Bontoc in the Philippines, to the city of St Louis, Missouri, the site of the 1904 World’s Fair, that played host to the largest human zoo in history.
It is the story of Luki, running away from her village to find her place in the world, Samkad who follows her, her frenemy Tilin and her little sister Sidong, as well as people from the other mountain tribes of northern Luzon in the Philippines, known collectively as the Cordilleran peoples. It is about discovering the wider world and one’s place in it and it is about the end of innocence and discovery that people who wield power do not always do so well or justly. It is also an indictment of white saviorism and the commodification of the culture and bodies of Black & Indigenous People of Color by white people, an ongoing practice that is still hotly debated!
Until I read Bone Talk and Wild Song I had no idea that the Philippines had been a territory of the United States, or that the people of the Philippines had been subjected to a war of conquest and subjugation after Spain had sold it to the US at th econclusion of the Spanish-American War. Seriously I learned more about US imperialism in the late 1800s and early 1900s thanks to Candy than I had ever done so before.
Candy wove historical figures and organizations into this story and provided short biographies about them at the end of Wild Song including Lieutenant Walter Loving and the Philippine Constabulary Band, the most present was Truman K. Hunt, a former lieutenant governor of Bontoc Province who befriended the Igorot and persuaded many to accompany him to St. Louis to participate in the World’s Fair, he gained and lost a fortune off the backs of the peoples he displayed there, and in other parts of the US. He was (no major spoilers here) an utter scumbag, whose mistreatment of the Igorot was so scandalous that he was eventually pursued and arrested by the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Wild Song is a beautifully told, by turns uplifting, sad and hopeful! Keep an eye out for it on awards lists and make sure that you purchase a copy or request it from your local library in March!
This evening while trawling through Bluesky I noticed a disturbing post by author Kyle Lukoff that Penguin Random House imprint Dial Books for Young Readers is being shut down:
Penguin Random House decided to shut down Dial Books for Young Readers and fire my editor, who shepharded "Too Bright To See" and "I'm Sorry You Got Mad" into the world. Devastated and gutted isn't half of what I'm feeling.
Digging into this, I found posts by other authors backing up this assertion:
@cherylklein.bsky.social Not Kyle obviously, but can confirm the bad news. If you haven't heard from your editor at Dial by now I'm guessing you will soon.
The South African Library Week (SALW) 2026 theme, “Reclaiming Knowledge, Empowering Futures”, reflects a critical moment for libraries and information services in the region. In an era marked by rapid technological change, misinformation, and widening knowledge gaps, libraries stand as guardians of authentic information and catalysts for inclusive development. This theme underscores two interconnected imperatives:
Reclaiming Knowledge Knowledge is a shared heritage that shapes identity, culture, and progress. However, barriers such as digital divides, loss of indigenous knowledge, and inequitable access threaten this heritage. By reclaiming knowledge, libraries commit to preserving cultural memory, promoting open access, and ensuring that communities have reliable, diverse, and contextually relevant information. This involves digitization of local content, fostering multilingual resources, and advocating for intellectual freedom.
Empowering Futures Access to knowledge is not an end in itself, it is a means to empowerment. Libraries empower individuals and communities by equipping them with skills for lifelong learning, digital literacy, and critical thinking. In a knowledge-driven economy, libraries are strategic partners in education, innovation, and social transformation. Through inclusive programs, technology integration, and partnerships, libraries enable citizens to navigate complexity, seize opportunities, and shape sustainable futures.
Why This Theme Matters Now Southern Africa faces challenges such as socio-economic inequality, climate change, and the need for digital transformation. Libraries are uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps by reclaiming marginalized voices and democratizing access to information. SALW 2026 calls on stakeholders, libraries, governments, educators, and communities to reaffirm the role of libraries as engines of empowerment and resilience.
Strategic Focus Areas for SALW 2026
Digital Inclusion: Expand access to digital resources and skills for all.
Knowledge Preservation: Safeguard indigenous knowledge and local content.
Community Empowerment: Design programs that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning.
Advocacy & Partnerships: Strengthen collaboration to influence policy and resource allocation for libraries.
By embracing this theme, SALW 2026 positions libraries as transformative spaces where knowledge is reclaimed and futures are empowered, ensuring that no one is left behind in the information society.
