Patrice Lawrence picks Rebecca Henry to win YA novel competition

COMPELLING, ACCOMPLISHED WRITING THAT SUCKS YOU IN—FINE DEBUT

The short-list for the YA competition was beguiling and talented. We were both immediately  struck by Rebecca Henry’s The Sound of Everything with its strong, unself-conscious and convincing narrative voice of an emotionally damaged  girl in foster care who believes that all she’s  got in the world is a knife called Emerson but who learns that—however many times it’s come your way—  betrayal isn’t the sum of  life or people and you must to dare to trust.

Patrice Lawrence: ‘I was sucked in by the quality of the writing, the ear for dialogue and a complex character who on the surface could seem unlikeable or self-pitying but who is compelling and makes you route for her.’

Our competition for a contemporary YA novel with an urban made me realize just how much varied  talent there is out there. Congratulations to Rebecca and to everyone on the short list.