The winner of the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize is Patrick Ness for The Knife of Never Letting Go (Walker).

Read an interview with Patrick here.

Patrick received a cheque for £2,500 and a trophy at a ceremony in London on 18 November.

Amanda Craig, Chair of Judges, said, 'In a strong year for young adult fiction, the judges of the Booktrust Teenage Prize selected six novels - coincidentally, three by men and three by women - that we all felt were outstanding for the scope of their imagination, their originality, their writing and their appeal. The Knife of Never Letting Go made the judges laugh, cry and debate its contents with passion; a striking mixture of thriller, science fiction and literary tour de force, it's influenced by writers as diverse as Laurence Sterne and Ursula le Guin, and should appeal to a wide readership.'

Viv Bird, Director of Booktrust, said, 'The Booktrust Teenage Prize attracts some great authors and this year was no exception. With an impressive shortlist of compelling and well-written novels, The Knife of Never Letting Go was original and completely gripping. I offer huge congratulations to the author and winner Patrick Ness for his remarkable book.'

Read the press release (Microsoft Word .doc 767Kb)

2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist

The shortlist was announced on 1 September.

Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson (Bodley Head)

A teenage tearaway from tough downtown Dublin is unwillingly relocated into rural County Clare. Bobby is determined to steal the first available car to rejoin his urban gang mates. However the longer he stays in the old house the deeper he gets into a mystery from the past.

The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony McGowan (Definitions)

McGowan's enthralling story of the terrible consequences of peer pressure and violence. Paul Varderman becomes embroiled in the war between the gang led by twisted bully Roth and the gang of a neighbouring school when Roth hands him a knife which both empowers him and scares him at the same time.

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner (Orion)

A magical adventure story set in the chaotic days of the French Revolution. Hero Yann and his dwarf mentor Tetu struggle to save their friends from the guillotine's blade.

Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz (Walker)

The latest installment in the adventures of Alex Rider, in which he re-enters earthly events from outer space and gets tangled up with the Australian Secret Service and an investigation into the criminal world of the Snakehead organisation.

Apache by Tanya Landman (Walker)

Fourteen-year-old orphan Siki already has a fierce hatred for the Mexican warriors, but when her little brother Tazhi is brutally slain in front of her she vows with all her heart to become an apache warrior and avenge his death.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Walker)

A sci-fi fantasy novel set in a small town where women are banished and only men remain. Todd and his friend Viola must escape the town, the mysterious men who are chasing them and the unremitting ‘Noise' virus.

Amanda Craig, Chair of Judges, comments:

"I've had the most wonderful time judging the Booktrust Teenage Prize, which has revealed a treasure-trove of familiar and unfamiliar talents for teenagers to enjoy. The most exciting, innovative, stylish and moving kind of fiction is currently being written for young adults, and I am confident that the shortlist chosen by the judges reflects this."

Read the full press release here

Read the about the longlist here