Our aim: for all children to access, enjoy, and see themselves reflected in books, and that some aren’t unnecessarily excluded from reading because the format, design or editorial choices do not work for them. In short, we believe accessibility should be treated as a core publishing standard – not an optional add-on.
Mel Taylor-Bessent, Emily Hamilton and Ian Eagleton, children’s authors, SEND parents, have created the SEND-Inclusive Publishing Pledge, working in collaboration with Every Cherry Publishing, a publishing house dedicated to breaking down barriers to reading for SEND readers. I think this is a great idea, a number of their ideas are the kind of thing that I’ve been wishing for for the students in my library!
[if on a desktop, right click the individual images to open them and zoom in]
Publishers can reach them at the below email addresses with any questions or to commit to the SEND-Inclusive Publishing Pledge: Mel: info@meltaylorbessent.com Emily: helloemilyhamilton@outlook.com Ian: ian@thereadingrealm.com Every Cherry: info@everycherrypublishing.com
Tuesday 10 March 2026: The Carnegies, the UK’s longest running and best-loved book awards for children and young people, run by the UK’s library association, CILIP, announced their 2026 shortlists at the London Book Fair this afternoon.
Identity, belonging, relationships, and the meaning of home have emerged as themes throughout both Medal shortlists, with creative storytelling ranging from the deeply personal to the historic and mythical.
Exciting innovation appears across both shortlists, with the Medal for Writing featuring subversive storytelling, reimagined folklore, and inventive verse and chronology, whilst the Medal for Illustration showcases a range of artistic styles from typography to kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting and folding.
Two graphic novels feature on the Medal for Illustration shortlist including an adaptation of Lord of the Flies illustrated by Aimée de Jongh, a classic text also recently adapted for the BBC by acclaimed screenwriter Jack Thorne.
Kengo Kurimoto and Oboh Moses are shortlisted on the Medal for Illustration for their debut books, alongside five illustrators who are brand new to the Carnegies. Only Kate Rolfe returns for a consecutive time after being shortlisted in 2025.
Patrick Ness is shortlisted for a fifth time, fourteen years after his Medal for Writing win in 2012, with the chance of an unprecedented third win in the category.
Three more previous Medal for Writing winners are also shortlisted, including Jason Reynolds whowonin 2021, Katya Balen who won both the Medal for Writing & Shadowers Choice in 2022, and Tia Fisher, winner of the Shadowers’ Choice2024.
Writers and illustrators from around the UK including Birmingham, Dumfries, London, Norwich, and Suffolk havebeen shortlisted for both awards.
Walker leads the field for publisher nominations with 3 titles shortlisted across both Medals, closely followed by Andersen Press, Faber & Faber, and Lantana who each have two titles shortlisted.
The Carnegies celebrate outstanding reading experiences in books for children and young people. They are unique in being judged by librarians, with the Shadowers’ Choice Medals voted for by thousands of reading groups in schools and libraries in the UK and around the world, who shadow the judging process and choose their own winners.
16 books have been shortlisted in total, with eight in each category for the Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Carnegie Medal for Illustration; whittled down from 37 longlisted titles by the judging panel, which includes 14 children’s and youth librarians from CILIP’s Youth Libraries Group. The awards aim to spark a lifelong passion for reading by connecting more children with books that will change lives.
