Year 9 help select Lancashire Book of the Year at UCLan final

14 July 2023

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Hannah described meeting some top authors as ‘really funny as they are people you look up to who have normal lives!’

The Year 9 pupil was one of a group from Priory, specially selected to attend the Lancashire Book of the Year Final at UCLan.

These pupils had read over 30 books from the original long list of authors, with other schools in the area reading a similar volume of books. From these books, the pupils all rated and ranked the books. There was a final shortlist which pupils then voted on and author Cynthia Murphy was announced as the winner with her thriller ‘Last One to Die.’

“I think Cynthia Murphy’s book should have been the winner as I liked the fast pace of the book and it was full of suspense, with twists,” said Hannah.

English teacher Mrs Elliott went with History/AR teacher Miss Ackers to the event and said: “The authors there included Nathan Parker, Benjamin Dean, Cynthia Murphy and Emily Barr. Every one of them delivered passionate and engaging talks about their own journey to being writers. It was utterly inspiring!

"Their discussion on the process of writing was really interesting as was the fact that they were all united in having been children who had enjoyed reading at varying points in their youth. Nathan Parker acknowledged losing interest in reading as a young person, but now also believes that not reading more as a youngster is one of his greatest regrets. Powerful stuff!"

“The pupils got a real buzz out of it, and I hope came away believing that anything is possible if you give it a go.”

The event took place at UCLan on Friday, 7 July.