Digging for Gold – insights into the judging of the Carnegie Medal

By Nicky Schmidt


Awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book for children and young people, the Carnegie Medal is the gold at the end of the tunnel for many authors. 

Established in 1936 by the British Library Association and inaugurated in 1937, today the award is conferred upon an author by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). It is the UK's oldest and most prestigious book award for children's writing. But just what does it take to win the Carnegie Medal? 


Words & Pictures spoke to Ferelith Hordon, Past Chair of CILIP Youth Libraries Group (YLG) and Chair of the Carnegie Kate Greenaway (CKG) Judging Panel in 2011 with a view to understanding the rigorous judging process behind the awards.


Nicky Schmidt
How is the judging panel for the Carnegie Medal selected?



Ferelith Hordon
The judging committee is made up of twelve professional librarians, all members of CILIP, who represent the regional Branches of Youth Libraries Group, including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

They will have been selected by their local committee and will work with children and young people either in public libraries or in schools. Each judge serves for two years, and each year fifty per cent will leave, so there is always a mix of experience and fresh opinions. 

It is the responsibility of the Chair to guide the discussions and ensure that they go according to the rules, while the CILIP coordinator and the CKG coordinator for YLG take a watching brief. There is also an independent observer, ensuring complete transparency.



THE LAST DOZEN CARNEGIE WINNERS



Nicky Schmidt
Many submissions are received each year for judging: how does the panel eliminate those books that you don’t believe meet the long list criteria, and how is objectivity maintained?


Ferelith Hordon
The longlist is made up of books nominated by librarians who are CILIP members. Each nomination must be accompanied by a written recommendation of up to 100 words which should refer to the criteria listed on the CKG website. 

The nominations must also have been published as a Children's Book and within the designated dates. This is the only elimination that takes place before the committee creates the shortlist. Every title is then considered and discussed. The Chair ensures that the Committee remain as objective as possible and that the criteria are referred to throughout. Judges will have read and taken notes on every title on the list before the first meeting.


Nicky Schmidt
The CILIP website lists a host of judging criteria; where do you start when judging your longlist and what makes you shortlist a particular book?



Ferelith Hordon
The Chair decides how best to manage the process to ensure every judge has an opportunity to express an opinion. Every book is read and extensively discussed and measured against each of the stated criteria. In the end it is the book that takes the reader on that special journey, provides a special experience, that when looked at beside all the other books on the table really stands out; and it will not necessarily be the obvious title on the list.


Nicky Schmidt
Once you have your shortlist, how do you then determine the medal winner?




Ferelith Hordon
In the judging process we look for an outstanding book - and every book that is shortlisted will be outstanding since it will have been measured against all the other books on the longlist. Remember - the books nominated have made a real impression on someone for them to have been put forward. 


THIS YEAR'S CARNEGIE SHORTLIST

It is not just a case of telling a good story, we all look for that, or of the message. They will have to do so in the context of all the criteria - especially providing that lasting impression. 

Once the shortlist has been created, the judges will reread them, almost certainly taking more notes. They will then meet for another day of intense discussion, again referring to the criteria at every point. It is now that details become important - and decisions critical. Again it is up to the Chair to guide the process with the support of both coordinators. In the case of a tied vote the Chair has the casting vote.


Nicky Schmidt
The Carnegie Medal is regarded as providing a literary standard by which other books are measured. Are the shortlisted books inevitably of a more literary nature? Would a more commercial novel have a chance?


Ferelith Hordon
Any nominated title has a chance of winning provided it matches up to the published criteria. This would be the case for a commercial (so called) novel. It may be that the criteria do create what might be seen as a more literary list. Is this a criticism? Surely our aim is to provide young readers with as wide a range of reading experience as possible. Can a literary novel not also be commercial? The judges are looking for an outstanding novel - popularity does not enter the discussion. But this does not mean the title could not be popular; the opinions expressed by the young people involved in shadowing demonstrate this.


Nicky Schmidt
A plethora of fairly grim and gritty children’s literature has been published in the last couple of years and it seems to be reflected in the shortlists. Do market trends dictate the type of books that you shortlist?


