January 2012 NewGen Book of the Month.

Winner of the Costa Children's Book Award 2011.

The story's searing pace, its spare style, the excitement of its fabulously damaged world, its unforgettably vivid characters, its violent action and glorious love story make this a truly sensatonal YA debut novel.

Much of the author's inspiration came from the epic movies she grew up with, from Gone with the Wind to The Searchers to The Wizard of Oz. The novel has been optioned by Ridley Scott and screenwriter Jack Thorne is in the process of adapting it for film.

Moira Young says: “To be shortlisted with such experienced and acclaimed writers and their excellent books was wonderful. To win the Costa Children's Book Award is amazing. I am immensely gratified that the story and characters I’ve lived with and cared about for so long seem to speak not only to young people but readers of all ages.”

A piece of passion from Marion Lloyd, publisher of Marion Lloyd Books:

“Every publisher dreams of reading the first page of a new submission and instantly knowing they’ve found something special. I felt that electric shock with Blood Red Road. Moira Young’s searing, soaring survival story is arresting from the very first line. It is written in a compelling but very accessible dialect with an extremely distinctive authorial voice. The scope of the plot is epic and the pace is fierce, with unexpected twists. It is incredibly original. I am immensely proud to be publishing Moira Young’s astonishing debut novel which will set the summer of 2011 alight.”

She adds: "Moira Young is a new writer of phenomenally powerful skills. To have the Costa judges crown her first novel as the winner of the children’s book award is simply fabulous.”

You can also find out more by visiting the Facebook page for this book - http://www.facebook.com/BloodRedRoadBook

Titles shortlisted for the 2011 Costa Children's Book Award:

Flip - Martyn Bedford

The Unforgotten Coat - Frank Cottrell Boyce

Small Change for Stuart - Lissa Evans

Blood Red Road - Moira Young

MORE NEWS: Moira's publisher Scholastic have created a fabulous free newpaper for teens featuring a variety of their fantastic teen titles. Click here to have a read.

Synopsis

Every step of Saba's journey sizzles with danger... In a lawless land, where life is cheap and survival is hard, Saba has been brought up in isolated Silverlake. She never sees the dangers of the destructive society outside. When her twin brother is snatched by mysterious black-robed riders, she sets out on an epic quest to rescue him.

Reviews

‘Outstanding… think The Hunger Games meets The Road.’ - Bookseller

‘I absolutely loved reading Blood Red Road… I can't imagine a single reader that won't fall in love with Nero, the perspicacious crow.… Blood Red Road is going to win more than a few followers. And it will deserve them.’ - The Book Bag

‘Saba is a fantastically written character, she's a strong feisty heroine, with bags of guts and self determination which sees her through this non-stop rumble of hardship and adventure.’ - Mr Ripley’s Enchanted Books

‘Blood Red Road is a fast-paced story filled with adventure, excitement, furious violence and a lustful romance. Young’s writing reminded me a little of Tod’s voice in The Knife of Never Letting Go, and the strong feisty female character reminded me of Katniss from The Hunger Games. Definitely worth a read!’ - Chicklish

‘Saba tells us that she “aint’t afeared of nuthin”, which is lucky, because she faces a fight for survival from the very beginning… Blood Red Road has been compared to The Hunger Games and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. It also reminds me Russell Hoban’s Ridley Walker, although the distinctive dialect in which Young writes is much more accessible. Blood Red Road is inventive, intriguing, exciting and definitely worth a read.’ - LitBlog

About the Author

Moira Young was born in New Westminster, BC, on the west coast of Canada, to a business man father and a primary teacher mother. She has two younger sisters and all her immediate and extended family live in the Vancouver area.   Moira graduated from high school in Winnipeg, and from University of British Columbia with a history degree. She moved to the UK to attend The Drama Studio in 1983/4. She gained her Equity card performing with Fancy Goods on the alternative comedy circuit in the mid-80s when highlights included being pelted with fruit and vegetables by the audience at the infamous Tunnel Club and being hissed off the stage at the Lewisham Labour Club...  She became a tap-dancing chorus girl in London’s West End, appearing in High Society at the Victoria Palace directed by Richard Eyre.   From 1988 – 1992, Moira lived back in Vancouver, where she retrained as an opera singer and was winner of the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions, Western Canada in 1991. In 1992, she moved back to the UK to continue vocal studies and work in opera, where she sang in most London venues and also toured in the UK and France with Travelling Opera. Her solo concerts include St Martin’s-in-the-Fields and the National Portrait Gallery.   Moira’s first ambition was always to be a writer. She wrote her first book aged 9 entitled ‘The Heirloom Mystery’. Shortly after that, she was bitten by the theatre bug and didn’t take up writing again until 2003 when she enrolled on Elizabeth Hawkins’ Writing for Children course and workshop at the City Lit (2003-2005). She hasn’t stopped writing since. Moira now lives in Bath with her husband. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation