We're looking for Spark! teachers & librarians to join our shortlisting panels! This is a fantastic opportunity to read and discuss the latest & greatest children’s fiction. Here’s what some of our 11+ panellists had to say about the experience: sparkbookawards.co.uk/schools/ideas-…

So many great books in the 9+ category and so little time to shortlist. Hint: And there’s still a few publishers who haven’t sent in the physical copies yet! ⁦⁦Spark! School Book Awards⁩

Absolutely loving this latest from Natasha Farrant. And it really has nothing to do with her being a Spark! Patron. ⁦It is just a great story Spark! School Book Awards⁩ ⁦Natasha Farrant ⁦Faber Children's⁩

Set in Malaysia at time of Covid. This might sound bleak but this lovely magical story by Hanna Alkaf is absolutely captivating. A great 9+ submission. I can’t wait to find out what the other shortlisters think. ⁦HarperKids⁩ ⁦Spark! School Book Awards⁩

Loved the fantastic world building in this 9+ submission to ⁦Spark! School Book Awards. Isla Flitt is a great character and the story is filled with magical twists and turns. ⁦Clare Harlow⁩ ⁦PuffinBooks⁩

“So when you talk of childhood And how life used to be, Remember this! You may have had more money But you weren’t as rich as me.” I think fans of The Final Year will love this verse novel submission to ⁦Spark! School Book Awards⁩ by ⁦Oliver Sykes MBE BCAa⁩ ⁦Otter-Barry Books⁩

Another great 9+ submission to ⁦Spark! School Book Awards⁩. Writer and illustrator ⁦@RamzeeRawkz⁩ has produced a book from the point of view of a Somalian refugee that challenges the idea of chasing social media popularity and which is also very funny. ⁦Hodder & Stoughton (no longer active)⁩

Fellow shortlisters from ⁦Spark! School Book Awards⁩ 9+ category told me how much they and their pupils were enjoying this graphic novel adventure set in a forgotten realm. Thanks Carlos Sanchez ⁦Flying Eye B👀ks⁩, now I have started it, I can see why!

This surprising murder mystery by P.G. Bell (is no longer here) which I’m reading for the 9+category of ⁦Spark! School Book Awards⁩ zaps along at a most entertaining pace. ⁦The blurb describes it as BfG meets Murder Most Unladylike is spot on! ⁦Usborne Publishing⁩

If you told me I’d be raving about a MG book set in the 50s about a girl’s love for a pony, I’d say you were mad but Birdie by Jacqui Rose - JP Rose - a writer of sorts has proved me wrong. A modern take on the classics of old with real heart. Submitted for Spark! School Book Awards 9+ consideration Andersen Press

Boy, shortlisting this year’s ⁦Spark! School Book Awards⁩ 9+ category is hard. Another great book to consider. This WW2 adventure by ⁦christopher vick⁩, set in occupied Norway, has a touch of the mystical about it and is totally gripping. ⁦Zephyr Books⁩

It’s here! The grand reveal of our delightful ‘Inkland’ Anthology cover, which will soon welcome readers into our cohort’s brilliant world of stories. Coming this spring. ✍️ 👀 Art credit: Ellie Sandall

⁦M&S⁩ you do not expect this from a £35 bouquet within two hours of purchase. Especially when it was a Mother’s Day gift.