The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlist is (alphabetical by author surname):
Ghostlines by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Not Going to Plan by Tia Fisher (Hot Key Books)
Popcorn by Rob Harrell (Piccadilly Press)
The Boy I Love by William Hussey (Andersen Press)
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Tim Miller (Walker)
Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Twenty-Four Secondsfrom Now by Jason Reynolds (Faber & Faber)
Birdie by J. P. Rose (Andersen Press)
The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlist is (alphabetical by illustrator surname):
The Playdate by Clara Dackenberg, written by Uje Brandelius, translated by Nichola Smalley (Lantana)
The Endless Sea by Linh Dao, written by Chi Thai (Walker)
Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel illustrated & adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by William Golding (Faber & Faber)
The Sleeper Train by Baljinder Kaur, written by Mick Jackson (Walker)
Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto (Pushkin Children’s Books)
Freedom Braids by Oboh Moses, written by Monique Duncan (Lantana)
The Paper Bridge by Seng Soun Ratanavanh, written by Joelle Veyrenc, translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Floris Books)
Wiggling Words by Kate Rolfe (Two Hoots)
Stella Hine, Chair of Judges for The Carnegies 2026, said:
“The 2026 judges have worked tirelessly to curate two outstanding shortlists. The lists meet young readers where they are, asking searching questions about identity, belonging, community and how we respond as life changes around us. These shortlists offer a wide scope of everyday life including friendship, wellbeing, courage, consent, respectful relationships, and empathy in the face of prejudice. Innovation in form is particularly exciting with inventive verse and chronology, subversive storytelling and reimagined folklore, alongside more traditional narratives. Together, these books reflect our world and empower young people to live and act with all their being and with hope. Huge congratulations to every shortlisted author and illustrator. Your works will impact generations to come, starting with our shadowing groups who have the joy of exploring these books deeply over the next few months as do we, the judges.”
THE SHORTLISTS IN MORE DETAIL
Patrick Ness is in the running for an unprecedented third win for the Medal for Writing, 14 years after winning with A Monster Calls in 2012. His shortlisted title, Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody, is a ‘laugh out loud funny’ illustrated tale that is ‘completely absurd but so clever’ in the way it ‘subverts’ norms and narrative voice, and tells a unique story of anxiety, depression and friendship whilst ‘advocating uniqueness and individuality’. Rob Harrell has also explored mental health in his illustrated young fiction novel, Popcorn. Told through the eyes of an anxious young boy on school photo day, Harrell offers a ‘window into what someone with anxiety lives with’ written with empathy, hope and humour.
Mental health is also explored in Kengo Kurimoto’s Medal for Illustration shortlisted book, Wildful, one of two graphic novels on the shortlist. Judges loved the ‘filmic quality’ Kurimoto has brought to his story of a young girl discovering the joy and magic of a hidden woodland near home, as she processes the grief of losing her grandmother. The second graphic novel on the shortlist is Lord of the Flies, adapted and illustrated by Aimée de Jongh. The judges said reading this book is an ‘uncomfortable experience but one you don’t want to let go’, praising de Jongh for her ‘extremely strong and impactful’ retelling of a much-loved classic.
On the Medal for Writing shortlist, debut author Beth O’Brien, was inspired by Red Riding Hood to write her feminist reimagining, Wolf Siren. In this ‘rich and layered’ story, O’Brien uses ‘beautiful and lyrical’ language to transport readers to a small village and magical woodland filled with wolves and secrets. The connection between a small community and nature is also particularly strong in Ghostlines, written by 2022 Medal for Writing and Shadower’s Choice winner, Katya Balen. Set on a small island home to thousands of puffins and very few people, this is a ‘compelling’ story about what home means to different people. Home is also explored in The Playdate, illustrated by Clara Duckenberg. On the surface, this is a story about a young girl excited to visit her friend for a playdate, but Duckenberg’s illustrations reveal a ‘multi-layered’ secondary story that depicts a hardworking mother cleaning the friend’s home, whilst the children are innocently unaware of the social divide.
Connection through journeys emerges as a theme in the Medal for Illustration shortlist this year. The journey to reach a neighbouring town in The Paper Bridge is innovatively explored by Seng Soun Ratanavanh using intricately detailed paper scenes that have been lit and photographed, providing an ‘exquisite’ and ‘memorable’ reading experience. Linh Dao’s striking visual contrasts between home and journey in The Endless Sea convey a poignant story of a refugee family traveling from Vietnam. Judges loved the ‘highly emotive’ colour palette, and use of light and dark silhouettes to build the mood. In Baljinder Kaur’s illustrations for The Sleeper Train, there is a ‘vibrant Indian twist’ to the colour palette and distinctive borders used throughout, creating a real sense of ‘movement and journey’ and an ‘excellent visual experience’ of a young girl’s train journey across India.
