Noting that the "1970s is as contemporary as it gets for the children's authors in contention for this year's Carnegie medal, the UK's oldest and most prestigious children's book award," the Guardian reported that the seven finalists cover "a range of settings from King Arthur's Court to apartheid-era South Africa, taking in the Crusades and a decidedly un-swinging 1960s boarding school along the way."
The Carnegie medal shortlist:
The Carnegie medal shortlist:
- Crusade by Elizabeth Laird
- Apache by Tanya Landeman
- Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve
- Ruby Red by Linzi Glass
- Gatty's Tale by Kevin Crossley-Holland
- What I Was by Meg Rosoff
- Finding Violet Park by Jenny Valentine
The winner will be announced during a ceremony at the British Library on June 26.