The winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2010 is The Great Hamster Massacre by Katie Davies. The Great Hamster Massacre is the story of a young girl's life and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the untimely death of her beloved pet.
Anthony Browne, Children's Laureate, who announced the winner, described the book as “a funny and touching story told very convincingly and honestly from the point of view of a young girl."
Davies, a former literary agent who has also written and performed comedy sketches for BBC Radio 4’s One programme, said: “I’m as happy as I am surprised. I keep catching sight of myself in shop windows, grinning like an idiot. I haven’t won anything since the St Helen’s C of E sack race in 1985. Thanks very much to Waterstone’s, and to everyone who helped me write it.” She beat stiff competition from the other books on the shortlist:
Flyaway by Lucy Christopher
The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
The Seven Sorcerers by Caro King
The Toymaker by Jeremy De Quidt, et al.
Meteorite Strike by A.G. Taylor
Desperate Measures by Laura Summers
Last year's winner was The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison.
More information.
