A SWIFT, PURE CRY by Siobhan Dowd, edited by David Fickling and Bella Pearson, and published by David Fickling Books, has won the Branford Boase Award. Set during the 1980’s in rural Ireland, it is an extraordinary story of one girl’s courage and faith in the face of prejudice and hardship within a small community.

The Award Ceremony took place at Walker Books, Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 on Thursday 28th June. The Children’s Laureate, Jacqueline Wilson, who is a major sponsor of this prestigious award, attended, along with many of the previous winners. The glittering line up of past winners include Meg Rosoff, who has just been awarded the Carnegie Medal, as well as last year’s Carnegie winner, Mal Peet.

Siobhan Dowd was thrilled to hear of her success, commenting: “I’m moved beyond words at winning the Branford Boase Award."

The winners each received a handcrafted African hardwood box in the shape of a book, inlaid with the BBA logo. There is also a £1000 cash prize for the author.

Read the full comments of Siobhan Dowd and David Fickling on winning the award.

A Highly Commended distinction was given this year to writer Linda Buckley-Archer and her editor from Simon and Shuster, Venetia Gosling for Gideon the Cutpurse.

Read what Linda Buckley-Archer thinks about winning the highly commended distinction.

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The Branford Boase Award is awarded annually for the most promising first novel to a first-time writer of a book for young people. At the same time, it marks the important contribution of the editor in identifying and nurturing new talent.

See the 2007 Shortlist