Shortlist announced for the 2022 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award
The Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) and the Society of Authors (SoA) and are delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2022 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award, the UK’s only award for educational writing that stimulates and enhances the learning experience.
The six shortlisted books for readers aged 11–18 years invite young people to think about Black British history through music; provide a sensitive guide to all matters trans and non-binary; illuminate the history of the Holocaust; provide a wild ride through the history of drag; guide them positively through the challenges of growing up; and present a rich, first-hand history of the Windrush generation.
They are:
Musical Truth: A Musical Journey Through Modern Black Britain
Jeffrey Boakye, illustrated by Ngadi Smart, Faber
The judges describe this as, ‘A captivating history which ties together music, black history, family, growing up, politics and inequality with panache, humour, and at times brutal honesty. It’s an extraordinary read which made our hearts sing.’
What’s the T?
Juno Dawson, illustrated by Soofiya, Wren and Rook
The judges say, ‘Written with sensitivity, depth and humour, this truly comprehensive guide is witty and funny without being flippant, and practical without being dull. It is also a powerful book in offering young people and all who work to make their lives happier a frank opportunity to share their journeys with empathy, and with a powerful charge of optimism and lived experience’.
A Rebel in Auschwitz: The True Story of the Resistance Hero Who Fought the Nazis From Inside the Camp
Jack Fairweather, Scholastic
The judges say, ‘This remarkably told story reveals a whole new aspect of the notorious Auschwitz work camp, describing in stark and brutal details how the camp evolved into the most infamous Nazi death camp’.
The Art of Drag
Jake Hall illustrated by Sofie Birkin, Helen Li & Jasyot Singh Hans, Nobrow
The judges said, ‘From Ancient Greece to the present day, this flamboyantly but appropriately illustrated book charts the rich and colourful history of drag, providing a definitive guide to how this art from has evolved, and the fabulous characters who helped shape it.’
You Can Impact the World for Change
Stuart Lawrence, designer Richard Smith, Scholastic
Stuart Lawrence draws on his own experience, including the murder of his older brother Stephen in 1993, to highlight the tools that have helped him live positively. These words and thoughts have kept him moving forwards when times have been tough, and this collection encourages young people to harness the good in themselves to create change.
The judges said, ‘The fact that Stuart Lawrence has been able to use the experience of his brother’s brutal murder to forge such a positive approach to life is remarkable. His eloquent book offers young people a thoughtful guide to growing up.’
The Place for Me: Stories About the Windrush Generation
KN Chimbiri, Kevin George, Salena Godden, Judy Hepburn, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Jermain Jackman, Kirsty Latoya, Katy Massey, EL Norry & Quincy the Comedian
Illustrator & Designer, Joelle Avellino & Richard Smith, Scholastic
Illustrated with documentary photographs and published in association with the Black Cultural Archives, a collection of 12 stories of sacrifice and bravery inspired by first-hand accounts of the Windrush generation, which helps bring the experience of Black British people into focus.
The judges said, ‘With a moving Foreword by Dame Floella Benjamin, this beautifully designed book tells the history of Windrush generation people with clarity and compassion. Drawing on an impressive depth of research from The Black Cultural Archives, it is an invaluable resource which encourages young people to consider the power of their own voices’.
Now in its fifteenth year, the Educational Writers’ Award was established in 2008 by ALCS and the Society of Authors to celebrate educational writing that inspires creativity, encourages students to read widely and build their understanding of a subject beyond the requirements of exam specifications.
The 2022 award focuses on books for 11–18-year-olds, published in 2020 and 2021. This year’s judges are children’s author Sita Brahmachari, secondary school teacher Sean Chuhan, and school librarian Melissa Craig.
The winner of the 2022 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award will be announced at a reception at Goldsmiths’ Centre in London on Wednesday 22 February 2023. The winning author and illustrator/designer will share a cheque for £2,000.