Doncaster Book Award

Doncaster: Discover the Spirit

Skulduggery Pleasant The winner of the fourth Doncaster Book Award is Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant. Skulduggery's win was announced to an enthusiastic crowd at the Civic Theatre at the end of the final event on Friday 14th March 2008.

A full report and photos from the event are now available here on the website.

Derek Landy was unable to attend the event but in good awards ceremony tradition sent the following message, which was read out after the announcement that Skulduggery had won:

“I'm not very good at winning things. I haven't had much practice, you see. I won an art competition when I was eight, but when I was sixteen I only came second in a short story competition. I'm trying to think of any other instances where I've won something, and I sincerely can't. Excellent. Now I'm depressed.

The Doncaster Book Award is the first thing I've won since I was eight, and it's the first award for Skulduggery Pleasant. This means an astonishing amount to me, and I am so sorry I can't be there. Rest assured, if I was there, you'd be able to see this idiotic grin that is currently distorting my face. Doncaster is now top of my 'Places I Have To Visit' list, so I hope that I'll get to see you all, very soon.

Thank you again for this honour,

Derek.”

About the Doncaster Book Award

This was the fourth year of the DBA, and it just keeps getting better and better, with more events, more reviews and comments posted on this website, and, most importantly, more votes! Remember, this exciting award puts you, Doncaster's young readers, in total charge, no adult gets a say and your votes alone determined who won!

Montage of scenes from the 2008 Final Event

14th March 2008: The Final of the 2007-08 Doncaster Book Award was held at the Civic Theatre. The winner was announced as Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant. See our full report and photo gallery.

6 March 2008 (World Book Day): Popular author Helena Pielichaty visited Don Valley. See report and photos.

5 March 2008: "Tall poet" Andrew Fusek Peters visited Hayfield School. We have a full report and photos.

29 February 2008: Long-listed author Kate le Vann visited North Doncaster Technology College. See report and photos.

27 February 2008: Our popular "Murder in the Library" event was held at Armthorpe School. See full report and photos.

19 February 2008: Students from Don Valley and Ridgewood came together for a day-long drama workshop based on the shortlisted books. See our full report and photos.

14 January 2008: Shortlist announced! See the Book Lists page for full details.

27/28 November 2007: Primary and secondary students took part in two days of drama activities based on some of the books on the longlist. See our full report and photos.

9 November 2007: Blue Peter award winning author Alan Gibbons visited Doncaster and gave a funny and informative talk to students from Armthorpe, Don Valley and Hayfield Schools. We have a full report and photos.

16 October 2007: Celebrated local author Gervase Phinn gave a highly entertaining talk to Doncaster students at the Armthorpe School. View the full report and photo gallery!

Appreciative audience at the launch event This year's launch event in early October was our most successful to date. We were joined by Celia Rees, Andrew Cope, Rosie Winterton MP and a large number of enthusiastic students from Doncaster schools. Our full report and photo gallery are now online!

This year's long list was the usual exciting mixture and featured horror, adventure, fantasy and history. The two perennial DBA favourites, Darren Shan and Robert Muchamore were on there, with 'Blood Beast' and 'Man v Beast' respectively. Funny stories are always popular (as can be seen by our two previous winners, 'Spy Dog 2' and 'Nudie Dudie'), and this year we had 'Beware! Killer Tomatoes!' and 'My Brother's Famous Bottom Gets Pinched' by Jeremy Strong on our long list, which both did very well. For lovers of 'Girlie' books, we had Carrie Bright's 'Jealousy Junkie' and 'Dani's Diary' by Narinder Dhami. Since Narinder's book made the shortlist, it was read and enjoyed by many boys too, who overlooked the pink cover and just enjoyed the plot. Overall, choosing a winner this year was tough, as the huge amount of votes proved, but 'Skulduggery Pleasant' was a worthy winner, combining horror, fantasy, fast-paced adventure and comedy. Check out the book lists today - you'll see loads you'll want to read right away!

If your school is not yet on the list, don't worry! Speak to your librarian or teacher right away. All the contact details they need are on the site. And don't forget, you can join in via your Public Library, it's a joint project, so they will have all the books and voting forms too. Remember we want to hear your views, so tell us what you think about the books. Don't agree with someone else's review? Then say so! Visit the review page, and share your opinions, good or bad. Most importantly, your votes alone decide the shortlist in January and the winner in March, so get reading and get voting.

Enjoy!

Lyn Hopson, Secretary, Doncaster Book Award

The following secondary schools are taking part in the 2007-2008 Doncaster Book Award:

Armthorpe School
Balby Carr Community Sports College
Danum School Technology College
Don Valley School and Performing Arts College
Hall Cross School
Hatfield High School Visual Arts College
Hayfield School
Hungerhill School
McAuley Catholic High School
Mexborough School
North Doncaster Technology College
Northcliffe School
Ridgewood School

The following primary/junior schools are taking part in 2007-2008. We hope that they enjoy reading the books, having their say on the website, and, of course, voting!

Adwick Park Junior School
Arksey Primary School
Auckley Primary School
Balby Street Primary School
Barnburgh Primary School
Bawtry Mayflower Primary School
Bentley High Street Primary School
Bentley New Village Primary School
Bessacarr Primary School
Branton St Wilfrid's Primary School
Canon Popham Primary School
Conisbrough Ivanhoe Primary School
Conisbrough Morley Place Junior School
Conisbrough Station Road Primary School
Crooksbroom Primary School
Denaby Main Primary School
Doncaster Road Junior School, Mexborough
Dunsville Primary School
Edenthorpe Hall Primary School
Edlington Victoria Primary School
Estfeld Primary
Finningley Primary School
Hatchell Wood Primary School
Hatfield Manor Junior School
Hatfield Sheep Dip Primary School
Hatfield Woodhouse Primary School
Hawthorne Primary School
Hayfield Lane Primary School
Hexthorpe Primary School
Holy Family Primary School
Intake Primary School
Kingfisher Primary School
Lakeside Primary School
Longtoft Primary School
Mallard Primary School
Mexborough St John’s Primary School
Montagu School, Mexborough
Norton Junior School
Owston Primary School
Plover Primary School
St Albans Primary School
Saltersgate Primary School
Sandringham Primary School
Southfield Primary
St Peter's Catholic Primary School
Stirling Primary School
Sunnyfields Primary School
Sycamore Primary School
Thorne Brooke Primary School
Thorne King Edward Primary School
Toll Bar Primary School
Town Field Primary School
Town Moor Primary
Tranmoor Primary School
Woodfield Primary

If any other schools are interested, they should contact Lyn Hopson via Don Valley School and Performing Arts College.

Spy Dog 2 by Andrew Cope Last year (2006-2007), the Doncaster Book Award was won by Andrew Cope's Spy Dog 2. The winner was announced at the final award ceremony in March 2007. Andrew Cope was present and expressed his delight that Spy Dog 2 had won.

Skulduggery Pleasant
Derek Landy

Our official book suppliers are Hopkins Book Service, Westbrook House, Wreakes Lane, Dronfield, Sheffield S18 1LY (Tel. & Fax 01246 417787). Hopkins offer 20% discount on DBA longlist books to all schools, and will deliver to schools in the Doncaster area. They will supply whole or part orders from the long list.

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