2007

Southern Schools Book Award 2007 Presentation Evening

The winner of the 2007 Southern Schools Book Award was announced at the Presentation Award evening which was held on Friday 18th January once again in the theatre at Roedean School. Over 300 young readers from 38 schools across the region eagerly awaited the result.

Those titles short listed for the 2007 award were:
Beverley Birch – Rift
Charles Butler – The Lurkers
Kate Cann – Leaving Poppy
Charlie Higson – Double or Die
Marcus Sedgwick – The Foreshadowing

The books were read, reviewed and hotly debated during the autumn term with voting in December. The outcome however, remained a closely guarded secret until the evening itself.

All the authors attended and were introduced to the audience by the very popular young people’s writer Anne Cassidy, host for the evening. Each author spoke about their writing and read a brief extract from the shortlisted title.

During the event benefactors of the SSBA handed book tokens to representatives from each school.

Finally, after Anne’s exciting build-up, the Highly Commended title Double or Die was announced. This was accompanied by cheers from the audience. Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: the noise was deafening as Anne revealed the card containing the winning title Leaving Poppy. It was a very popular choice.
Kate Cann, who had travelled form Wiltshire, happily responded to her win.

The students then made their way to purchase books from the Bags of Books stand and to meet, speak with, and have their books signed by the authors.

Once again this year there was a tremendous buzz in the air as enthusiastic young readers celebrated the culmination of weeks of reading by meeting the people behind the books.

A quote later from Beverley Birch read “Congratulations to all of you for expanding
[reading] horizons and making books fashionable”

On behalf of all the participants a tremendous vote of thanks is offered to Roedean School for making its theatre available to the Southern Schools Book Award.

Thanks also go to MicroLibrarian Systems, Browns Books for Students, East Sussex County Council, Bags of Books and to HSBC for their continued support for the 2007 Southern Schools Book Award.

Thank you to all the authors and host taking part in the 2007 award.