The Fidler Award

While most book awards go to works already in print, the Fidler Award acts as a boost to unpublished writers as well as recognizing outstanding novels written for children ages 8 to 12.

To win the Fidler Award, unpublished authors submit their manuscripts to the judging committee. The committee, made up of members of the Scottish Book Trust, editors from Hodder Children's Books, and several independent book experts, selects the winner. The winner is then published by Hodder Children's Books, given an advance of £1,000 and a royalty package, along with the trophy.

The awards began in 1983 and were discontinued in 2001. In between, awards were given out ten times-many years being skipped because the judges deemed there was not a suitable winner. In one year, the winner went on to win a Carnegie award and that author, Theresa Breslin, was also later shortlisted for a Children's Book Award.

The award was named for Kathleen Fidler, the author of more than 80 children's books. The award was established as a memorial to her after her death.

Winners

Year	Title	Author
2001	The Ice Boy	Patricia Elliott
2000	The Ivy Crown	Gill Vickery
1999	The Memory Prisoner	Thomas Bloor
1997	Slate Mountain	Mark Leyland
1996	The Falcon's Quest	John Smirthwaite
1993	48 Hours with Franklin	Mij Kelly
1987	Whispers in the Graveyard	Theresa Breslin
1985	Diamond	Caroline Pitcher
1984	No Shelter	Elizabeth Lutzeier
1983	Adrift	Allan Baillie