So 'Here Lies Arthur' won the 2008 Carnegie award. do you think it was worthy of the titile? I think it was a great and enjoyable read, but not good enough to win. the children enjoyed Apachie and Crusade most in our group. If What I Was had won I would have been dissapointed, but would have seen the point, ditto Finding Violet Part, as they are both differnt and thought provoking. think that Ruby Red should have won, as it was thought provoking AND a good read. But i was surprised that 'Arthur' won!

I was really disappointed, as will my group be when they find out tomorrow. They're out on a trip today!

It was very close for us between Apache and Ruby Red, with Ruby Red being the narrow winner! Looking at the online poll earlier today it showed Apache as the clear winner with Ruby Red as runner up. I had high hopes. Of all the books, having managed to read half of Here Lies Arthur, I gave up! Not something I usually do!

I Know! I enjoyed the book, but it had nothing specail about it i felt!

though reading some of the judges blogs, i think they choose it because they made a strong comparision to the modern day treat of terrorism, modern politcs and spin doctors. i can see their point, but i wonder if Reeve meant it that way...

We voted for Finding Violet Park, very closely followed by Apache with Ruby Red third.  All of the books had their advocates, with very powerfully put arguements for why we should vote for them.  I loved Violet Park straight away, it has a very fresh feeling and a great sense of humour, but my personal favourite was Apache.  It was the only book, out of them all, I did not want to put down.  I felt I learnt something from it, the pace was perfect, and I really wanted to know how Siki got on with her life.  What more can you ask?  I also thought that the reasons given by the judges for H L A were adult reasons, not why children would find this book interesting at all.  This book most definitely had its fans and it is a very enjoyable book, it had both male and female fans.  It has a very original take on the Arthurian legends which was very popular and quite believable. 

For the Kate Greenaway - I totally agree with the judges.  Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears is outstanding, what an amazing writer/illustrator Emily Gravett is.  220 pupils voted for their favourite (11/12 year olds) which was Banana, but voting was very fierce with the judges choice coming a close second.

I'm really pleased that Here Lies Arthur won.  I thought it was a very entertaining and thought provoking read.  So did at least some of our pupils.  I think it is a book that creeps up on you and makes you think hard about all sorts of different issues.  It is also a book that encourages debate and that is really valuable and worthwhile.  I admit that some of our pupils didn't like it but surely that is what the Carnegie Medal is all about.  Our winner was Ruby Red and I can see why that won.  The pupils really got something out of the book and it really resonated with them.  It was certainly more of a "children's" book and I think this accessibility was a real bonus.  I think this year every one of the books was a fantastic choice for the shortlist and it was a really strong selection.  All in all I think we had a ball this year.  Wonderful, uplifting and thought provoking.  Perfect books for escaping into and particularly good for dreaming away to on a bicycle!

on a bicycle???????