Meg Rosoff wins Branford Boase Award

Jacqueline Wilson, Children's Laureate for 2005 - 7, announced the winner of the Branford Boase Award for a first novel for children last night at a celebration at Walker Books in London.

The winner, Meg Rosoff, who won for her novel How I live now (Puffin) was unable to attend, having been grounded in New York due to storms, but sent a message: 'As a 48 year old first-time novelist, it's a wonderful honour and encouragement to be awarded the Branford Boase Award. I love the idea that How I live now could be the start of a new fifty year career!'

The prize, named in honour of outstanding children's writer Henrietta Branford and gifted editor Wendy Boase, who both died of cancer in 1999, is also awarded to the editor of the winning novel, in this case Rebecca McNally of Puffin Books.

The winners of the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition for young writers under the age of 18 were also announced, and these were:

Gemma Renyard, aged 10, Hampshire
Arielle Bennett, aged 15, Hampshire
Matthew Main, Aged 11, Hampshire
Sarah Mooney, aged 15, Renfrewshire
Hannah Wann, aged 15, Berkshire
Kirsty Angove, aged 15, Cheshire

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