Essex secondary school children have voted the book The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd as their favourite read for the Essex Book Award 2008.

The novel describes how, after their friend, Salim, mysteriously disappears from the London Eye, Ted and Kat follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find him before time runs out. The novel carries the reader along at a relentless pace to a surprising conclusion. As one of the students said: 'When I first saw the title I thought it sounded fun and interesting. After reading the first chapter I couldn't stop. I have recommended it to lots of friends'.

Sadly, Siobhan Dowd died in 2007 but her editor David Fickling accepted an invitation extended to him by Essex School Library Service to talk to an audience of a hundred students and adults. He spoke movingly and entertainingly of his memories of Siobhan, describing how he read her first novel at one sitting (which is rare) and how excited he was by the quality of her work.

Carolyn Hughes, School Library Service Manager, presented him with a cheque for the Siobhan Dowd Trust, which promotes books and reading to disadvantaged children.