The UKβs longest running and best-loved book awards for children and young people, The Yoto Carnegies, today announced their 2023 shortlists today. We are delighted that Sita Brahmachari has been shortlisted for the Medal for Writing for her YA novel When Shadows Fall, illustrated by Natalie Sirett.
The Yoto Carnegies are unique in being judged by childrenβs and youth librarians, with the respective Shadowersβ Choice Medals voted for by children and young people. The 31 initially longlisted titles were whittled down to a shortlist of 13 by the judging panel, which includes 12 librarians from CILIPβs Youth Libraries Group.
What the organisers said about selecting Sita Brahmachari and When Shadows Fall.Β
‘Five-time nominated author Sita Brahmachari has secured her place on the shortlist for the first time for When Shadows Fall, a “beautifully observed”, “lyrical” novel written through an original mix of forms, combining poetry, prose and illustrations by Natalie Sirett. The judges highlighted the “unforgettable voices” in this story of friendship and community. A previous winner of the Waterstones Childrenβs Book Prize, Brahmachari is an ambassador for Amnesty, and her passion for centring marginalised voices comes to the fore in this “powerfully charged” tale.
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 21 June at a live and streamed lunchtime ceremony at The Barbican, hosted by former Childrenβs Laureate Lauren Child. The winners will each receive Β£500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice, a specially commissioned and newly designed golden medal and a Β£5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. The Shadowersβ Choice Medals, voted for and awarded by children and young people shadowing the shortlist from today, will also be presented at the ceremony. Following the brand refresh of the Awards this year, the Shadowersβ Choice winners will also receive a golden medal for the first time.
Activities and resources for When Shadows Fall are available on the Yoto Carnegies website.