Historical settings are prevalent this year, with William Hussey setting his Medal for Writing shortlisted title, The Boy I Love, in the WW1 trenches. Judges praised the sense of ‘depth’ and ‘tension’ in this ‘outstanding’ love story of two young men on the frontline. A 1950s Yorkshire mining town is the setting of J.P. Rose’s shortlisted novel, Birdie. Featuring a determined pit pony and an even more headstrong young girl, this ‘affecting and emotional’ story spotlights Birdie’s struggle with racism and belonging as she moves to a new home. Black identity in history is explored on the Medal for Illustration shortlist with Oboh Moses’ debut, Freedom Braids, a picture book about the liberation of enslaved African women during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Moses uses his bold and vivid digital illustration style to portray fear alongside the love of a community of women with great ‘impact and power’.
Two YA novels on the writing shortlist focus on teen relationships. Former medal winner Jason Reynolds is shortlisted forTwenty-Four Seconds from Now, a story ‘full of heart’about the moments leading up to a young man’s loss of virginity. Told backwards in time from the tender moment, judges praised the ‘fresh’ framing device and ‘skill’ used to write a gentle moment so powerfully. Another previous winner, Tia Fisher, has been shortlisted for her verse novel, Not Going to Plan. A powerful story about sexual consent and unplanned pregnancy, the judges praised the way Fisher constructed the poems and played with language to evoke emotion and highlight the characters’ relationships.
Kate Rolfe, who was shortlisted for her debut picture book in 2025, also uses typography in her 2026 Medal for Illustration shortlisted title, Wiggling Words. Offering an insight into dyslexia, Rolfe’s illustrations develop from panicked chaos to ordered creativity, celebrating the boundless potential of neurodiversity through typography and ‘striking’ high contrast colours.
The winners will be announced and celebrated on Tuesday 23June at a live and streamed ceremony at the Cambridge Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi award-winning Matilda The Musical. The ceremony will be hosted by multi award-winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner, who previously won the Medal for Illustration in 2009 and has been shortlisted a further six times. Originally from Yorkshire, Catherine studied Illustration at the Edinburgh College of Art and still lives in the city with her family and a small menagerie of animals who inspire her creative work. Her books for children have sold over two million copies worldwide, been translated into 35 languages, and adapted for television, theatre and musicals.
The winners will each receive a specially commissioned medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. The winners of the Shadowers’ Choice Medals – voted for and awarded by children and young people – will also be presented at the ceremony. They will receive a medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice.
As the official book supplier, Scholastic are working with CILIP to donate shortlist packs to 10 schools in disadvantaged areas to allow them to also take part in the shadowing and widen the reach of engagement with the awards. Applications will be open from 23 – 30 March with packs to be sent out immediately afterwards to the selected schools.
As Shadowing resource partners, the English and Media Centre (EMC) and the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE)have developed engaging reading resources for each shortlisted book, complete with activity ideas and discussion prompts. EMC focuses on writing resources, while CLPE provides resources on illustration. See here for more information about the Shadowing resource partners.
The 2026 Carnegie Awards are supported by three key sponsors: Scholastic, the official book supplier; ALCS; and Sora, the official digital partner. The longlist and shortlist can be ordered from Scholastic now. The Sora student reading app will provide access to available longlisted titles and free access to all available shortlisted digital books for shadowing groups, enhancing inclusivity and fostering a love of reading among young people. First News are the official media partner.
Lara Marshall, RNIB’s Library Services Manager, said: For children with vision impairment reading opens up a world of imagination and information that’s vital in enriching their lives and developing their education. RNIB’s Library ensures children with vision impairment always have access to books in accessible formats such as braille and audio so they can delve into the stories they love and hear and feel them come to life. What better way to celebrate World Book Day than to recognise literature in all its forms – and the life-changing impact accessible formats can have for children – enabling them to access stories on a par with their sighted peers.
The 2026 World Book Day books are available in braille and audio with help from RNIB. Call 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk.
Children with vision impairment have also been invited to a very special event in partnership with the British Library, World Book Day, Penguin Random House, The Roald Dahl Foundation and VICTA – a charity which supports children with vision impairments – set to take place at the British Library on March 15. Author Sibéal Pounder, one of this year’s World Book Day writers will be leading three sessions for children with vision impairment based on her Willy Wonka book, Chaos at the Chocolate Factory. Other events will follow later in the year.
