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Branford Boase Winner Announced 1st July, 2004

The 2004 Branford Boase winner has been announced. The award is presented annually to the most promising book for seven year-olds and upwards by a first-time novelist. The prize also acknowledges the important contribution of the editor in identifying and nurturing new talent. This year's winner is Mal Peet for Keeper, edited by Paul Harrison of Walker Books who guided 'Keeper' into its present format after it started life as an unpublished graphic novel.
Keeper is a powerful story of a gradual flourishing talent, nurtured by a mysterious and compelling goalkeeper from an unknown time and place. Set in the heart of the rainforest, the story unfolds as a conversation in which El Gato recalls his extraordinary journey to the World Cup. It is no ordinary football story. It is as much a story about self-belief and single-minded commitment to a shared goal as it is about his journey from poverty to wealth and fame. Mal Peet's haunting story with its beautifully paced narrative marks 'Keeper' as a book of singular originality - an entirely absorbing story with football at its heart but supberb storytelling in its soul. L.S. Matthews was also highly commended for 'Fish'

The Branford Boase award was set up in memory of the outstanding children's writer Henrietta Branford and the gifted editor, Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books. They worked together on a number of books. They both died of cancer in 1999.

You can catch exclusive photos of the awards ceremony on the Publisher Pages. The new on-line information resource from Peters Bookselling services.

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