Julie Bertagna has won the Catalyst Award for her latest book Zenith, the sequel to Exodus. These are epic stories set in a flooded future - a Savage Earth saga. Published for young adults her books are read by a wide 'crossover' audience. Click here for her website.
Aravind Adiga has been named the winner of the £50,000 Man Booker Prize for his novel The White Tiger. Announced on 14 October at an awards ceremony at Guildhall, London, Adiga became the fourth debut novelist to win the coveted prize. Shortlisted runners-up Steve Toltz, Linda Grant, Philip Hensher, Amitav Ghosh and Sebastian Barry each received £2,500 with all authors, including Adiga, also receiving a designer-bound edition of their book. Click here for more information.
London is hosting the 2012 Olympic Games but just as important for worldwide reading promotion and literacy it will also host the IBBY World Congress, a biennial conference for publishers, authors, illustrators, librarians, teachers, booksellers, cultural institutes and reading organisations. Attracting 1000 delegates from over 70 countries, this congress will provide professional and academic
opportunities and cultural exchange for those working to develop children's reading and access to books. An eBay benefit auction will be held between the 8th and 22nd November. Bidders will be given the opportunity to own an original Emily Gravett illustration, a rare first edition set of a Darren Shan novel or appear as a character in the next Cliff McNish book. These are just a few of the long list of pledges that children's writers and illustrators have generously donated for the IBBY World Congress Benefit auction. For more information click here.
