A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd) has won the Red House book award for Older Readers book and best overall book of 2012. The Award is run by the Federation of Childrens’ Book Groups and is selected by the votes of 83,000 young readers. He said: “Winning the Red House is terrific, especially because it’s chosen by young readers themselves. Trust me, as a writer for young people, I know how bracingly honest they can be about their opinions, so to have been selected from a really strong shortlist is a splendid feeling. Properly chuffed.“
Both Patrick and illustrator Jim Kay collected the Award from last year’s winner, Michael Morpurgo at a ceremony which was part of the Imagination Childrens Festival. Jim Kay said: “I’m bowled over by this. It’s the first award I’ve ever been involved in, it’s great to think that it’s all down to young people reading and discussing wonderful new stories. As an illustrator it’s been a pleasure to work on such a brave and moving book.”