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The Best Books of 2006
For the past two years, children’s literary scout and festival organiser John McLay has been putting together a ‘Best Books of the Year’ list. What is unique about McLay’s list is that he canvasses opinions from all corners of the children’s publishing industry, ie from the people for whom the creation and assessment of children’s books is a core activity. So which books published in 2006 got the industry’s votes? Rosemary Stones finds out.
With over 12,000 new books for children published each year, how are we to choose the right book for the children we live or work with? Even specialist journals like Books for Keeps do not have sufficient space to review everything from those 12,000 titles that deserves serious critical attention. Literary prizes play an important part in helping to sift the wheat from the chaff and their profile with the general public is now much higher and more influential than in the past. Those awards with shadowing schemes involving young readers have also done much to get new writers and new writing into the hands of young readers as have the many regional children’s book awards that have been set up in the last decade. And then there is the contribution of the websites, some set up by young readers themselves to write about their favourite titles.
Another approach to finding the best is that old warhorse, the ‘best of’ list and what matters here, as with any form of selection, is who is doing the selecting. What experience and knowledge do they bring to the task? John McLay’s approach for his Best of 2006 has been to go to the specialists – those actively involved in the creation and promotion of children’s books as authors, illustrators, publishers, reviewers, scouts. True, some publishers have voted for books published by their own company (others did not) so the result is not completely objective – but the same can often be said of literary prizes and sometimes, even, of reviews. Agreement and disagreement with those who have done the selecting is par for the course – and part of the fun.
What children’s literature needs above all is a passionate and well informed critical debate and this list is a lively contribution to that discussion. So which were the top titles of 2006 according to McLay’s 57 contributors and what did they have to say about them?
The Overall Winner and Fiction Winner
A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve (Scholastic)
‘The book I’ve enjoyed most has to be Philip Reeve’s A Darkling Plain . I’ve loved all the ‘Mortal Engines’ series and this was a fantastic conclusion. Philip’s writing is not only exciting, bold and incredibly inventive in terms of plot – it is also witty and at times very poignant. The ending, especially in what happens to Shrike (with whom I am weirdly in love!), moved me more than anything I’ve read in ages. A fabulous book from a fabulous author.’ Sarah Davies, Macmillan Children’s Books
‘The best book of the four title series. This book is full of action, suspense and great set pieces. And it was huge fun.’ Wayne Winstone, Waterstone’s Booksellers
‘…this quartet of books is a true masterclass in how to construct an epic story arc…’ Graham Marks, Author
‘This amazing adventure has huge appeal to children. But what makes these books so compelling to me is that nothing is black and white – things are shades of grey just like real life. So, the books give you masses to think about as well as entertaining you with a wonderful, action-packed, rollicking, great story.’ Elaine McQuade, Scholastic Children’s Books
‘…a staggering feat of award-winning storytelling aplomb…’ John McLay, Children’s Literary Scout
‘This last book was the perfect conclusion to an already superb story; it has become one of my all time favourites.’ Julian Exposito, Borders UK
Fiction Runners-up
A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd (David Fickling Books)
‘…for the author’s subtle, sensitively drawn, deeply engaging and unforgettable characters and the emotional restraint of her narrative. I found this to be a beautiful, heartbreaking debut novel, bursting with hope and umanity.’ Catherine Pellegrino, Rogers, Coleridge & White
‘ A Swift Pure Cry had a singing, lyrical voice despite its tragic subject…’ >em> Nicolette Jones, Journalist
‘…an amazing debut from a most assured writer. Tragic but not depressing, beautifully written and a book I want to keep revisiting.’ Kelly Hurst, Random House Children’s Books
‘One of a couple of titles that have stayed with me for the quality of the writing and their fresh new voices.’ Jane Churchill, Cheltenham Literary Festival
You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum! by Andy Stanton (Egmont Books)
‘For sheer silliness, I thoroughly enjoyed You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum! ’ Philip Ardagh, Author
‘The book is completely mad and hilarious and Andy is such an original new voice in children’s books. I think we’ll be hearing a lot more about him in the future. The truth is a lemon meringue!’ Phil Perry, Freelance Publicist
