Youngsters from across Manchester have voted Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie, their favourite read of the year.
The Manchester Book Award, organised by Manchester Library and Information Service has been running since 2005, and was created to encourage reading for fun among young people.
Councillor Mike Kane, Executive Member for Arts & Leisure said: "The response from young people city-wide has been phenomenal and it is wonderful to see ever-increasing numbers developing an enthusiasm for reading through initiatives like the Manchester Book Award. The atmosphere and excitement of the youngsters at the ceremony was fantastic, and it's all thanks to these excellent writers who are really switching kids minds on to reading."
Sophie McKenzie was also recently made a Richard & Judy Children's Books Winner, for Girl, Missing and the TV stars also put their support behind the awards.
They said: "The Manchester Book Award is a fantastic project and we are delighted to Manchester doing so much to promote reading among young people."
As well as encouraging young people to read, the Manchester Book Award has also given them an outlet to discuss the different books creatively, to review them objectively and to design alternative book covers for the six short-listed titles.
The others that made it through to the finals were: Being by Kevin Brooks, Berserk by Ally Kennen winner of the Manchester Book Award 2007, Do the Creepy Thing by Graham Joyce, Nemesis by Catherine MacPhail and The Devil's Breath by David Gilman.
More than 500 votes were cast to find the winner and 335 online book reviews were submitted on the Manchester Book Award website http://www.manchesterbookaward.com/
Media contact:
Claire Keegan, tel 0161 234 4014.