The Blue Book of Nebo WINNER OF THE YOTO CARNEGIE 2023 MEDAL FOR WRITING

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MSR: Yes, that was a deliberate decision and a cultural experience I was becoming more aware of in my personal life too. I live in an area where many people can speak Welsh but don’t feel confident enough to do so, and I had come to consider what a terrible thing it is to be estranged from your own language because you don’t feel that you reach a certain standard. It’s deadly to a language, lethal. The Blue Book of Nebo is partly informed by that perspective. Of course, it’s something that Rowenna is very uncomfortable with in the novel, as Dylan increasingly draws on the influences of the Bible he has amonghis salvaged books. That inner division must be in me too, in a way. An early review of the book that appeared in a papur bro [a Welsh-language local community newsletter] argued that it was a Christian novel. But anything creative is a mirror really, isn’t it? You see in it what you need to see. And even though I was hardened and cold and suspicious, I couldn’t help but smile at Gwion. Jesus Christ on the A487.

CD: Was it the same when you translated your earlier work Blasu into English? That appeared in English as The Seasoning in 2015. Today, I was cutting down branches from their garden to dry out and use as kindling. Mam was standing at the bottom of the tree, and Dwynwen was tied to her chest, trying to talk. Mam was bundling up the branches as I was throwing them down, because that makes it easier to drag them home. It’s easier for me to climb trees and to go up on the roof and all that, because Mam has a bad leg and walks with a limp. But she still climbs onto the roof of the lean-to with me when it’s sunny or starry.

I had longed for these kinds of conversations, without even knowing it. Of course, Dylan was good company, and could speak to me as an adult now, almost. But he barely remembered life before The End. None of it was real to him. Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. Jeet Zdung has won the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration for Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear , (Kingfisher, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Books). This is the second consecutive year that a graphic novel has clinched the prize. Written and inspired by the real life of Vietnamese wildlife conservationist Dr Trang Nguyen, the “beautiful” manga-inspired illustrations – including scenic watercolours and detailed, pencil sketched journal entries – work together to offer “something new to discover on each re-reading” and inspire and educate young wildlife activists. from its pole. I sweated as I hit the metal with a heavy mallet, and I swore loudly, but I was enjoying it too, because I knew that I’d succeed. It’s got nothing to do with us,” said Mam firmly. I knew then that I had to shut up. Mam isn’t a woman who argues—she just closes herself, like a door or a book. She thinks that breaking into Sunningdale is different to breaking into the other houses in Nebo, and I can’t see why.

Dylan is an avid reader and Rowenna has always encouraged him with his reading and writing. As they try to navigate this new era and Dylan's adolescence, they find a notebook and name it The Blue Book of Nebo. As Dylan suggests, the book enables them to both tell 'our truth in different ways'. In it, they take turns to jot down their thoughts, feelings and memories. Whilst the book is being written, their darkest secrets begin to gradually emerge, too. Through the dual narrators, we begin to understand Rowenna's thoughts, worries and feelings alongside that of her son's. Dylan is trying to comprehend what his future will hold as he tries to understand why his body and thoughts are changing. Skilfully and beautifully written, we begin to see how this small family has survived. What also emerges are the secrets that they have had to keep from each other. The Blue Book of Nebo is at once heart-warming and gut-wrenching. Taking the form of alternating diary entries by fourteen-year-old Dylan and his mam, Rowenna, it follows the story of a small family trying to survive in North West Wales post-apocalypse. The changing perspective between mother and son allows the reader to see this strange world through interchangeably curious and jaded eyes, the contrast regularly presenting moments of revelatory poignancy. Ros skilfully crafts these opposing viewpoints, their unique perspectives allowing her to weave in each character’s life experience. While an optimistic Dylan makes the most of the apocalyptic life he’s lived since childhood, he can’t help imagining the folkloric world which existed before “The End” with unsubstantiated nostalgia. Rowenna, on the other hand, is less sentimental about the old world. Hers was miserable, filled with absent fathers, tedium and money worries – in her new life she can, at least, solely focus on survival and her children. Dylan’s unwavering optimism in the face of relentless challenges is delicately handled and compelling to read. His perseverance hardly ever wavers, and it is only in moments of solitude that he allows his sadness to creep in, (one poignant example being the crush he develops on the photograph of a teenage girl, long-since gone, found in a deserted house). Ros also examines the isolation of motherhood through Rowenna’s melancholic narration, yet also represents her strength – her voice never veering towards a hyperbolic hopelessness. In fact, Dylan and Rowenna’s sincere love for each other provides the root of joy which runs throughout this novel.YLG has 12 regional committees covering all of the UK, and each committee advertises and democratically recruits a judge to represent them on the panel of judges. Each judge serves a two-year term and each year the panel is a unique mix of new and experienced judges led by the Chair of Judges. Following the independent diversity review of the Awards, CILIP introduced a co-opting procedure so that if this recruitment process does not result in a sufficiently diverse and representative judging panel, up to two judges will be co-opted to join the panel. Firefly Press is well known for producing a wide range of delightful and challenging books for children and young adults which retain their appeal for older readers. This promises to be one of the best. I hadn’t thought about the cloud for a while, though I’d always known that Dylan and I would not have survived if it wasn’t for the water I’d forced down our throats when we were ill. I wouldn’t have had the energy to reach the stream when I was at my weakest. We would have died of dehydration. Manon Steffan Ros’s latest book is her own adaptation of Llyfr Glas Nebo, which won the Prose Medal at the 2018 National Eisteddfod and the 2019 Wales Book of the Year Award. Although she has won the annual Tir na n-Og Award for children’s literature several times, it is fitting that The Blue Book of Nebo is recognised as outstanding in any genre, for it will engage and move both young and older readers. For 100 years, Scholastic Corporation has been encouraging the personal and intellectual growth of all children, beginning with literacy. Having earned a reputation as a trusted partner to educators and families, Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, a leading provider of literacy curriculum, professional services, and classroom magazines, and a producer of educational and entertaining children’s media. The Company creates and distributes bestselling books and e-books, print and technology-based learning programs for pre-K to grade 12, and other products and services that support children’s learning and literacy, both in school and at home. With 15 international operations and exports to 165 countries, Scholastic makes quality, affordable books available to all children around the world through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online.