Winner of the Dundee Schools blurb-writing competition announced!
26 Jun 2008
What do 12 year old kids really want to read? Barrington Stoke has been finding out!
In partnership with Dundee City Council's Education Department and Leisure and Communities Department, we have invited every 12-year-old child in the Dundee Authority to write a blurb for a book they'd like to read. The incredible prize: the winning blurb will be turned into a book, written by bestselling author Catherine MacPhail and published by Barrington Stoke in 2009. 1500 pupils have competed hotly to see their idea become reality, aided by creative workshops led by the author - and by plenty of reading too.
Kate Paice, Editorial Manager of Barrington Stoke, says:
‘The quality of the entries was stunning - we expected to see some good ideas, but we didn't realise just how good they would be. We were really impressed by the imagination and hard work of all the children involved. Picking a shortlist was a real challenge, narrowing it down to the final five was even harder, and selecting the final winner from the top five was one of the hardest decisions we've made in a while!
We were looking for an original, inspiring idea, a detailed and atmospheric blurb, a concept that would make an unputdownable book, plus the ‘Wow!' factor - something about the idea that gave us goosebumps and made us think, ‘I've got to read this story!'. Our winning entry has all these elements and Catherine MacPhail is hard at work already...
We're delighted to have been involved in this inspiring project in the National Year of Reading. We know that hundreds of children all over Dundee have been reading and thinking about stories because of the competition. And we've learned just how many brilliant, exciting and original thinkers there are out there. We're extremely proud to be part of this and we hope all the entrants and schools involved are very proud of what they have achieved.'
The Winner is Becky Wright from Morgan Academy with this entry:
The school was dark. Empty. Phoebe and her 5 best friends sat alone in their maths classroom getting ready for a ghostly game of hide and seek. One after another they start to go missing.
Will they be able to find their friends in time to face the danger that hovers around the corner?
Becky will see her blurb transformed into a story by bestselling author Catherine MacPhail. The book will be published by Barrington Stoke in early 2009.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The idea for the project was brought to us by Moira Foster, an ESO with the Education Deparment and Stuart Syme, Head of the Schools Library Service. They approached Barrington Stoke, an award-winning publisher, based in Edinburgh, who specialise in books for the reluctant, struggling and dyslexic reader. They readily agreed to publish the book and commissioned Catherine MacPhail to write the story. Catherine also visited secondary schools across Dundee and carried out inspirational workshops.
Moira and Stuart said:
"We have been delighted to see the response to the competition and to the Barrington Stoke books. The pupils have wolfed them down, keen reader and not so keen readers alike. The able pupils have read numerous titles and the more reluctant readers have felt a sense of achievement in getting through one or two.
"Cathy's visits were inspirational. She connected so well with her young audience and her enthusiasm for the competition and her promise to write a cracking good read in response to the winning blurb motivated the children to really get into the project.
"The feedback from teachers has been really positive and we know of two schools who wish to embed the project into their first year curriculum even though there will be no big prize at the end of it."
Author Catherine MacPhail says:
‘So many could have been the winners, that they must write their story themselves. Great imagination, and great ideas, I can't wait to get started.'
Moira Foster, Stuart Syme and Catherine MacPhail are available to interview.
For more information, please contact:
Nicky Potter Barrington Stoke 0208 889 9735 nicpot@dircon.co.uk
Moira Foster 01382 434888 moira.foster@dundeecity.gov.uk
Stuart Syme 01382 431546 stuart.syme@dundeecity.gov.uk