Liar & Spy wins the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize

Rebecca Stead has become the first US-based author to win the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize with her novel Liar and Spy.

Part coming-of-age tale, part mystery, the New York set, middle-grade novel fought off fierce competition from Carnegie winner David Almond, fellow American John Green and up-and-coming voice Katherine Rundell.

Although American-born authors Patrick Ness and Meg Rosoff are previous winners, Rebecca Stead is the first US-based author to be awarded the prize, which has only been open to non-UK residents since 2012.

Rebecca Stead's previous book, When You Reach Me, won the Newbery Medal and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Prize.

Read the Guardian's interview with Rebecca here.