Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace is shortlisted for the Carnegie

Jason Wallace's debut novel, Out of Shadows, has already won the Costa Children's Book Prize - and now it's been shortlisted for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Book Award! Congratulations to Jason from everyone at Andersen Press.

The CILIP Carnegie judges' comments were as follows:

'An extremely powerful novel with a totally believable main character whose moral development and emotional state are compellingly portrayed. The institutionalised brutality of school life is grippingly conveyed too, and the dialogue is always convincing. It makes the reader feel complicit, leading us to question how we would behave in similar circumstances.’

And Jason Wallace has made the following statement:

‘As well as being a prestigious prize, the CILIP Carnegie Medal provides an excellent reminder of the immense place literature could have, should have and does have in education – in schools or at home – and of the fact that it’s our libraries that provide essential access to this aspect of learning. To have had “Out of Shadows” shortlisted for this award from amongst so many brilliant books for children, and to know that my words might be considered important for younger readers, is as humbling as it is gratifying.’

Fingers crossed for another win for Jason!