The shortlist for the UKLA 19 has just been announced. As with the Carnegie Medal, verse novels dominate the shortlist and Sarah Crossan is up for a record-breaking third win!

Last year Sarah Crossan won the 12-16 category with her verse novel, We Come Apart, co-authored with Brian Conaghan. Her debut novel, Weight of Water won the award in 2013 and this year Moonrise is shortlisted possibly making her the first triple winner in the history of the awards. Also making the Carnegie shortlist, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acedevedo, are both powerful stories written in verse. Mary's Monster by Lita Judge uses poetry and graphics in an orginal style to tell the story of the author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley.

Translated books are also a feature with The Murderer's Ape by Swedish author Jakob Wegelius and Piglettes by Clémentine Beauvais both shortlisted. There is also a strong field from the independent publishers with titles from Nosy Crow, Andersen Press, Two Hoots and Faber & Faber.

All three age categories continue to demonstrate the fresh perspective that teachers can bring from their classrooms to add to the judging process in their search for books which can “enhance all aspects of literacy learning”, as required by the criteria. This makes them particularly useful as co-sponsor Deborah McLaren, Director of Lovereading4kids said:

“What a gorgeous selection of books on the UKLA’s 2019 shortlist. The UKLA’s selection committees and teacher judges do it again. A perfect selection of quality texts and engaging reads to inspire students. LoveReading4Kids and LoveReading4Schools continue to be proud to partner with the UKLA in helping engender that lifelong love of reading in children”

You can find all of the shortlisted and longlisted titles from this year's book awards here.