BOOK OF THE YEAR
FICTION
From vicious unicorns to Norse gods, this shortlist boasts début writers and brand-name authors alike. From epic adventures and doomed romance to fun, musical romps and lyrical writing on the power of friendship, there is something for every young reader, with each title supported by a unique campaign.
THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END Published in the wake of Adam Silvera’s BookTok success, S&S created a publishing event with The First to Die at the End. A complete redesign of Silvera’s backlist, a branded phone-box installation in Waterstones Piccadilly and a 3D countdown billboard in Hackney helped Silvera reach new heights, closing 2022 as the fifth-bestselling YA author.
LOKI: A BAD GOD’S
GUIDE TO BEING GOOD This comic illustrative book, issued by Walker, is about the Norse god Loki trapped in a child’s body, and includes drawings from author and first-time illustrator Louie Stowell, creating a “unique” approach to storytelling. Loki’s success was helped by the auth
cce
author visiting 30 bookshops, a 10-stop blog tour and appear- ances at 15 festivals.
a 10-s a
18
SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF A F Steadman’s début was acquired by S&S Children’s in a record-breaking seven-figure deal. The novel went on to become the fastest-selling kids’ fiction début since Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl. Selected as Waterstones’ Children’s Book of the Year, the novel sold over 54,000 copies and S&S encouraged the hype with three special editions.
ONYEKA AND THE ACADEMY OF THE SUN Tolá Okogwu’s début, about a British-Nigerian girl whose hair has psychokinetic powers, was won by S&S Children’s in a multi-publisher auction. Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun hit seventh in the chil- dren’s fiction chart on publica- tion, was crowned as both Waterstones and Blackwells Book of the Month and chosen for BookTrust Represents.
TYGER S F Said’s Blakeian adventure, with illustrations from Dave McKean, has been nine years in the making and garnered support from authors and critics alike. It is David Fickling Books’ second-bestelling fiction hardback ever; the indie worked closely with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, holding a launch for Tyger at its Literacy Library on publication day.
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DIPER ÖVERLÖDE Jeff Kinney’s 17th Wimpy Kid book reinvigorated the series, achieving a 12% growth in year-on-year sales and mark- ing the first time Wimpy Kid outsold David Walliams in their respective first part-weeks since 2015. Puffin produced an epic tour, including a “first rock gig experience” for Kinney’s readers, featuring live bands, smoke machines and lights.
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