The 2015 Carnegie shortlist was announced today and it includes a list of books that will appeal to a range of different readers. Choosing the winner will be a hard decision, as always. The quality of the books are such that being on the shortlist is an honour in itself – in fact the same goes for the longtlist. To be honest, I was sorry to see a few of my favourites fail to make the shortlist, namely:

Close Your Pretty Eyes by Sally Nicholls, Trouble by Non Pratt, Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff, Smart by Kim Slater

Apart from being excellent reads, all four of these books deal with important subjects and are thought provoking. It is definitely worth putting them on your To Be Read or To Be Recommended list.

However, let’s get back to the six book on the shortlist:

More Than This by Patrick Ness – nothing is quite what it seems in this dystopian story. A book for readers who enjoy being challenged.

The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird – a very different book to More Than This. Aimed at a slightly younger audience, this is the gentle story of a young Ethiopian boy who becomes a long distance runner. Through his story we learn about Ethiopia’s troubles, the effect they have on the population and the great divide between country and city.

When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan – this book has already stirred up some controversy. It is about a boy with Tourettes. As a result of his condition, there is swearing in the book and this is made clear on the cover. An important subject and I am looking forward to reading the book and seeing how the author has handled such a sensitive issue.

Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan – the story of a young girl whose mother returns after an eleven year absence. I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Crossan’s previous book The Weight of Water (long listed for the Carnegie in 2013) and look forward to reading this book.

Tinder by Sally Gardner – Tinder is quite special as it has been shortlisted for both the Carnegie medal and the Greenaway medal (for its illustrations). A fairy tale story about love and loss. It looks beautiful – a book to hold in your hands and savour.

The Middle of Nowhere by Geraldine McCaughrean – Set in the Australian outback, a young girl cop ing with her mother’s death and who finds comfort in her friendship with an Aboriginal boy.