Carnegie Medal 2021: The longlist books to add to your child’s collection

Former Carnegie Medal winner Elizabeth Acevedo has been longlisted for her empowering verse novel that tells the story of two girls, Camino and Yahaira, following the devastating death of their father. Using a dual narrative model, it explores grief as well as the importance of family and heritage. An electrifying book for any young adult reader.

This award-winning novel is a playful blend of myth, folklore and fairytale. It tells the tale of Yanka, an abandoned baby born in a bear cave, who is on a quest to find where she belongs in society and make sense of her family. Recommended for readers aged eight and older.

Debut novelist Katya Balen draws on her knowledge of autism to show how it can affect family members in different ways. Told from 10-year-old Frank’s perspective, Balen invites you to view and empathise with his struggles in coping with his younger brother’s autism. It’s said to be a moving and absorbing novel that aims to promote compassion in young readers.

Set during the Roman occupation of Britain during the year 454AD, this historical fiction reveals a time of division and conflict, and delves into themes of identity, loyalty and human endurance. Through skilful scene-setting, a first-person narrative and a lyrical writing style, The Short Knife is a gripping tale that features a strong female lead and is steeped in the mysticism of early Britain.

This tale is the story of a young girl, Daphne, who seeks solace in her local library and her mobile phone as she comes to terms with the death of her father. Mixing real life with fantasy tales, Coelho weaves together the ancient legend of Daphne, who was turned into a tree to avoid the attention of the god Apollo, with modern experiences. Owing to the author’s background in performance poetry, you can expect a variety of poetic forms narrating the events.

Revisiting the world of Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana’s Way Home, this is the final book in Kate DiCamillo’s trilogy. Each book spotlights one of three best friends, and this one focuses on 14-year-old Beverly Tapinski: her dog has just died and her mother is drunk, a usual occurrence. In a bid to escape, she hitches a ride with her cousin to a seaside town where she lands a job and forms a family of sorts. Several things could go wrong, but what underpins the narrative is the importance of friendship and belonging, and how these things can carry you when the going gets tough.

A timely and contemporary novel that touches on important yet contentious issues, including anger management and gaslighting. It focuses on a young girl named Lexi, who is angry about most things in her life – but while people tell her she shouldn’t be angry, they placate the anger of her manipulative and emotionally abusive stepfather. Downham allows for an interesting debate on society’s expectations of women’s anger versus men’s.

Set in the city of Lucille, where children are taught that monsters no longer exist, this novel follows the life of Jam and her discovery of Pet, a creature made of horns, colours and claws that emerges from one of her mum’s paintings. Pet is on a mission to hunt a monster that lurks in the house of her best friend, Redemption, and Jam must fight to protect her pal while uncovering the truth.

Telling the story of two opposing towns in Ireland, their long-standing grudge comes to a head, resulting in something much more frightening and dangerous than anyone could have expected. Inspired by an old Irish legend, it is a coming-of-age story of love, loyalty, community, feuds and tragedy.

This book presents a maritime fantasy that is said to be magical, unforeseeable and entirely addictive. Set on a large group of islands – The Myriad – surrounded by unfriendly seas, it tells the story of two friends, Jelt and Hark, and the toxicity of their relationship, as well as the history of gods; their reign and their demise. It probes issues of obsession and greed through evocative prose.

Emotional and raw, this is a story of suicide, mental health, bullying, grief and growing up with constant access to social media. And The Stars Were Burning Brightly tells of 15-year-old Nathan, who discovers that his older brother, Al, has taken his own life. During Nathan’s quest to find out why Al did what he did, he learns the truth about the online world. This book highlights the importance of speaking up when all you want to do is hide away.

A compelling debut written in verse, it tells the story of teenager Amber who grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father who targeted both her and her mother. Through emotional prose, Mann is said to craft a narrative that mimics the claustrophobia and sense of tensions felt by Amber. Exploring prevalent issues in today’s society such as feminism, identity, class and abuse.

Reimagining the story of Dracula from the point of view of his enslaved brides, this is a sinister and chilling tale, but one that also touches on companionship and love.

Expect fire-breathing animals in this story set in an alternative America during the Fifties, which tells the tale of a dragon, Kazimir, who has more about him than meets the eye – Sarah can’t help but be curious about him. Exploring themes of friendship, bravery, revenge and redemption in a world at the brink of elimination, it’s a pacey read.

A touching story of survival and loss and eventually finding inner peace and a sense of belonging, it’s set following World War Two and three friends Yossi, Leo and Mordecai arrive in the Lake District having survived the horrors of Nazi concentration camps. With flashbacks to their dark pasts, it’s a touching portrait of three boys welcomed to Ambleside.

Cleverly weaving nuanced stories around the daily ritual of walking home from school, this book is split into 10 tales (one per block of the journey) and explores each character’s unique perspective on life. Touching on issues of bullying, homophobia, cancer and death, it’s an expansive read for a young audience.

Love, silence and secrets under the Spanish dictatorship form the basis of this tale. Daniel meets Ana, a young girl working in his hotel. Character-driven, it draws on the suffering and despair that those under Franco’s rule experienced, as well as the burgeoning romance between Daniel and Ana.

Sophia Thakur is a force to be reckoned with – she brings her spoken-word performances to the page. In this debut, she explores the emotions and experiences of growing up as a mixed-race woman. With authenticity and honesty comes themes of love and loss, joy and resilience. A must-read.

Set in Great Depression-era Maine, Echo Mountain focuses on Ellie, a young girl struggling to help hold her family together. Like many others, they’ve moved to the mountains after having lost their home. When her father has an accident, they struggle even more. It’s a tender tale of family life.