Author Patrick Ness could score the first ever Carnegie Medal hat-trick as his latest novel earned a nomination for the oldest children’s book award in the UK.
A win for the British-American writer’s Release would make him the first ever author to secure three medals in the the prize’s 81-year history after he previously triumphed in 2011 and 2012 with Monsters Of Men and A Monster Calls.
The coming-of-age novel is based on Ness’s own experience of growing up gay in a religious American home and is joined by one book exploring Black Lives Matter and another set on the US/Mexico border on the eight-strong shortlist.
Along with its sister medal, the CILIP Kate Greenaway, the prize is the UK’s longest-running children’s book award.
The Kate Greenaway Medal celebrates illustration in children’s books while the CILIP Carnegie marks outstanding writing for children and young people
Geraldine McCaughrean is the only other medal winner on the shortlist as her latest book Where The World Ends makes the cut while Marcus Sedgwick’s Saint Death earns his seventh nod.
Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give sees the rapper-turned-author shortlisted for her debut novel which follows a protagonist drawn to activism after witnessing a police shooting of her unarmed friend.
Meanwhile the Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist includes former winner Levi Pinfold with The Song From Somewhere Else, which was penned by AF Harrold, and three author-illustrators, including Debi Gliori for her illustrations on Night Shift.
The winners will be announced on Monday June 18 at a special event at The British Library hosted by June Sarpong where one shortlisted book from each prize will also be named recipient of the Amnesty CILIP honour which awards those celebrating or illuminating human rights.
Jordan Stephens, one half of hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks, has joined the judging panel for the Amnesty prize.
Previous winners of the medals include Arthur Ransome, CS Lewis and Raymond Briggs.
– The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2018 shortlist
Wed Wabbit – Lissa Evans
After The Fire – Will Hill
Where The World Ends – Geraldine McCaughrean
Rook – Anthony McGowan
Release – Patrick Ness
Saint Death – Marcus Sedgwick
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
Beyond The Bright Sea – Lauren Wolk
– The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2018
King Of The Sky – illustrated by Laura Carlin and written by Nicola Davies
Night Shift – illustrated and written by Debi Gliori
A First Book Of Animals – illustrated by Petr Horacek and written by Nicola Davies
The Song From Somewhere Else – illustrated by Levi Pinfold and written by AF Harrold
Town Is By The Sea – illustrated by Sydney Smith and written by Joanne Schwartz
Thornhill – illustrated and written by Pam Smy
Under The Same Sky – illustrated and written by Britta Teckentrup