Earlier this week I discovered to my utter delight that LOOKING AT THE STARS has come second in the secondary school category of the Oxfordshire Book Award 2015! They don’t call it ‘second’ or ‘runner-up’, but ‘Highly Commended’ is my new title 🙂 I am SO very chuffed. Marcus Sedgwick won with SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE which I don’t mind at all because if it’s anything like REVOLVER, it’ll be an awesome book and frankly, Marcus writes like a dream. But to be Highly Commended is very, very nice indeed and I’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to all the young people of Oxfordshire who voted for me! Can’t wait for the ceremony in the autumn, where I can thank some of you in person!
I am also really thrilled to be on the shortlist for the UKLA award, which is selected by teachers. I hoped so much that Looking at the Stars might be used in classes sometimes; it covers so many big issues like war, refugees, human rights, segregation and the treatment of girls and women – and so to make the shortlist for the UKLA is really wonderful. The winner will be announced in July.
Finally, my lovely patron of reading school, Burford, has sent me this display that one of their pupils has done. Sophie met me on World Book Day and then sent me some questions to answer – but I didn’t know her display was going to be quite so brilliant! Thanks so much, Sophie!
Jo Cotterill 
i really enjoyed doing this homework piece because it is all about my favourite author which is you , but when Burford school library asked me whether they could have this as a display i said yes straight away because then all of the students of Burford school can now know all about you and what you like and disliked when you were a child and i am proud of what i have done . thank you for answering my questions jo i really appreciate it x
I think you should be really proud of your display; you’ve obviously put so much time and effort into it! I was delighted to answer your questions 🙂