Maisie Chan and her editor Georgia Murray of Piccadilly Press win the 2022 Branford Boase Award
Maisie Chan is the winner of the 2022 Branford Boase Award for the year’s outstanding debut novel for children for her comic, family story Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths, about an 11-year-old whose life is turned upside down by his growing friendship with his grandmother, newly arrived from China. The award is shared with Chan’s editor, Georgia Murray, of Piccadilly Press.
Founded in 2000, the Branford Boase Award was set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase of Walker Books, who both died in 1999, and is unique in honouring editor as well as author. It is regarded as one of the most important awards in children’s books and has an impressive record in picking out star authors at the start of their careers. Previous winners include Meg Rosoff, Liz Hyder, Marcus Sedgwick, M.G. Leonard and Frances Hardinge. Winning editors include JK Rowling’s editor Barry Cunningham, Philip Pullman’s editor David Fickling and Fiona Kennedy, publisher of Michelle Paver, Marcus Sedgwick and Sally Gardner.
The shortlist for the 2022 Branford Boase Award is described as ‘abundantly inclusive’, with diverse authors and protagonists, eight freshly 
told stories which reflect the writers’ understanding of the needs of today’s readers and the certainty of authors and publishers that those readers want to read outside their own experiences. The judges, who include 2021 winner of the Branford Boase Award, author of Orphans of the Tide Struan Murray, describe themselves as inspired by all the books they shortlisted, highlighting in particular Natasha Bowen’s young adult mermaid fantasy Skin of the Sea, for its ambition and achievements. They were however unanimous in choosing Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths as winner praising the way it challenges stereotypes head-on and conveys the unexpected joy of intergenerational love while remaining full of humour and the kind of silliness children love.
Struan Murray, author of Orphans of the Tide and winner of the 2021 Branford Boase Award winner says of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths, ‘Our shortlist was extremely strong and each of the books featured is exceptional in some way, but Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths stands out. It is warm-hearted, funny and brims with real emotion, painting a vivid picture of the trials and joys of growing up. The character of Nai Nai in particular is a triumph; though we rarely hear her speak, Maisie Chan succeeds in giving us an unforgettable character we can’t help but love.’
Danny struggles to convince his teachers, classmates and parents that art rather than maths is his thing. Maisie Chan says, ‘While my book is not about racism, I didn’t want to ignore that British Chinese children and all children of colour experience assumptions about them and are often seen as ‘other’. I think the character of Danny helps to break down stereotypes as he’s not like the Chinese boys you often see in books. They’re the sidekicks, geeky, or not very creative, they wear glasses, they don’t speak up. But Danny learns to speak up for himself. To me, he’s just a regular boy and I think simply having him be like that is an act of rebellion.’
On winning the Branford Boase Award, she says, ‘Winning the Branford Boase Award is amazing! I’m super happy for myself, but more so for my wonderful editor Georgia Murray from Piccadilly Press because she deserves recognition for helping to make Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths into the book that it became. I owe her a great deal. Thank you so much to the judges, I’m thrilled!’
The 2022 winners of the Branford Boase Award were announced by Struan Murray on Thursday 14 July at a ceremony at CLPE, Webber Street, London SE1 8QW. Maisie Chan receives a cheque for £1,000 and Maisie and Georgia both receive engraved trophies.
The Branford Boase Award is supported by Walker Books.
