A SWIFT, PURE CRY by Siobhan Dowd, edited by David Fickling and Bella Pearson, and published by David Fickling Books, has won the Branford Boase Award. Set during the 1980’s in rural Ireland, it is an extraordinary story of one girl’s courage and faith in the face of prejudice and hardship with a small community.

The Award Ceremony took place at Walker Books, Vauxhall Walk, SE11, at 6.30pm on Thursday 28th June. The Children’s Laureate, Jacqueline Wilson, who is a major sponsor of this prestigious award, attended, along with many of the previous winners. The glittering line up of past winners include Meg Rosoff, who has just been awarded the Carnegie Medal, as well as last year’s Carnegie winner, Mal Peet.

Gideon the Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer, edited by Venetia Gosling and published by Simon & Schuster

Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher, edited by Anne McNeil and published by Hodder

Beast by Ally Kennen, edited by Marion Lloyd and published by Marion Lloyd/Scholastic

The Awful Tale of Agatha Bilke by Sian Pattenden, edited by Aurea Carpenter and published by Short Books

You’re a bad man, Mr Gum by Andy Stanton, edited by Leah Thaxton and published by Egmont

Note of Madness by Tabitha Suzuma, edited by Charlie Sheppard and published by Random House

The annual Branford Boase Award celebrates the most promising book for seven year-olds and upwards by a first-time novelist, and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new authors. The author may have published other books in another genre - for example, poetry or a picture book - but eligibility for the prize requires that this is her or his first children’s novel. In addition to drawing attention to fresh talent in the field of children's books and encouraging publishers to find and promote new writers, the Award sets out to alert readers of all ages to the work of an interesting newcomer. The contribution of the Editor in the writing process is also acknowledged and promoted in this Award. The winning author receives a cheque for £1000, and both author and editor receive a handcrafted hardwood box in the shape of a book, inlaid in silver with the Branford Boase logo.

The Branford Boase Award was set up in memory of the outstanding children’s writer Henrietta Branford and the gifted editor, Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books. They worked together on a number of books, a partnership they greatly enjoyed. They both died of cancer in 1999.

Jacqueline Wilson, the Children’s Laureate, and sponsor of the Branford Boase Award, also presented prizes to six children, winners of the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition. Further information on this can be found on www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk