Warwickshire Secondary Book Award (WSBA) 2022 Winner

We had a wonderful time at our Secondary Book Award ceremony last week celebrating all the shortlisted books. We were very lucky to hear all the authors speak about their books and what inspired them and we also had the opportunity to ask them questions. Alex Wheatle, Geraldine McCaughrean and Kate Mallinder were all able to join us in person. Liz Kessler, Brian Conaghan and Padraig Kenny all joined us live virtually.

Students from across Warwickshire have been reading all the shortlisted books over the last few months and voted for their favourite. The winning book was 'When the World Was Ours' by Liz Kessler. Inspired by a true story, this is a powerful and heart-breaking novel about 3 young friends before and during the Second World War. Their lives take very different paths but their fates are closely intertwined. An extremely thought-provoking story and a timely reminder that we must not forget the atrocities of the second world war and we should do all we can to prevent them from happening again.    Here is a lovely message from the winning author:

Thank you so much to everyone who read, enjoyed and voted for my book as the winner of this lovely award. I have to say, getting acknowledgement like this from young people themselves means more than anything. I want my book - the story, the characters and the themes - to reach young people far and wide, so to know that it's been received with the same kind of love that I put into writing it is everything I could want. Thank you again and I'm sending my best wishes and biggest smiles to you all.
Liz Kessler xx

Here are a few photos of the ceremony and the authors.

Picture 1: Liz Kessler on stage virtually. Picture 2: Kate Mallinder, Geraldine McCaughrean and Alex Wheatle. Picture 3: Alex Wheatle on stage.

We are very grateful to all the students who took part and the librarians that supported them. Thanks also to all the authors, publisher, Warwick Books and the Bridge House Theatre at Warwick School for all their support.

If you would like more information about our book awards or other ways we support schools with reading for pleasure and learning then please get in touch. Email: schoolslibraryservice@warwickshire.gov.uk