John Young wins Scottish Teenage Book Prize 2019
27 February 2019
John Young, author of Farewell Tour of a Terminal
Optimist, has been named winner of the Scottish
Teenage Book Prize 2019. Now in its third year, the award
was set up to celebrate the most popular teen books by authors in
Scotland. The Scottish Teenage Book Prize is run by Scottish Book
Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and
writing, and is supported by Creative Scotland. Young people in
schools and libraries across Scotland voted for their favourite
title.
Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist
(Kelpies Edge) tells the story of terminally ill Connor Lambert,
who sets off on a crazy tour across Scotland dodging the police,
joy riding and looking for answers. The story beings in Stornoway,
and the novel explores friendship, identity and morality, with a
dose of good humour. Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist
combines the authenticity of John Green with the energy of Irvine
Welsh.
John, originally from Belfast, began to write his debut novel
when his daughter was receiving chemotherapy. Verity passed away in
2009, and since then John has found solace in writing and cycling.
In 2013, he received a New Writers Award from Scottish Book Trust.
John also helped his wife establish a children's charity called The
Teapot Trust, based in Musselburgh, which provides art therapy to
children in hospital who are suffering from Lupus and related
conditions.
As part of his prize, John will receive £3,000 whilst the
shortlisted authors, S.M Wilson for The Extinction Trials
and Kerr Thomson for The Rise of Wolves, will receive £500
each. The winner of the Scottish Teenage Book Prize 2019 was
revealed at North Berwick High School's library, through a special
announcement film, including an acceptance speech from John
Young.
For more on this story, see the Scottish Book Trust website.