From The Telegraph:
A Monster Calls is the first novel to have been awarded both prizes in the 56-year history of the awards running concurrently.
Ness is also only the second writer to ever win the Carnegie Medal two years in a row, a feat achieved by Peter Dickinson in 1979 and 1980.
The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Carnegie Medal for children’s writing was first awarded in 1937, with sister prize the Kate Greenaway Medal being launched in 1956 – making both the UK’s oldest awards for children’s books writing and illustration.
Ness, who was awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2011 for his book Monsters of Men, said:
“It’s extremely humbling – and a little unnerving – to win the CILIP Carnegie Medal two years in a row.
“I also can’t tell you how happy I am that not only has the extraordinary work of Jim Kay been recognised, but that this will all help keep people reading and talking about the wonderful Siobhan Dowd.”
On winning the illustration award, Jim Kay said “I’m chuffed to bits! I still can’t quite get my head around winning, it’s strange even seeing the book in shops and libraries.”
A Monster Calls is based on a reworked idea of the late children’s writer Siobhan Dowd, who died in 2007. It follows 13-year-old boy called Conor who tries to escape from the knowledge that his mother is dying from cancer.
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