Grand Prize Winner: BOOK UNCLE AND ME

About The story

Nine-year-old Yasmin intends to read a book a day for the rest of her life. Book Uncle, who runs a free lending library on the street corner, always has the perfect book for her. But when Book Uncle seems to be in trouble, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something.

About the Author

Uma Krishnaswami is the author of over a dozen books for children, from picture books (Monsoon, Chachaji’s Cup, and The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story), readers (Yoga Class, Holi) to novels for young readers (Naming Maya, The Grand Plan to Fix Everything). She is widely recognised for being a major voice in the sharing of international and multicultural viewpoints in American children’s literature. Uma lives and writes in northwest New Mexico, travels frequently to India, and is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Book Uncle and Me was the 2011 winner of the Scholastic Asian Book Award.

1^st Runner-up: THE GIRL MECHANIC OF WANZHOU

About The story

Twelve-year-old Zun, growing up in Wanzhou in 1902, would much rather be in a factory than in the kitchen. Her father designs bicycles and Zun has inherited his fascination and aptitude for all things mechanical. But a shocking turn of events put an end to her happy childhood. Tense and action-packed, emotional and strong, this novel is fast-paced and heart-rending.

About the Author

Marjorie Sayer was born in Hong Kong to parents of English, Persian, Indian, and Chinese descent. She is happiest reading, writing, playing music or doing mathematics. She lives in California with her husband and two daughters.

2^nd Runner-up: THE MUDSKIPPER

About The story

Ten-year-old Lizhi arrives in Singapore to meet her father’s family after he dies in an accident. Aunt mona, his sister, is rude and strange and does little to make her feel at home. Lizhi struggles to make sense of this new place in which her only friend is the young Indonesian maid, Bwe Bwe. Then one day she discovers a beautifully carved mudskipper in a house that is full of forgotten objects, neglected furniture and locked rooms. What other secrets will Lizhi uncover? And who is the mysterious person she sees in the garden?.

About the Author

Ovidia Yu is based in Singapore. She is an award-winning novelist, short-story writer and playwright. Her plays have been peformed locally and abroad. The Mudskipper was one of the winners of the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2011.