The Atlantic Book Awards were presented last night (June 5) at the Halifax Central Library. Hosted by CBC's Amy Smith, four awards—including the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children's Literature—were celebrated. Author-illustrator Jack Wong, the 2024 Brimer winner for his picture book The Words We Share, took to the stage to introduce the five Brimer finalists.
New Brunswick author Valerie Sherrard took home the honour for her verse novel, Standing on Neptune (DCB Young Readers). The jury had this to say about her novel:
"Standing on Neptune is a beautifully written, tender story that explores the inner world of Brooke, a teenager who thinks she might be pregnant. The book is engaging, easy-to-read and deals honestly with a situation all too familiar to many young women. Sherrard never hits a wrong note. Brooke is fully realized, very believable character who clearly expresses her shifting feelings about trust, family and friends as she grapples with fear about her future. Sherrard has a gift for poetic expression, along with a deep insight into what it feels like to be young, vulnerable and very much alone. Each poem can be read and understood on its own, yet each poem moves the plot and characters forward with a seamless grace. Brooke’s identification with the mysterious planet Neptune is profound and haunting. Like all good poetry, all good books, Standing on Neptune leaves echoes in the reader’s heart long after it is finished. An impressive achievement."
To watch the awards ceremony, click here.
About the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Children's Literature
The Ann Connor Brimer Award was established in 1991 by the Nova Scotia Library Association and supported by the family of Ann Elisabeth Connor Brimer—a teacher, researcher, and program coordinator who served as executive director of the Canadian Learning Materials Centre, founding member of the Nova Scotia Coalition on Arts and Culture, co-founder of Woozles Children’s Bookstore, and Atlantic Officer for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. The award honours outstanding contributions to writing for Atlantic Canadian young people.
For more information about the prize, visit writers.ns.ca.