Last year’s winner, Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie, was the clear winner. Who will win this time? You decide!

What is it?

The Manchester Book Award is a reader development project for young people. Run by Manchester Library and Information Service, it involves young people across the city, creatively encouraging them to read and talk about books to promote literacy and a passion for reading.

How does it work?

The long list of 24 titles has been decided by the MBA working party, which includes young people, librarians and library staff. Reading groups will whittle down the list to six titles by November 2008.

From January 2009, young people across Manchester will vote for their absolute favourite in a secret ballot. Voting is open to all young people, whether they are in a reading group or not. Votes can be cast online and in schools and libraries using ballot boxes. It is the votes of the young people that determine the winning book.

The winner will be announced at an Award Ceremony at The City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday March 11, 2009.

Who is involved?

All Twenty-Four Manchester secondary schools, currently eight public library teenage reading groups and one youth group will be taking part in this year’s award. Four more libraries intend to start groups in January for the shortlist.

Who organises and funds it?

The project is organised by School Services at Manchester City Council’s Library and Information Service, and is funded by the Working Neighbourhood Fund (WNF).

It has a small steering group with representatives from Manchester High Schools, the Manchester Education Partnership, School Services, Manchester Libraries and Theatres. We also have a local poet and a children’s author working with us to represent the publishing sector.

Our aims

The aims of the project are as follows:

• To contribute to raising educational attainment of young people, particularly at Key Stage Three
• To encourage reading for pleasure
• To offer young people across Manchester access to some of the best new fiction
• To increase teachers’, school librarians’ and youth workers’ awareness of new fiction
• To raise the profile of libraries across Manchester
• To create a community of readers in Manchester schools and libraries by:
  • Providing opportunities for young people to meet authors
  • Providing a forum for reading and discussing books
  • Developing links between publishers, booksellers and schools
• To engage more ‘hard to reach’ young people in reading

Selection process and criteria

This year we have again involved young people in the longlisting process. Titles for the Manchester Book Award were selected from nominations provided by young people in secondary schools, and from publishers. Young people also attended the working party meeting to decide the best 24, from all 62 titles nominated .

Books eligible for this award have met the following criteria:

• First published in the UK between July 1 2007 and June 30 2008
• Author to be resident in UK
• Additional qualities: Innovative in style and excellent standalone reads
• This year we welcomed more accessible titles

Timescales

• April to June 2008: Nominations from schools and publishers
• June to July 2008: Longlisting by working party of young people, librarians and teachers
• September to November 2008: Reading of longlist by reading groups
• November 20 2008: Deadline for reading group votes for shortlist
• December 2008: Launch of shortlist (take a book home for the holidays!)
• January to March 2009: Reading and voting by young people across Manchester
• March 5, 2009: Deadline for votes for the winner
• March 11, 2009: Award Ceremony at The City of Manchester Stadium, and winner announced

Key facts in 2007/08

• 35 reading groups took part in the third Manchester Book Award
• 518 readers took part in reading groups citywide
• 779 young people voted for their favourite book