Ferelith Hordon
Since all the books on the longlist have been nominated out of those published the previous year, it is, perhaps, inevitable that they will reflect the themes and subjects authors have wanted to tackle. Often it is the gritty or difficult subjects that will truly inspire a writer and bring out the best. So, yes, market trends will be reflected in the longlist and as a result have a presence on the shortlist. 

However, this is not a consideration with the judges who only look at the books on the table at that time. If the book has what it takes, it stands a chance of being shortlisted whatever the subject. It can often come as a surprise to the judges to discover that the books shortlisted may display a common theme or trend.



Nicky Schmidt
To what extent does genre fiction have a chance of making it onto the shortlist? I note, for example, that while some excellent titles have been published there is little “high fantasy” on the list. Do you prefer to steer clear of genre based fiction?



Ferelith Hordon
There is no deliberate plot to exclude genre fiction. If a title, maybe fantasy, romance or thriller, was nominated it would take its chance along with all the other titles put forward that year. That it could be classed as falling into a genre would not be a bar - how it matched up to the criteria would be the question.


Nicky Schmidt
 In reading through the shortlists of the past few years, it seems that books with male protagonists tend to dominate. Do you think there is a particular reason for this?



Ferelith Hordon
This is an area that is often raised. A few years ago we were being criticised for having too many girl protagonists on the short lists. Again the judging committee will not be looking at whether the author has chosen to write about a girl or a boy and how that will reflect on the shortlist. Rather the focus will be on how that character develops, whether they step off the page; are they real people, are they believable. If a shortlist favours boys or girls as main characters, that is because their writers have created outstanding books.


Nicky Schmidt
Writers and authors are frequently pressurised to come up with “the next big thing” – what is your view of the “next big thing”? Is that the sort of book that might make it onto your shortlist or do you look for something more original and, if so, how would you define “original”?


Ferelith Hordon
I feel "the next big thing" is very much a marketing concern. I appreciate it is of interest to the authors - but it is not important for the Carnegie - or Greenaway - in itself. The judges are looking at the books in front of them and judging them against each other. The fact that a title may be part of a particular trend is not a deciding factor. Thinking about originality - this by definition will stand out to a certain degree and certainly would feature in discussion, but again it would not be the originality per se that would be important; a novel that might appear more conventional would merit as much consideration.


Nicky Schmidt
Finally, is there any advice you would give authors striving to be awarded the Carnegie Medal?


Ferelith Hordon
a) Be true to yourself - write the book you want to write.

b) Write to the very best of your ability,


c) Don't try to win the Carnegie - there isn't a formula.



Many thanks to Ferelith Hordon
for participating in this interview.



@NickySchmidt1
Born and raised in South Africa of central and northern European heritage, Nicky Schmidt is an ex scriptwriter, copywriter, and marketing, brand and communications manager who "retired" early to follow a dream.  Although she still occasionally consults on marketing, communications and brand strategies, mostly she writes YA fiction in the magical realism, realistic and supernatural genres.    She also writes freelance articles - mostly lifestyle and travel - for which she does her own photography. Her work has been published in several South African magazines and newspapers.

8 comments:

  1. Very interesting post - thank you both.

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  2. Thanks, Nicky and Ferelith. It is great to get an inside view of the judging process.

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  3. Great interview Nicky. I guess you can't define the winning book but you know when you read it. :) Elusive but inevitable.

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  4. I love the advice at the end. Wise words!

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  5. Looking at this year's shortlist, any one of those could be a winner. I don't envy the Carnegie panel for the job they have in front of them. Thank you for raising the profile of writing for children. And thanks to Nicky for an excellent interview!

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  6. Glad you've all enjoyed the interview - I certainly wouldn't want to be one of the judges - there are some tough calls to be made on outstanding books.

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  7. They are certainly going to have trouble picking the winner this year. Two of my favourite books from the year are on the list. Hmmm which would I choose?

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  8. I love that, in itself, the 'next big thing' is not important for the Carnegie or the Greenaway.
    Thanks for a great interview Ferelith and Nicky!

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