2019 CILIP Carnegie Awards Shortlist Roundup.

Alrighty, so I have finished the shortlist!! The winners are announced on the 18th of June. So I will be overseas at the time. However as I have done the past couple of years I am going to put forward my favourite and try and predict the winner. This selection this year was really phenomenal, and if you have not read any of them you should definitely put them on your list.

Long Way Down 

This was a really good book about the effects of gang life, and also the consequences of your decisions.

Rebound

An amazing book about a male dealing with the loss of his father and how grief can surprise you sometimes.

The House with Chicken Legs

Probably my favourite story, a gorgeous book about a relationship, and living through memories.

Things a Bright Girl can do

A historical novel which looks at the consequences of war, and is set among the suffragette movement. For a topic that there are lots of books on this was a really unique and wonderful perspective.

The Poet X

An amazing book about belonging and finding your place in the world. I predict this book to be the winner.

A Skinful of Shadows

I know I enjoyed this book, but actually can’t remember what it was about now!

Bone Talk

As above, I enjoyed this book at the time, but it has not made the lasting memory I would have liked!

The Land of Neverendings

Another beautifully written book which looks at grief and the power of stories.

All of these books are definitely worth the read, and are all immensely enjoyable books. My prediction for the winner though will be Poet X. This was an amazing book.

I have said multiple times, but one thing that I have really liked this round is an increase of books that are written with a male protagonist, and look at male characters dealing with their feelings. We definitely need more of this in literature!

Mrs K

Review: The House with Chicken Legs

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson.

Wow.

I was surprised when this book arrived from the library to see that it was classified as children’s. I was not sure what this would mean in terms of my enjoyment of the book. However my one word  review is WOW.

This book was folk tale and fairy tale all rolled into one. It was amazing. It follows the story of 12 year old Marinka who feels like she does not belong in her grandmothers world, or the world of Benji or Nina. At it’s heart this is a book of self discovery that leaves Marinka firmly knowing where she belongs.

Although this book is much lighter than The weight of a thousand feathers or Moonrise I think that this may be my favourite book from the longlist that I have read to date. It feels like the most relatable. We have all felt that sense of isolation before, not really sure if or how we belong. For Marinka, the fantasy nature of the story left her with bigger issues to contend with than most of us. But not only did she battle with her loneliness but with her physical isolation and also the bigger worry about whether or not she belonged and her destiny was right for her.

Marinka in the book is 12 years old, but as a 35 year old I could relate to her. My eight year old daughter started reading this book, although did not get far, I would have been interested to know how she related to the character.

Sophie Anderson writes with so much compassion. My heart was absolutely breaking for the character of Marinka in the beginning.  But also for the old Yaga and both houses. I loved the epilogue, and the finding of a place to belong.

This book would be great for young readers and would fit in so well to a study of fairy tales and what makes a fairy tale. I really cannot recommend it enough!

Mrs K

Genre: Folk Tale, Fantasy, Fairy Tale, adolescent fiction, teenage fiction, family, adventure