ELLE McNicoll’s debut novel, A Kind of Spark, has been crowned winner of the Stockton Children’s Book of the Year 2022.

More than 300 pupils from 19 of the borough’s primary schools cast their votes after reading a shortlist of five books.

Elle was named the winner in a ceremony attended by schoolchildren from across the borough at Stockton Central Library on Tuesday.

Published by Knights Of, the story follows Addie, an 11-year-old autistic girl, as she campaigns for a memorial to the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown.

It is the latest in a string of awards for Elle, who is autistic herself and an advocate of better representation of neuro-diversity in publishing.

She wasn’t the only winner, with Tamsin from Junction Farm Primary School scooping the Best Book Review award, which is judged by a panel of librarians.

Councillor Jim Beall, the council’s cabinet member for health, leisure and culture, said: “The Stockton Children’s Book of the Year award has been going since 1997 and is well-established as one of the most prestigious accolades in the industry.

“This year’s award is all the more special as authors have returned to doing face to face school visits and attending the awards ceremony in person.

“Competition for this award is always very strong and I’d like to say a big well done to all five shortlisted authors and thank you for spending time with us.

“I’d like to congratulate Elle, who joins an illustrious list of winners including the likes of Liz Pichon, David Almond and Piers Torday, and of course Tamsin for her brilliant book review.”

The other shortlisted books were The Griffin Gate by Vashti Hardy (Barrington Stoke), The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory by James Harris (Hodder Children’s Books), The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery (Walker Books), and The Ghost of Gosswater by Lucy Strange (Chicken House).