My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece wins major children's writing prize

Annabel Pitcher and her editor at Orion, Fiona Kennedy, share the 2012 Branford Boase Award, given to the writer and editor of the most outstanding debut novel for children

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, the story of a ten year-old boy whose sister was blown up by a terrorist bomb, has been shortlisted for major children's book awards including the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the Red House Children's Book Award and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.

Julia Eccleshare, chair of the Branford Boase Award judges, said: ‘It has been an exceptionally strong year for debut novels, and any of the seven books on the shortlist would have made a worthy winner. However, the judges felt that My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is a practically perfect novel. The writing is excellent, the difficult premise is handled with great skill, and Pitcher absolutely captures the voice of ten year-year-old Jamie.’

Annabel (pictured right) and Julia were presented with the £1,000 award at a ceremony last night.

Website: www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk