

Welcome, welcome, welcome to this, the exciting eighth year of the Doncaster Book Award. And what a year it’s going to be, bigger, brighter, and even more exciting than ever before!

CHARLIE HIGSON EVENT: We will be hosting an event with the fabulous Charlie Higson at Doncaster Racecourse on 23rd April 2012. Please see our Events page for more details.
CUSWORTH HALL WORKSHOP: A special workshop on The Poisoned House will be held at Cusworth Hall on 17th February 2012 (Friday of half term). For details of how to apply, please see our Events page.
DAVE CRYER WORKSHOPS: Dave Cryer will be running 2-hour drama workshops exploring the shortlist. The DBA will be funding ten free workshops. For details of how to apply, please see our Events page.
SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED: We are very pleased to announce that the following books have made it to this year's shortlist:
Story Competition for KS2 Pupils: The Doncaster Book Award is delighted to be able to announce a KS2 story competition, with prizes generously sponsored by the Rotary Club of Doncaster St Leger, and with the top few winning entries going forward to a regional Yorkshire Rotary Clubs’ story competition. Full Details
Detectives, Deadly Desperados, and Deranged Bunnies - A joint workshop led by Dave Cryer was held at Don Valley on 15th November. Students from Don Valley Academy, Sunnyfields Primary and Bentley High Street Primary took part. We have a full report and photos from this highly successful event.
Our official launch event, with author and illustrator Chris Mould, took place in the Civic Theatre on 17th October. Over 300 students from 12 schools were there, and as ever, they raised the roof with their sheer enthusiasm for the joy of reading. We have a full report and photos from the launch.
Our new long list of books is jam-packed full of amazing stories, both from established DBA favourite authors such as Ali Sparkes, Darren Shan, and Robert Muchamore, to brand-new writers like the marvellous Moira Young. There’s a fantastic mix of genres too, from comedy (Billionaire Boy, Letters From An Alien Schoolboy), to gothic suspense (The Poisoned House); high adventure (Tom Trueheart and the Land of Myths and Legends), to mystery (Killer Pass, Poison Pen). We’ve got a wonderful animal story (One Dog and his Boy), and even a western (The Case of the Deadly Desperados)! Add in fantasy (Wishful Thinking), gory horror (The Dead), the utterly unique charm of Noah Barleywater Runs Away and the amazing illustrations of Chris Mould and Chris Riddell in Pip and the Twilight Seekers and Ottoline at Sea, and you’ll have to agree - it’s one of the best lists ever!
We’ve got lots of great events planned too. These started early this year with the visit of author Cathy Cassidy in September. The official launch event, with author and illustrator Chris Mould, took place in the Civic Theatre on 17th October, and other events will range from a Lit’s a Knockout, to drama workshops, a Seven Stories visit, and Murder in the Library.

Want to get involved? It couldn’t be easier. Ask your teacher or librarian if your school is taking part. Or you can go along to your local public library and borrow the books. Remember to keep checking out this website for up-to-date information on events/activities. Found a book you loved? Don’t keep it to yourself. Tell other readers about it by posting your reviews and comments here, and see what other young people think about what they’re reading too.
Most importantly, don’t forget, this is your award. No adult gets a say - your votes alone will decide which books will make the shortlist in December and you will choose the winner in March. Voting slips to select the shortlist will be available at the beginning of December in schools, public libraries and in Waterstones bookshop in the Frenchgate Centre.
Don’t delay, start today! Happy Reading!
Lyn Hopson
Secretary, Doncaster Book Awards Ltd.

As always, there will be lots of exciting events and trips this year. Full details can be viewed on our Events page as soon as they become available.
The following secondary schools are taking part in the 2011-2012 Doncaster Book Award:
The following primary/junior schools are taking part in 2011-2012. We hope that they enjoy reading the books, having their say on the website, and, of course, voting!
If any other schools are interested, they should contact Lyn Hopson via Don Valley Academy and Performing Arts College.

We are now on Twitter! Why not follow @DoncBookAward for regular updates!

When Bunnies Turn Bad
The Poisoned House
One Dog and his Boy
Poison Pen
Ottoline at Sea
Billionaire Boy
When Bunnies Turn Bad
Letters from an Alien Schoolboy
Tom Trueheart and the Land of Myths and Legends
Boys Don't Cry
Noah Barleywater Runs Away
Hunger of the Yeti
The Poisoned House
The Lunatic's Curse
The Dead
One Dog and his Boy
Poison Pen
Case of the Deadly Desperados
Pip and the Twilight Seekers
Shadow Wave
Killer Pass
Ottoline at Sea
Birth of a Killer
Wishful Thinking
Billionaire Boy
Blood Red RoadOur 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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