Former journalist and editor Sophie McKenzie has scooped the overall prize in the prestigious Red House Children’s Book Award 2009 for her thrilling teen novel, Blood Ties (Simon and Schuster).   McKenzie previously won the older readers category with her novel, Girl, Missing,  in 2007. 

The RHCBA, which is owned and co-ordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups is uniquely the only national award to be voted for solely by children.The awards were given at a  glittering awards luncheon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which was attended by 200 people, including more than 80 children from across the country, all of whom were involved in the voting.

 Two other category winners in the 29th annual award were also announced: Allan Ahlberg’s beautiful picture book The Pencil (Walker), illustrated by Bruce Ingman, took the younger children category, while Kes Gray’s fun story, Daisy and the Trouble with Zoos (Random House)  clinched the younger readers’ category.