Branford Boase Award: 2010 winner announced

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Stolen by Lucy Christopher, edited by Imogen Cooper and published by Chicken House, has won the 2010 Branford Boase Award.

Lucy Christopher grew up in Australia and has been fascinated by its landscapes ever since. Stolen tells the story of sixteen year old Gemma kidnapped from Bangkok airport while on holiday and taken by a troubled young man to the Australian outback. Christopher, who teaches part-time on the creative writing MA at Bath University, wrote her novel as part of a PhD on the ways that Australian literature represents wild places, particularly in its writing for young adults.

The Branford Boase Award was set up to encourage new writers and is given each year to the most promising work of fiction for children by a debut novelist. The award also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent.

Christopher's second book, Fly Away, has already been published by Chicken House, and she is currently writing a thriller for YA readers. Chicken House has now won the award three times.

The other titles on the 2010 shortlist were

Devil’s Kiss by Sarwat Chadda, edited by Lindsey Heaven (Puffin)

Life, Interrupted by Damian Kelleher, edited by Anne Clark (Piccadilly Press)

Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera, edited by Shannon Park (Puffin)

Big and Clever by Dan Tunstall, edited by Ross Bradshaw (Five Leaves)

Numbers by Rachel Ward, edited by Imogen Copper (Chicken House)

Paradise Barn by Victor Watson, edited by Leonie Pratt (Catnip)