Founded in 2002, the Chocolate Lily Book Awards was founded in 2002 to promote literacy in British Columbia by collecting the best of children’s literature from authors and illustrators living in the province. Students read the nominated titles and vote for their favourite book in three categories: picture book, chapter books/early novels and novels.
STOWAWAY by Pam Withers (Dundurn) was nominated in the novel category: When Owen’s parents leave him on his own for a week, the sixteen-year-old gets bored and hatches a crazy idea: sneak onto the yacht that’s visiting the sleepy Pacific Coast island where he lives and stow away on an adventure! Once on board the vessel, Owen quickly finds this is anything but innocent fun. The ship is packed with teenagers from Central America, and it looks like Owen has stumbled into a people-smuggling operation. Complications pile up and as things head from bad to worse, a haunting incident from Owen’s past tightens its grip on him. There’s only one way to break free and make his way home. Owen and the first mate, Arturo — a former street kid — must work together to commandeer the boat and win the trust of those on board. But who’s friend and who’s foe in the shifting tides?
Pam Withers is an award-winning author of over a dozen young adult novels, including Tracker’s Canyon and Stowaway, and two nonfiction books. She lives in Vancouver and is represented by Amy Tompkins.
MYA’S STRATEGY TO SAVE THE WORLD by Tanya Lloyd Kyi (Puffin Canada) was also nominated in the novel category: Mya Parsons runs her school’s social justice club with her best friend, Cleo. Her lifelong desire is to work for the United Nations and change the world, and then bask in all the ensuing adulation. Her more immediate desire is to get a phone, preferably one like Cleo’s, with a leopard-print case to match. When her distracted dad and her long-distance mom (temporarily in Myanmar taking care of Mya’s grandmother) both say no, no way, and possibly never, Mya launches a campaign to prove herself reliable and deserving. She advertises her babysitting services, takes on more responsibility around the house, and attempts to supervise her sister’s skateboarding lessons. Her efforts leave her ego bruised and the kitchen slightly scorched. She’s no closer to touch-screen victory, let alone the Nobel Peace Prize she deserves. But all that changes after an accident leaves Mya to take charge–an experience which helps her realize how much she’s grown, with or without access to proper communications.
Tanya Lloyd Kyi has worked as a typesetter, graphic designer and photo editor before pursuing writing full-time. She is the author of many non-fiction titles, including Shadow Warrior, recently nominated for the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project List and DNA Detective, shortlisted for the OLA Red Maple Award and the Red Cedar Award. Her published novels for young readers include Truth, My Time as Caz Hazard, Anywhere but Here, which was praised by Kirkus as having a main character whose “voice is convincingly filled with a combination of angst and nonchalance,” and The Prince of Pot.
To see the full list of nominees, please visit: https://www.chocolatelilyawards.com/2018-2019-shortlist