‘There is no competition for my choice this year. Andy Stanton’s You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum! has to be the funniest book ever. I’m buying it for everyone this Christmas, young and old. What better present for your best friend than an hour of laughter?’ Eve White, Literary Agent
‘ You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum! by Andy Stanton for out-and-out hilarity!’ Paul Shipton, Author
Larklight by Philip Reeve (Bloomsbury)
‘… the very larky Larklight by Philip Reeve.’ Frank Cottrell Boyce, Author
‘I also really liked Larklight , not only for Philip Reeve’s characteristically inventive text but also for giving the brilliant David Wyatt a real chance to shine.’ Liz Cross, Oxford University Press
‘… Larklight for its wonderful originality and because, as a complete package, it looks so beautiful. And how could I say that without mentioning the genius of David Wyatt.’ Chris Mould, Illustrator ‘It’s Jules Verne with giant spiders.’ John McLay, Children’s Literary Scout
Just In Case by Meg Rosoff (Penguin)
‘My favourite book of the year… it has everything a great book needs: a wonderful story, fascinating characters, big ideas, little ideas, beautiful writing, a touch of strangeness, darkness, depth, emotion, humour… it even has an invisible greyhound. What more could anyone want in a book? A truly marvellous piece of work.’ Kevin Brooks, Author
‘…I also loved Meg Rosoff’s fast-paced Just In Case for the crazed pithiness of its language and story.’ Siobhan Dowd, Author
‘…with Just In Case Meg Rosoff proved conclusively that How I Live Now , her award-winning debut, was no fluke.’ Graham Marks, Author
The Year the Gypsies Came by Linzi Glass (Puffin)
‘ The Year the Gypsies Came really stirred me. To see this young girl, living in Johannesburg, going through so much hardship and receiving so little love and attention at home was heartbreaking. But it was her friendship with the old Zulu Buza which made this book for me – the trust and closeness between them, and his wonderful stories, all the hope he gave her… There are some spine tingling references to the young Mandela too. Not an easy read, but very moving.’ Leah Thaxton, Egmont Children’s Books
‘…such a controlled piece of writing, though it brought you to uncontrollable tears.’ Nicolette Jones, Journalist
‘…for the quality of the writing and its fresh new voice: The Year the Gypsies Came .’ Jane Churchill, Cheltenham Literary Festival
Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean (Oxford University Press)
‘…I was completely bowled over by Peter Pan in Scarlet , the official sequel to J M Barrie’s Peter Pan . This is not only a wonderful book, but also continues to support the work of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Truly magical.’ Philip Ardagh, Author
‘For pure cojones, Peter Pan in Scarlet .’ Frank Cottrell Boyce, Author
‘I loved Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean. I can’t think of another writer who paints so vividly with words. She is an incredible writer.’ Catherine Forde, Author
Once by Morris Gleitzman (Puffin)
‘For me the extraordinary book of the year was Once , about a Jewish boy trying to find his parents in Nazi-dominated Europe. It is so simply and wonderfully written, and poignant, with a blistering intensity. I am in awe of it.’ Cliff McNish, Author
‘ Once has stayed in my mind as a searingly moving story of a child caught up in the horrors of the Nazi era. It’s an example of how effective simplicity can be and the voice is something utterly special.’ Nicola Morgan, Author
‘…in my opinion the most telling and well told story set in the time of the Holocaust; it’s not only seen from a child’s point of view but actually written for children. With the added advantage of being short.’ Graham Marks, Author
Picture Book Joint Winners
Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett (Macmillan Children’s Books)
‘…not only a great book; it’s also a book that somehow transcended its own loveliness – it reminded me what’s so wonderful about the picture book form itself. There’s something about the economy of the scale – so few pages, so few words, constraints of vocabulary, limits to the sophistication of narrative structure etc. – that mean you can on this tiny scale do something that’s close to perfection – perfect choices, perfect balance, not a breath that’s loose or unnecessary.’ Daniel Hahn, Author
‘I absolutely raved about Emily Gravett – not Wolves but Orange Pear Apple Bear . You have the complete text in the sentence above, but in the book it is so cleverly shuffled that, in alliance with the pictures, it says something different and new on every page. You can read it with a two-year-old or to a fifty-nine-year-old husband and twenty-four-year-old daughter and get the same enthusiastic recognition. This is her masterwork.’ Mary Hoffman, Author
‘…a work of minimalist genius!’ Kelly Hurst, Random House Children’s Books
The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
‘ The Incredible Book Eating Boy is, as it says on the cover, incredible.’ Graham Marks, Author
‘It blew me away. Such a beautifully produced book. The original story and the way it was presented made this book for me.’ Julian Exposito, Borders UK
With thanks to John McLay and to all the contributors to The Best Books of 2006.
Rosemary Stones is Editor of Books for Keeps .