‘A Monster Calls’ wins 2012 Carnegie, Greenaway medals

Tuesday, 19 June 2012 Books+Publishing

UK-based author Patrick Ness has won the Carnegie Medal for outstanding writing in children’s books for the second year running, winning this year’s award for A Monster Calls (Walker Books).

A Monster Calls, illustrated by Jim Kay, also won this year’s Kate Greenaway Medal, which is presented for distinguished illustration in children’s books. This is the first time in the history of the awards that the same book has received both honours.

Chair of the Carnegie Medal judging panel Rachel Levy said in a statement that A Monster Calls is ‘an exquisite piece of writing’ and ‘one of the defining books of its generation’. ‘It is a beautifully economical, structurally brilliant and lyrically descriptive account of a challenging episode in one child’s life,’ said Levy.

As previously reported by Bookseller+Publisher, Ness’ Monsters of Men (Walker Books) won the 2011 Carnegie Medal. The 2011 Kate Greenaway Medal was awarded to FArTHER by Grahame Baker-Smith (Hardie Grant Egmont).

The Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. More information can be found online here.

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