Limerick girl recognised as a reading hero

A LIMERICK schoolgirl has been recognised as a “reading hero” as part of a prestigious literary initiative.

Alannah O’Donoghue, a fifth-class pupil from St Patrick’s Girls National School in Limerick, received the KPMG Reading Hero Award, which recognises remarkable passion and achievements in reading by a young person.

Speaking of the award, Alannah said: “Reading gets me into the zone, it calms me. When I read it’s like I’m living in the world of the characters, reading helps me escape from the stress of school and tests.”

Maria Flannery, Partner at KPMG Ireland, said: “Well done to all our winners, and a special congratulation to our Reading Hero, Alannah, who was nominated by her teacher, Clare Farrell.

“Alannah has displayed an unwavering determination and commitment to reading, and to learning through reading, whilst also finding magic in the turning of each page. She is a perfect example of what the Reading Hero Award is all about.”

The winners of this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards were announced by host Rick O’Shea at a ceremony held in Merrion Square on May 22, in partnership with the International Literature Festival Dublin.

Selected by an independent panel of expert judges, including two young judges, and a network of junior jurors island-wide, this year’s winning titles include a compelling story of friendship, compassion, and grief; a tale of navigating life through loss, gang violence and tragedy that leads to slam poetry; a classic quest story with a modern twist and the disappearance of a special dolphin.

The judging panel read a record 158 titles from Irish-born or Ireland-based writers and illustrators, the biggest year so far in the history of the awards.

Catfish Rolling, the debut young adult novel from author Clara Kumagai won the KPMG Book of the Year Award.

Published by Zephyr, the novel explores Japanese legend alongside modern-day predicaments. Kumagai touches on themes of identity, relationships and grief along with the ethics of scientific study, exploitation and capitalism.