To access books throughout the year, readers of every age with a vision impairment or sight loss will find more than 52,000 books in accessible formats including audio and braille from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Visit the RNIB Library for audio or braille books at www.rniblibrary.com and RNIB Reading Services for digital downloads at readingservices.rnib.org.uk
Students and Education Professionals can also access education resources in accessible formats through RNIB Bookshare: www.rnibbookshare.org
Now in its second year the GLL Literary Foundation has selected 20 children’s authors from across the UK to receive bursary placements for 2026 worth up to £4,000 each.
The Foundation was established in November 2024 to support children’s authors, inspire young readers and champion public libraries. It brings together writers, librarians and communities from across Bromley, Dudley, Greenwich, Lincolnshire and Wandsworth, areas where GLL operates public libraries under its ‘Better’ brand. GLL is a worker-owned charitable social enterprise.
· Anne Miller – Lincolnshire – Oxford University Press; HarperCollins Children’s Books
· Lui Sit – Wandsworth – Macmillan Children’s Books; Knights Of Media
· Eve Wersocki-Morris – Wandsworth – Little Tiger
· Jane Porter – Wandsworth – Otter-Barry Books
· Iqbal Hussain – Wandsworth – Penguin Random House Children’s
· Ramzee – Wandsworth – Hachette
Entries were assessed by a board of trustees drawn from GLL libraries, children’s librarians and the publishing world.
Each author will receive a £750 bursary alongside in kind professional development support valued at up to £4,000. Authors are paired with a dedicated librarian mentor who helps shape events, develop school and community partnerships and introduce opportunities with booksellers, festivals and local organisations. Specialist training in branding, marketing and business skills supports authors to build sustainable careers while sharing their stories with young readers.
Through author visits, workshops and community events, the Foundation helps children discover the enjoyment of reading and develop confidence as readers. Meeting authors and engaging directly with stories encourages reading for pleasure, supports literacy development and helps libraries connect more young people with books and learning opportunities.
“Last year we welcomed an inspiring group of authors to the GLL Literary Foundation, and it has been wonderful to see the relationships that have grown between writers, librarians and local communities. Watching authors develop their confidence, support one another and bring stories to life for children has been incredibly rewarding. We are excited to continue working with our inaugural authors while welcoming a fantastic new cohort for 2026.”
Philip Donnay, Chief Executive Designate of GLL and Chair of the GLL Literary Foundation, added:
“As a charitable social enterprise working in partnership with councils, our role is to create lasting social value for local communities. The Foundation brings authors, libraries and communities together in a way that strengthens the literary ecosystem while delivering meaningful cultural impact. The energy and collaboration we saw in the first year makes us incredibly excited for what comes next.”
Joseph Coelho OBE, Patron of the GLL Literary Foundation, said:
“Meeting an author can be a life changing moment for a child. The GLL Literary Foundation creates those moments by bringing writers into libraries and placing stories at the heart of communities. Seeing authors continue their journey together while welcoming new voices makes this an exciting and important programme for the future of reading.”
In its inaugural year the Foundation helped 20 authors to deliver more than 60 events across libraries, schools and community venues, engaging over 3,000 children and more than 500 adults in reading activity. Authors developed new professional skills, strengthened networks and increased visibility for their work, while libraries reported new memberships and increased borrowing following events.
All authors from the 2025 cohort will now continue into a second year through the Foundation’s Alumni Programme. Having built strong partnerships with their librarian mentors and local communities, these writers will deepen their engagement, collaborate with new authors and help shape the future of the programme.
As part of the National Year of Reading 2026, the expanded Foundation will continue building partnerships with schools, publishers, festivals and community organisations to inspire reading for pleasure and demonstrate the vital role public libraries play in the UK’s cultural life.
Ahead of World Book Day, and to celebrate the National Year of Reading, the School Library Association (SLA) is launching a brand-new award in collaboration with one of the UK’s most innovative children’s publishers.
The Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award will be the only national award to celebrate young readers, recognising pupils in Year 7 and 8 who have overcome challenge to discover the joy of reading. The winner will receive £400 worth of Barrington Stoke books for their school library, a £100 book token for themselves, and a digital subscription to First News for both home and school.
Nominations are now open for the award, which celebrates engagement, enjoyment and determination over academic attainment or reading fluency. Awarded by the SLA, the Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award will also highlight the vital role school libraries and librarians play in getting the right books into the hands of the right pupils, helping every child develop their own positive relationship with reading.
