Teenager helps choose winner of Costa’s Book Awards

Feb 4 2009 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

Gwen Baines

THE literary world’s most celebrated writers nervously awaited the announcement of Costa’s Book Award winners last Tuesday, and among the judges was West Kirby teenager Gwen Baines.

Gwen, 13, won a competition to be part of the adjudicating panel after entering a book review of her favourite read, The Witch’s Boy by Michael Grover, and, along with two other children, was soon rubbing shoulders with celebrities at a star-studded London ceremony.

The West Kirby Grammar pupil told the News: “I was meeting all these people and thinking, I’m in the same room as all these celebrities.

“It was quite unbelievable.

“I kept thinking, pinch me, I’m going to wake up.

“It was amazing.”

Gwen was able to meet popular author Jacqueline Wilson, who had chosen the panel for the children’s award from a nationwide total of 1,800 entries.

But it wasn’t all celebrity parties, the keen cello and piano player was sent a copy of each of the 10 books on the shortlist ahead of the event, with strict instructions to apply a critical eye.

And in true judging style, the exchange of views between Gwen, her 10-year-old colleague, Sylvie, 13-year-old fellow adjudicator, Kambole, and their older helpers was heated.

Gwen said: “Sylvie and the older judges were the one’s who wanted the overall winner to win and me and Kambole were urging Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray on.”

After much wrangling, the Children’s Book Award finally went to Michelle Magorian for her novel, Just Henry.

Director of the Costa Book Awards, Bud McLintock said: “Our young judges do a fantastic job and I hope Gwen’s passion for books and reading continues for many, many years to come.”

And, amazingly for Gwen and her mother Katy, the infamy of Wirral’s library closures was one of the biggest topics of conversation for the writers, publishers and booksellers at the event.

Gwen said: “I was quite surprised because most of the time people don’t know where Wirral is, but I was quite pleased they knew because it had been on the news.”

Gwen’s mum, Katy added: “They had all picked up the news about Wirral closing libraries and thought it was dreadful.

“There we were sitting in one of the poshest hotels in London and this was the talk.”