Alex Wheatle’s Nomination for the Yoto Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2022

The Yoto Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are the UK’s longest running and best-loved children’s book awards, recognising outstanding reading experiences created through writing and illustration in books for children and young people.

Alex’s shortlisted book titled ‘Cane Warriors’ is set in Jamaica 1760, and is an urgent and direct story providing an uncompromising account of Tacky’s War, the slave rebellion that took place on a Jamaican sugarcane plantation. It is a powerful and direct narration from 14-year-old Moa’s viewpoint, bringing history to life in a narrative that is as innovative as it is unforgettable.

On his nomination, Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize winner Alex Wheatle told Words of Colour: ‘I’m very aware that very few black UK authors have been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal over its long history, so I’m very proud and hope this is a start of a trend.’

The medals are awarded annually by CILIP, the library and information association and the Youth Libraries Group with longlists announced in February, shortlists in March and the winners announced at a ceremony in June.