Twenty-five-year-old Sally Nichols has won the Glen Dimplex New Writers award for her book Ways to Live Forever. It’s the story of Sam McQueen, an 11-year-old fan of airships and Warhammer who is dying of leukaemia. An intelligently written, affecting book Ways to Live Forever is sincere in asking the questions that we need to keep asking as adults about death and divine justice. This is the first time a children’s book has won the overall award, with judges on the night referring to a “golden age of children’s books.” Given such wonderful work from the likes of Philip Pullman and John Boyne, it’s easy to see why. Anyone any others to add to the list? Is this really a golden age for children’s books, or do y’all hearken back to the days of Ballet Shoes, Narnia books and Susan Cooper?

For the full list of Glen Dimplex New Writers Awards winners, click here.