De-Colonising Children’s Literature – an evening of discussion about diversity in YA Fiction (including the launch of the Commonword Diversity Young Adult Fiction Prize)

Join authors, Jamila Gavin (Blackberry Blue, Coram Boy), Catherine Johnson (Sawbones and The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo), Pete Kalu (Silent Striker, Zombie XI), Bali Rai (City of Ghosts) and Alex Wheatle (Crongton Knights and Liccle Bit) for an evening of discussion about the (under) representation of black and minority ethnic characters in Children’s and Young Adult Fiction and the role of the Gothic in confronting the traumas from Britain’s history. Featuring readings and panel discussions chaired by Youth Libraries Group Jake Hope and Manchester Metropolitan University’s Chloe Germaine Buckley and devised in partnership with Commonword, this promises to be a vibrant and interesting event.

The event will also feature the launch of the Commonword Diversity Young Adult Fiction Prize, with judge Alex Wheatle and Artistic Director of Commonword, Pete Kalu. See http://www.cultureword.org.uk/commonword-diversity-young-adult-fiction-prize-2018/ for more details.

Scheduled to coincide with the start of the Easter break, this will be a fantastic opportunity for teachers, librarians, writers and readers to relax over a glass of wine, listen to fascinating discussion and stock up on some holiday reading. Full details here.