Teachers, headteachers and school librarians from across the UK can nominate Year 7 and 8 pupils (S1 and S2 in Scotland). The closing date for nominations is Friday, 15th May, after which a prestigious judging panel will decide on a shortlist. The winner will be announced at the SLA’s Annual Awards Ceremony, taking place on 18th November 2026 in London.
Jane Walker, Sales & Marketing Director at Barrington Stoke,said: “At Barrington Stoke, young people are at the heart of everything we do, and we know that some of them face real challenges on the path to developing a love of reading. We’re therefore thrilled to be working with the School Library Association, sponsoring an award to celebrate those readers, while also recognising the crucial role of the school librarians who support them on that journey.”
The judging panel will include SLA School Librarian of the Year 2025 – Julie Broadbent, author and SLA Patron Tom Palmer and Barrington Stoke author Catherine Johnson, as well as representatives from Barrington Stoke, the School Library Association and children’s newspaper First News, who will join the award as media partner.
Catherine Johnson said:“I am so excited to be a judge for the brand-new Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award! I firmly believe that school libraries and librarians are an integral part of any school community. And I am thrilled to help shine a light on those students – a vital part of those communities – who have found their way into books.”
Victoria Dilly, CEO of the SLA, said:“Launching a brand-new award that celebrates young readers puts children and young people at the heart of our National Year of Reading activity. We are thrilled to be joining forces with Barrington Stoke – their focus on making books accessible to every reader makes them the perfect partner for an award specifically recognising young people who have had to overcome challenge to discover the joy of reading. The Barrington Stoke Reader of the Year Award will celebrate the curiosity, empathy and imagination that all children and young people can unlock when they discover the joy of reading.
With children’s reading for pleasure at an all-time low, and a mandatory Year 8 reading test soon to enter the curriculum, the need to celebrate children’s reading enjoyment has never been so important. We know that school libraries and school librarians help millions of children to develop more positive relationships with reading, and I can’t wait to hear about some of them.”
After the unsettling events of The Witches of Hogsback, Zelda Scott is very much grounded.
But when her best friend, Song, reconnects with a childhood friend turned social media star, Song manages to convince Zelda’s mom to let her tag along on a holiday to a secluded island in Sedgefield. Zelda soon finds herself the outsider in a group of glamorous teens with an unsettling dynamic. With no adults around, they indulge in endless partying—until the fun takes a deadly turn.
Cut off from the mainland by a raging wildfire and with their communication sabotaged, Zelda must confront a chilling reality: someone on the island is a killer. As people start to vanish and bodies begin to pile up, Zelda races against time to unmask the murderer. But in a group where everyone harbours dark secrets, can she trust anyone?
Slaying in Sedgefield is a direct sequel to the thrilling The Witches of Hogsback. In the opening pages we find our heroine Zelda still suffering the aftereffects of her experiences in unmasking a killer and finding a sort-of boyfriend during her trip to the Hogsback.
I picked up my copy of Slaying… during my trip back home to Cape Town in September last year but I held off on reading it for months because I was missing home and wanted to delay my pleasure in reading this book.
While reading the conversations between Zelda and her friend Song as well as with the other characters in this book hearing their Cape Town accents coming through the text brought me so much joy, for a few moments it was like I had never left home! As mentioned in other reviews, Sally writes in such a way that I could see their surroundings, Sedgefield was a family favourite holiday destination when I was a child, although we had a caravan rather than a fancy holiday home on an island.
Much like the first book in the Zelda Scott mysteres, Slaying in Sedgefield begins as a slow burn, Zelda is distracted by her long-distance situationship with Marius and concerned about her growing friendship with Song and wanting to keep her safe. Even though she only has a small role I empathise with Zelda’s parents wanting to keep her safe but also wanting her to spend time with a friend and meet new people.
My sense of unease crept in once Zelda and Song had connected with Song’s friend and her hangers-on and it only got worse from there! Memories of being an outsider at raucous teen parties with no adult supervision surfaced in my brain and I began to get seriously stressed.
Sally has woven another gripping mystery that kept my guessing throughout, isolation, outside threats and a group of highly dysfunctional young people with murky motives kept me engaged throughout!
