The CBI Book of the Year Awards Shortlist will be announced later today. Every year I predict what will be on this shortlist. It's a very strong year for teen books. My favourite Irish book of the year was One by Sarah Crossan which I strongly tip as the overall winner. There are usually 10 books on the shortlist. The winners of the various categories are announced in May.
Here are my predictions - let's see how many I get right this year!
Overall Book of the Year Award 2016 (for books published in 2015)
One by Sarah Crossan
Eilis Dillon Award (1st Book)
The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
Judge's Special Award
Once Upon a Place edited by Eoin Colfer
Children's Choice Award
As the children will be voting on this in the shadowing scheme, I won't predict this one.
Honour Award for Illustration
Imaginary Fred by Eoin Colfer, Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers or The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (depending on the judges' tastes - both are outstanding)
Shortlisted Titles
I'm a Girl by Yasmeen Ismail
The Seal's Fate by Eoin Colfer
Name Upon Name by Sheena Wilkinson
The Wordsmith by Patricia Forde
Asking for It by Louise O'Neill
Hubert by Caitríona Hastings
And that's our 10 (ok 11 to be strictly accurate)!
If non fiction is included: Irelandopedia
May also be shortlisted:
Behind the Walls by Nicola Pierce
The Butterfly Shell by Maureen White
Resonance by Celine Kiernan
Still Falling by Sheena Wilkinson
The Snow Beast by Chris Judge
Hubert by Caitríona Hastings
The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne
A fantastic year for fiction, and teen fiction in particular. Congrats to everyone who had a book published in 2015 - no mean feat in itself. And keep writing!
Yours in books,
Sarah XXX