Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award 2020

Young people across the West Midlands voted Humza Arshad’s ‘Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties’ as their winner for the 2019 Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award. Organised by Wolverhampton Grammar School, we are already in the process of inviting children aged 9 – 13 to start nominating their favourite titles of 2020. So far, the following titles are proving popular and have been added to our longlist:

Wilde

by Eloise Williams

Can she break the curse of the witch called Winter?

Being different can be dangerous. Wilde is afraid strange things happen around her. Are the birds following her? Moving to live with her aunt seems to make it worse. Wilde is desperate to fit in at her new school. But In a fierce heatwave, in rehearsals for a school play telling the local legend of a witch called Winter, ‘The Witch’ starts leaving pupils frightening curse letters. Can Wilde find out who’s doing it before everyone blames her? Or will she always be the outsider?

If you would like to vote for your favourite new release of 2020, then please email the book title and author to Mrs Rowley at: zer@wgs-sch.net. We look forward to announcing the twelve longlisted titles at the end of the autumn term.

Wonderscape

by Jennifer Bell

When Arthur, Ren and Cecily investigate a mysterious explosion on their way to school, they find themselves trapped aboard The Principia - a scientific research ship sailing through hazardous waters, captained by one Isaac Newton. Lost in the year 2473 in the Wonderscape, an epic in-reality adventure game, they must call on the help of some unlikely historical heroes, to play their way home before time runs out.

The Highland Falcon Thief

by M.G. Leonard

First stop, The Highland Falcon Thief, a breathless train journey full of deceptions, puzzles and clues to solve. Harrison Beck is reluctantly joining his travel-writer Uncle Nat for the last journey of the royal train, The Highland Falcon. But as the train makes its way to Scotland, a priceless brooch goes missing, and things are suddenly a lot more interesting.

As suspicions and accusations run high among the passengers, Harrison begins to investigate and uncovers a few surprises along the way. Can he solve the mystery of the jewel thief and catch the culprit before they reach the end of the line? Hear whispers in the dining car, find notes in the library, and unknown passengers among the luggage as you help Harrison to solve the mystery aboard one of the world's grandest trains.