Young people from Reading Activists St Helens have been helping out with the BASH (Book Awards St Helens). Young people from three High schools have been reading and voting for their favourite book from a shortlist of six books written for young people. They all came along to a special celebration event with author Marcus Sedgwick at St Helens Central Library to hear who the winner was.

Marcus announced that A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness had been picked as the top read by St Helens young people, As well as picking the winner, the young people also chose the name of the awards.

And, although Patrick couldn't be present at the event, in true awards ceremony style he emailed a personal message to the young people to say: "I'm extremely pleased to hear that A Monster Calls has won the first ever BASH Award, which by the way, has the best name of any award I've ever heard of."

"Very sorry I couldn't be there in person, but thank you so much to everyone involved - librarians, teachers, and readers alike - for putting it all together. I also thank you on behalf of Jim Kay, the fantastic illustrator, and the late, great Siobhan Dowd, who started the original idea. Thanks again, I'm really, really pleased!"

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