Manon Steffan Ros’ beautiful young adult novel, The Blue Book of Nebo, has been longlisted for a 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing, after publisher Firefly Press received a bumper FOUR nominations for this year’s Carnegies. *
The Blue Book of Nebo, adapted by the author from her award-winning Welsh novel Llyfr Glas Nebo, is a deeply moving, post-apocalyptic story of a mother and son’s survival and relationship after a nuclear fallout, set in north Wales. Described as ‘a gentle, yet powerful read about how we live and what we pay attention to’ by the Irish Times.
Dylan was six when The End came, back in 2018; when the electricity went off for good, and the ‘normal’ 21st-century world he knew disappeared. Now he’s 14 and he and his mam have survived in their isolated hilltop house above the village of Nebo in north-west Wales, learning new skills, and returning to old ways of living. Despite their close understanding, the relationship between mother and son changes subtly as Dylan must take on adult responsibilities. And they each have their own secrets, which emerge as, in turn, they jot down their thoughts and memories win a found notebook – the Blue Book of Nebo.
Firefly Press Publisher Penny Thomas says: ‘We were stunned to receive four Carnegie nominations this year, and we are really delighted that the Carnegie judges have now longlisted The Blue Book of Nebo. This is a very fine, moving novel, beautifully adapted from its original Welsh by the author, and we feel it deserves every success!’
‘The Blue Book of Nebo is simply wonderful. Beautifully conceived, written and observed. A story infused with warning and sober hope.’ Nicola Davies
Manon says: ‘I’m absolutely honoured. The Carnegie especially means a great deal to me as I can remember seeing the word on the cover of some of my favourite books when I was younger and learning to recognise it as a sign of a great read!’
*Other Firefly titles nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal this year were:
The Song that Sings Us by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jackie Morris, which was nominated for both the Yoto Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration, respectively
The Red Gloves by Catherine Fisher , which was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing