Maitríóisce shortlisted for CBI Books of the Year 2012 25 March 2012 – Posted in: Uncategorised
Cois Life is delighted to anounce that Maitríóisce by Siobhán Parkinson (pictured) has been shortlisted for the 2012 Children’s Books Ireland (CBI) Book of the Year Award.
Keith O’Sullivan, chair of the judging panel who between them read more than 70 titles said: ‘This year’s shortlist features nine excellent books which all offer young readers a rich and satisfying experience. With subjects which range from difficult contemporary issues to stories of whimsy and fun, each book is beautifully crafted and brilliantly conceived’. Each of the nine titles will compete for six awards, including the Children’s Choice Award voted for by ten junior juries located across the country. The winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held in May.
The nine shortlisted titles for the CBI Book of the Year Award 2012 are as follows:
MAITRÍÓISCE by Siobhán Parkinson
When Mara reaches her thirteenth birthday she looks forward to her present but when she finally opens it, it’s a different story. It is not an iPod or jewellery but a series of Russian dolls. They turn out to be an heirloom from her grandmother and at first Mara has no interest whatsoever in this seemingly childish present. If that weren’t bad enough, one of the dolls turns out to be missing.
As time progresses, Mara begins to understand the history surrounding the missing doll and she intuitively goes in pursuit of the truth behind the Russian dolls. With her friend Dorota by her side, Mara assumes the role of detective in an attempt to track down the missing doll and to uncover more about her own interesting heritage.
The judges said of Maitríóisce ‘admirably simple in terms of plot, this engaging work charts its thirteen-year-old protagonist’s journey into her past, as she maps her genealogy back five generations through maternal lineage.’
A second book by Siobhán was also shortlisted – a book in English entitled BRUISED and published by Hodder Children’s Books (London).
The other shortlisted books are as follows:
A GREYHOUND OF A GIRL by Roddy Doyle
INTO THE GREY by Celine Kiernan
MY DAD IS TEN YEARS OLD: AND IT’S PURE WEIRD by Mark O’Sullivan
STUCK by Oliver Jeffers
THE BUTTERFLY HEART by Paula Leyden
WILL GALLOWS AND THE SNAKE-BELLIED TROLL by Derek Keilty
The only other Irish-language book shortlisted was Ó CHRANN GO CRANN by Caitríona Hastings and Andrew Whitson (illustrator) published by our colleagues in An tSnáthaid Mhór with their usual flair.
