The Guardian children's fiction prize shortlist takes a transatlantic twist as two American authors battle it out with two UK authors
Last year's Guardian children's fiction prize winner, Frank Cottrell Boyce, announcved this year's shortlist at the Edinburgh international festival. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian
A bestselling American author and YouTube sensation, John Green, whose book has been accused of being "sick lit" for teens, has been shortlisted for the Guardian children's fiction prize, alongside an American Newbery medal-winner, a much-garlanded previous finalist and an up and coming voice in the children's books world.
John Green's The Fault In Our Stars is a tale of two teens with terminal cancer who meet at a support group and fall in love. Green made his name with his novels Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska and has a huge following among teens, partly thanks to his YouTube video projects and his Nerdfighters fan website. However, The Fault In Our Stars has raised some controversy with accusations that teens are not sufficiently mature to deal with such disturbing topics – a claim that Green has dismissed as "patronising".
In a first for the Guardian children's fiction prize, which has been running since 1967 but only admitted non-UK writers last year, half of this year's shortlist of four books is made up of Americans.
Green is in the running against compatriot Rebecca Stead with Liar & Spy, her third novel. Stead, who won the prestigious Newbery award with her second novel, When You Reach Me, has tackled the coming-of-age of a lonely schoolboy who starts solving mysteries when he moves to a new neighbourhood.
In the British camp is the much-loved and much-garlanded author David Almond, author of the Carnegie-winner Skellig, with The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Set in a fairground, it's a funny, freewheeling fishy fable about a boy's journey to fulfil his destiny.
Also on the shortlist is Katherine Rundell with Rooftoppers, her second novel. Inspired by summers working in Paris and by night-time trespassing on the rooftops of All Souls College, Oxford, it features a girl who runs away to Paris with her guardian to try to find her mother and meets a community of children who live on rooftops.
Julia Eccleshare, chair of the judges, said: "Stories are one of the best ways of exploring important social issues. Writers for children have always given their readers the chance to share big experiences beyond their own, with writing that is often shot through with tenderness and humour. This gives them opportunity to empathise with other children in different situations. In this year's shortlist, perhaps reflecting the perceived challenges of contemporary life, the issues have been ratcheted up and death looms large. But, as ever, with all great writing for children, readers come away full of respect and hope."
The shortlist, which was chosen by two previous winners, Hillary McKay and Andy Mulligan, and the 2010 Costa-winner Jason Wallace, was announced by last year's winner, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, at a party at the Edinburgh international book festival. The winner will be announced in October.
The Guardian children's fiction prize is shadowed by a Young Critics scheme in which children have their say on the longlisted books. There is still time to submit a review of any of the eight books on the longlist: full details here
John Green's The Fault In Our Stars is a tale of two teens with terminal cancer who meet at a support group and fall in love. Green made his name with his novels Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska and has a huge following among teens, partly thanks to his YouTube video projects and his Nerdfighters fan website. However, The Fault In Our Stars has raised some controversy with accusations that teens are not sufficiently mature to deal with such disturbing topics – a claim that Green has dismissed as "patronising".
In a first for the Guardian children's fiction prize, which has been running since 1967 but only admitted non-UK writers last year, half of this year's shortlist of four books is made up of Americans.
Green is in the running against compatriot Rebecca Stead with Liar & Spy, her third novel. Stead, who won the prestigious Newbery award with her second novel, When You Reach Me, has tackled the coming-of-age of a lonely schoolboy who starts solving mysteries when he moves to a new neighbourhood.
In the British camp is the much-loved and much-garlanded author David Almond, author of the Carnegie-winner Skellig, with The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Set in a fairground, it's a funny, freewheeling fishy fable about a boy's journey to fulfil his destiny.
Also on the shortlist is Katherine Rundell with Rooftoppers, her second novel. Inspired by summers working in Paris and by night-time trespassing on the rooftops of All Souls College, Oxford, it features a girl who runs away to Paris with her guardian to try to find her mother and meets a community of children who live on rooftops.
Julia Eccleshare, chair of the judges, said: "Stories are one of the best ways of exploring important social issues. Writers for children have always given their readers the chance to share big experiences beyond their own, with writing that is often shot through with tenderness and humour. This gives them opportunity to empathise with other children in different situations. In this year's shortlist, perhaps reflecting the perceived challenges of contemporary life, the issues have been ratcheted up and death looms large. But, as ever, with all great writing for children, readers come away full of respect and hope."
The shortlist, which was chosen by two previous winners, Hillary McKay and Andy Mulligan, and the 2010 Costa-winner Jason Wallace, was announced by last year's winner, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, at a party at the Edinburgh international book festival. The winner will be announced in October.
The Guardian children's fiction prize is shadowed by a Young Critics scheme in which children have their say on the longlisted books. There is still time to submit a review of any of the eight books on the longlist: full details here
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