Manon Steffan Ros is celebrated as a playwright as well as a children’s author, and here she creates very powerful and rounded characters through their own words. Rowenna’s memories of the world before ‘The End’ show glimpses of her difficult earlier life, but we already know her as immensely strong and resourceful. The book is tightly focused on the family’s life with little speculation about the wider world, but the few relationships they have (with Dylan’s baby sister Mona and with a pet hare, for example) are beautifully and poignantly realised. Dylan, although he was a six-year-old used to tech-toys and mobile phones, almost immediately became fascinated with growing things, and he matures naturally into a farmer with little sense of loss. However, as he reaches puberty his feelings are confused, and a scene in a deserted house where he sees a teenage girl’s photos of her life and friends is most sensitively imagined. The End came when Dylan was six, after a nuclear disaster in a nearby city – most of the population died or fled, but Dylan and his Mum stayed put, adapting to life outside of a society. They grow their own food, learn to survive without electricity or running water, and borrow the things they need left behind by the town – for Dylan, this means reading every book he can get his hands on. Thanks for…” Gwion started, and took a few seconds to think about what he wanted to thank me for. “I thought everyone was gone. I didn’t think I’d ever hear another person’s voice.”

MSR: It was all new to me when I translated Blasu, and I struggled a little then. It’s so strange; even if you translate something word for word it’s never the same. The thing that emerges—it might be as good, better than the original even, but it’s never the same thing. Blasu in Welsh is a very dark novel, difficult to read, but in English it felt much lighter, and I couldn’t work out why. I was more confident when I came to Llyfr Glas Nebo. Having been invited by the Wales Literature Exchange to translate the opening chapter initially, I just kept going because I was enjoying it so much! I knew early on that I’d have to introduce new themes to it; for the same premise to work—Rowenna and Dylan, mother and son, writing their respective stories in a found notebook—I had to find a way to justify why they would be doing so in English rather than Welsh. The characters did change for me precisely because they were writing their stories in English. Despite their close understanding, the relationship between mother and son changes subtly as Dylan must take on adult responsibilities. And they each have their own secrets, which emerge as, in turn, they jot down their thoughts and memories in a found notebook - the Blue Book of Nebo. The winners of the medals were announced at a London ceremony on Wednesday hosted by Lauren Child, who won the illustration award in 2000 for her first Charlie and Lola book.Come on, Sionyn. It’s going to start raining properly in a bit!” Mam said, waiting for the branches. Then I heard Mam coming out with Dwynwen strapped to her breast, and I climbed down the ladder. There was too much to do to waste time thinking about Anglesey and the olden days. ***

You know, I’ve never traveled—never even lived outside Gwynedd—and I don’t have international experience to draw on, but the response to the Polish translation of the book showed me that each translation is a new and different work by default, proof that the reader finishes the author’s work. That book was translated directly from the Welsh, and yet the themes are somehow changed, the response so different to what it was in Wales. In Poland it was read as a feminist novel, and a lot was made of Rowenna’s experience as a single mother. I’d never considered the book from that perspective! Thinking about it, most of the books I write feature a single parent, but I’m not trying to make a point with it. It’s fascinating to see how broader political conversations and concerns—in this case women’s rights in Poland—feed into the story of the book. “I’ve never had an ambition to reach an audience outside of Wales.” Gaynor cleared her throat, as if she was trying to rid her mouth of the words that were threatening to escape. And she carried on cleaning, and we had a coffee, and the hair salon felt like the safest place in the world.I skinned the rabbit and took it home, and said, “Happy Birthday Mam.” I’d been to fetch the birthday card this morning, and had put it on the mantelpiece. There’s a photo of a racing car on it, and “HAPPY BIRTHDAY—SIX TODAY” written on it, but never mind. That’s the only card we had left. I had thirteen birthday cards, but we decided to burn the rest after The End, because we didn’t know anything then, not even to store kindling in a dry place for winter. A thoroughly thought-provoking and enjoyable read, the folklore elements combine to provide a rich tale that’s perfect for both YA and adult readers.’ Buzz Magazine She was awarded a CBE for Services to Literature in 2020; and was the 10 th Waterstones’ Children’s Laureate from 2017-2019.

The Yoto Carnegies are managed by CILIP, the library and information association. The Medals are awarded annually by CILIP and the Youth Libraries Group with longlists announced in February, shortlists in March and the winners announced at a ceremony in June. No traffic had been on this road for years. Everyone else in the world was dead. So I stepped out onto the A487 that, years ago, had been a constant hum of cars and lorries. By now, moss and grass and weeds had grown over the tar. An unforgettable story about survival – the survival of a language, a culture, and all of humanity.’– Francesca Rhydderch The man grinned. He was handsome, I think, although such an idea felt redundant after The End. “A boy! How old?” In this story of hope and endurance, we follow a scientist and her team during their search for the elusive 'Giant Arctic Jellyfish'.At first glance this looks like a short, light novel but how wrong anyone would be to think that. Translated from the original Welsh, this is a deep thought-provoking novel – filled with actions and philosophical questions that create a lasting impression. It’s got nothing to do with us,” said Mam firmly. I knew then that I had to shut up. Mam isn’t a woman who argues—she just closes herself, like a door or a book. She thinks that breaking into Sunningdale is different to breaking into the other houses in Nebo, and I can’t see why. Set in a post-apocalyptic Wales, this quiet, eerie story is told through a little blue diary shared by twelve year old Dylan and his Mum as they survive day to day in the deserted town of Nebo. You can’t come in,” were my first words to him. “I don’t want Dylan to see you.” He was wearing a shirt this time, a blue shirt with small, pearlescent buttons. It was starting to get dark, and the end of the day complemented him perfectly. He looked lovely. Dylan was only 6 when the world as he knew it stopped. The electricity went off, everyone left - and just him and his Mum were left to survive on a remote Welsh mountainside above the village of Nebo - with no services. Now 14, Dylan has learned new survival skills and is as wise as any adult. On a scavenging raid into Nebo, they find a blank notebook with a blue cover and decide to use it to record their thoughts and actions – neither reading the others writings.