Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children's Book Award
The judges described Too Much Trouble as ‘an Oliver Twist for our times’. The contemporary adventure story is a dramatic page-turner about Emmanuel and Prince, two brothers who fall in with a gang of pickpockets when their family abandons them. Fast paced and full of tension, it explores big issues such as illegal immigration, what makes a family and the ethical dilemmas surrounding crimes committed for survival.
The Award was founded jointly by Frances Lincoln Limited and Seven Stories, in memory of Frances Lincoln (1945-2001) to encourage and promote diversity in children's fiction. The prize of £1,500 plus the option for Janetta Otter-Barry at Frances Lincoln Children’s Books to publish the novel is awarded to the best manuscript for 8 to 12-year-olds that celebrates diversity in the widest possible sense.
The distinguished panel of judges for this international Award, who are not given any information about the writers until they have made their decisions, agreed that the standard of entries this year was consistently good. There were more contemporary stories to enjoy, compared to the entries for last year’s inaugural Award, with settings ranging from Nigeria to Newcastle, Manchester and the Midlands. The judges looked for a strong story that an 8 to 12-year-old would want to read rather than a worthy book that overtly explores social issues. The decision to give the Award to Too Much Trouble was unanimous. The panel said:
“The author has set out to create an Oliver Twist of our times and has pulled it off. The gritty reality is important with such serious subjects but Avery is very adept at writing and does what fiction is meant to do. He takes reality and heightens it but not to the point where it loses credibility.”
Tom Avery teaches in a large comprehensive school where there are 17 languages spoken and half the children do not speak English as a first language. The other schools he has worked in have also included children from diverse cultural backgrounds. He explains the inspiration for his story:
"I wrote Too Much Trouble when I heard the story of a boy and his sisters who had been sent to live in England without their parents. I couldn’t stop thinking about what that responsibility must be like. In the end I had to put the story down on paper.”
The presentation at Seven Stories also celebrated the publication of Cristy Burne’s Takeshita Demons, winner of the inaugural Award and the first in a trilogy. The book will have a page feature in Booktrust’s Children’s Book Week pack which will be mailed to all primary schools. Takeshita Demons has also been selected for this year’s Booked Up list (see
www.bookedup.org.uk)
Tom Avery has won the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Award 2010 for Too Much Trouble (Photograph: Barry Pells Photography)
Presenting the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award 2010 on 8th June, at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, John Nicoll, Managing Director of Frances Lincoln said:
“Frances was passionate about nurturing new talent on the Frances Lincoln Children’s list, and she would be delighted with the success of the winner of the inaugural Award. Today we are here to celebrate Tom Avery’s achievement and to wish him success. The Takeshita demons followed our heroine from ancient Japan to modern London, the demons in Too Much Trouble surround us now – reported daily in the news – and Tom’s story helps children to understand the suffering that some children have to tolerate, without being didactic. It’s a great read and I am pleased to announce that Janetta Otter-Barry will be working with Tom so that you can all read it.
By extraordinary co-incidence, and this seems stranger than fiction – please remember that the judges do not know anything about the writers and this Award is international – Janetta will find it easier to see Tom from September because he is moving to work in the nearest school to Frances Lincoln, Torriano Primary School.
I would also like to thank Seven Stories for all they have done to make the Award such a success.”
Accepting the Award, Tom Avery said:
“I am delighted to have won this Award and thrilled that Too Much Trouble has been so well received. The opportunity to express different perspectives on the world, like Emmanuel’s, is what makes Diverse Voices so special.”
Kate Edwards, Chief Executive of Seven Stories, the national Centre for Children’s Books added:
“The Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award is going from strength to strength. Once again we’ve had a fantastic response to the Award from unpublished writers in the UK and beyond, and we’ve enjoyed involving Seven Stories staff and volunteers in debating the entries. We are proud to be associated with the publication of last year’s winner, Takeshita Demons, and are delighted that it will be included in the Booked Up list. This goes to prove that there’s a very real place for this Award, ensuring that books which recognise and celebrate cultural difference are published for today’s children. We are looking forward to celebrating with Tom Avery, the winner of this year’s Award. The strength of our partnership with Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and the enthusiasm of the judges have, once again, made the Award a great success.”
Follow Tom Avery’s blog at
www.toomuchavery.wordpress.com
The winner of the Award is chosen by an independent panel of judges. The distinguished panel of judges includes:
- Trevor Phillips - Chair of The Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Jake Hope – Children’s Librarian for Lancashire Libraries, and a freelance consultant
- Geraldine Brennan – Journalist and former Books Editor at the Times Educational Supplement
- Janetta Otter-Barry - Editorial Director, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
- Mary Briggs - Co-Founder of Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books
The Short List: The judges discussed a short list of six titles, without knowing anything about the authors. The range of material and of representations of diversity impressed them. The decision to give the Award to the winner was unanimous. The judges also decided to recognise the talent of three other writers by inviting them to the Award ceremony and providing them with constructive feedback.
Karon Alderman (Special Mention for Story Thief, Remi Oyedele (Highly Commended for Goal Dreams, Tom Avery (Winner for Too Much Trouble and Sue Stern (Commended for Rafi Brown and the Candy Floss Kid (Photograph: Barry Pells Photography)
The Winner: - Too Much Trouble by Tom Avery
Synopsis - Too Much Trouble is the story of two brothers, Emmanuel and Prince. Emmanuel tells us his story as he looks back on how events led to him holding a gun to a man’s head. The story opens on an ordinary day for the boys at school where they strive to go unnoticed, fending for themselves on handouts from their drug-dealer uncle and living in a house where they compete for space with their uncle’s marijuana. But life changes completely when their temperamental uncle decides the boys are too much trouble and withdraws his already limited support. Left to look after themselves, the brothers are led into a life of crime from which Emmanuel cannot see a way out.
Highly Commended: - Goal Dreams by Remi Oyedele
Synopsis - Goal Dreams is a coming-of-age story about Ade Coker, a 12-year-old aspiring footballer from south-west Nigeria. Ade’s pursuit of football glory sets in motion events that see him acquiring a new family, suffering from exploitation and travelling across the globe before discovering that dreams can be realised in various forms.
Commended: - Rafi Brown and the Candy Floss Kid by Sue Stern
Synopsis - Rafi Brown and the Candy Floss Kid is the story of two children misunderstood by adults: mildly dyslexic Rafi draws brilliant cartoons, but is bullied by his teacher, Horrible Hegarty. Carer of a mother with M.E, Candy defies the educational welfare officers. The two bunk off to the People’s History Museum, where Rafi is inspired by a photograph of child printers during the Russian Revolution to draw an exciting graphic story. Back at school, Mrs Hegarty collapses at her desk, but Rafi saves her. Truth is revealed, Rafi’s gift is acknowledged, and Candy joins him and his mates at school.
Special Mention: - Story Thief by Karon Alderman
Synopsis - Story Thief is the story of an 11-year-old failed asylum seeker called Arlie. She tells the story of the days following the arrest and detention of her family as she tries to hide from the authorities. She is supported by her friend Louise and two boys who have their own reasons for staying in hiding.
Judges and short-listed writers with John Nicoll, Managing Director of Frances Lincoln and Kate Edwards Chief Executive of Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books (Photograph: Barry Pells Photography)
For more details visit
www.sevenstories.org.uk
For entry forms for the 2011 Award (closing date 25th February 2011) email
diversevoices@sevenstories.org.uk
Press enquiries to: Nicky Potter Tel: 020 8 889 9735 or nicpot@dircon.co.uk
