Our TCS Shadowing Book Group were excited to find out that Katya Balen’s beautifully written book “October, October” had won both the official library judges Yoto Carnegie Medal for 2022 and the Shadowers’ Choice Award – which is voted for by thousands of students across the country. The awards recognise the best writing for children and young people, and the Medal has been awarded since 1936. Our group clearly had their finger on the pulse as Katya’s book also came out top when our votes for favourite were cast at TCS library!
Katya’s acceptance speech was passionate and powerful. “I am so thrilled to have won the Yoto Carnegie Medal, not only because it is the award every children’s writer dreams about, but because it is so committed to promoting reading and sharing stories. Sharing stories is something I believe to be one of the most important parts of our lives, simply because stories are our lives. They are threads that connect us all. They make us understand, they give us a shared experience, and they give us something special and private too. They give us wild freedom and they give us safety and comfort.” She spoke eloquently about the magic of stories and the importance of libraries and trained librarians. “They care about the right books being in the right hands, they know the stories that will strike a chord and create all the magic I’ve spoken about.”
Once again Mrs McKeeman excelled herself by kindly cooking a beautiful cake – in the shape of an owl face -in honour of the winning book.
