Books / Bristol Teen Book Awards
Bristol Teen Book Awards announce 2020 winner
Returning for its second year, the Bristol Teen Book Awards welcomed a number of children’s authors and around 100 students from across the city to celebrate diversity in teenage literature.
The award took place on Thursday, February 13 at Junction 3 Library, where and students from different schools across the city vote for their favourite book out of six nominations, as well as enjoying an afternoon of literary-themed activities and workshops.
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The shortlisted books showcased the city’s diversity and its growing inclusivity of Bristol’s literature scene. The nominated books were Summer of No Regrets by Kate Mallinder, Me Mam. Me Dad. ME, by Malcom Duffy, Night of the Party, by Teacey Mathias, Oh My Gods, by Alexandra Sheppard, Run Riot, By Nikesh Shukla and Now or Never, by Bali Rai.
One of the workshops groups gather to listen to Kate Mallinder
The afternoon kicked off with a range of activities and challenges for the students, before splitting into groups to speak with the authors in attendance, with Kate Mallinder, author of Summer of No Regrets, emphasising the importance of “wholeheartedly” putting yourself into what you love.
Kate also imparted knowledge on the process of writing a book, speaking about how social media has helped her career and gave insight to the benefits of working with a small publisher.
The audience ask questions before the winner is announced
The children and teachers also partook in a Q&A with all the authors, and then the winner was announced. The 2020 Bristol Teen Book Award went to Tracey Mathias for her romantic mystery novel set in post Brexit England, After the Party.
Tracey was delighted and felt “privileged” and “overwhelmed” to have been chosen. Roz Keir organizer of BTBA thanks the sponsors (Osborne Clark CLIFTON College and the School Library Association)
All photos by Lilly Subbotin
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