27/6/2006 - Cumbrian schoolchildren's favourite book revealed

After months of reading, discussing and debating, Cumbrian secondary school pupils have selected their favourite book.

Following a tense round of voting at the University of Central Lancashire's Newton Rigg Campus in Penrith on Wednesday 21 June, around 70 pupils representing 31 schools from across Cumbria chose the fantasy adventure book Eragon by Christopher Paolini as the winner of this year's 'Spellbinding' award.

The competition, which is in its fourth year, is organised by Cumbria County Council and is the biggest of its kind in the county. 

Nominations for the award were collected from pupils aged between 11 and 14 who were encouraged to read and review the books in their school reading groups. Between them, they reduced dozens of potential award-winning works to a shortlist of three which as well as the winner included The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, and Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver. 

"This year's Spellbinding award has proven enormously successful with a record number of schools taking part. It is a wonderful opportunity to get pupils excited about the joys of reading," said councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet member responsible for the library service.

Notes for Editors

From the back cover of Eragon by Christopher Paolini:

One boy...One dragon...A world of adventure. 

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy almost as old as the Empire itself. 

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.... 

'A compelling and action-filled adventure...a galloping good example of its genre'. Daily Telegraph 

'This book is an achievement. Readers...will be transported'. Sunday Times 

'A portrayal of true affection between boy and dragon...Paolini writes like someone gripped by his own story.' Guardian. 

'A stirring fantasy of epic proportions'. The Bookseller