The Waverton Good Read Award was founded in 2003 by villagers in Waverton, Chester, England, and is based on Le Prix de la Cadière d'Azur, a literary prize awarded by a Provençal village. Adult debut novels written by UK residents and published in the previous twelve months are eligible for consideration and are read by villagers. "The aim was not only to stimulate reading in the village but to provide encouragement to British writers". Two of the main founders were Gwen Goodhew (born 21 October 1942) an educational specialist who established Wirral Able Child Centre and has written and edited books on teaching the gifted child, and Wendy Smedley. It is the first British award to be judged by normal readers rather than literary figures.
Waverton Good Read Children's Award was first presented in 2011, for children's literature.
Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2019/20 shortlist and winner were announced on the same day, and there was no Children's award.
Winners and shortlists
YearWinnerShortlisted2003/4 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark HaddonAstonishing Splashes of Colour, by Clare Morrall Brick Lane, by Monica Ali Dissolution, by C. J. Sansom Spit Against the Wind, by Anna Smith2004/5Boy A, by Jonathan TrigellAt Risk, by Stella Rimington Betrayal in Naples, by Neil Griffiths Perception of Death, by Louise Anderson The Two Pound Tram, by William Newton2005/6A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina LewyckaThe Family Tree, by Carole Cadwalladr Emotional Geology, by Linda Gillard The Water Horse, by Julia Gregson This Thing of Darkness, by Harry Thompson2006/7The Killing Jar, by Nicola MonaghanGang of Four, by Liz Byrski Where They Were Missed, by Lucy Caldwell The Observations, by Jane Harris Mr. Clarinet, by Nick Stone2007/8Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, by Paul TordayGifted, by Nikita Lalwani In the Woods by Tana French Mosquito by Roma Tearne The Dead of Summer by Camilla Way The Solitude of Thomas Cave by Georgina Harding2008/9 Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith A Girl Made of Dust, by Natalie Abi-Ezi The Outcast by Sadie Jones Spider by Michael Morley2009/10 The Ghosts of Eden by Andrew Sharp Girl in a Blue Dress, by Gaynor Arnold The Coroner by M R Hall The Street Philosopher by Matthew Pamplin The Rescue Man by Anthony Quinn2010/11 Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson The Breaking of Eggs by Jim Powell The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller Luke and Jon by Robert Williams2011/12 Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson Sister by Rosamund Lupton Snowdrops by A D Miller2012/13 The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt Rhumba by Elaine Proctor The Bellwether Revivals by Benjamin Wood The House on Paradise Street by Sofka Zinovieff2013/14 The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin ExtenceJust What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer What the River Washed Away by Muriel M Macleod The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion2014/15 If I Should Die by Matthew FrankA Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray Wake by Anna Hope Daughter by Jane Shemilt After Before by Jemma Wayne2015/16The Death's Head Chess Club by John DonoghueLetters to the Lost by Iona Grey I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild2016/17Anatomy of a Soldier by Harry ParkerCrisis by Frank Gardner The Words in My Hand by Guinevere Glasfurd Belonging by Umi Sinha The People We Were Before by Annabelle Thorpe2017/18Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanMontpelier Parade by Karl Geary Not Thomas by Sara Gethin The Pinocchio Brief by Abi Silver A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart2018/19White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn BrachtWhite Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht Call of the Curlew by Elizabeth Brooks Bitter by Francesca Jakobi Killer Intent by Tony Kent The Sealwoman's Gift by Sally Magnusson2019/20Island Song by Madeleine BuntingSunfall by Jim Al-Khalili Nightingale Point by Luan Goldie Pieces of Me by Natalie Hart She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge
Waverton Good Read Children's Award In 2011, the inaugural Waverton Good Read Children's Award was presented.
Winners 2011 Stephanie Burgis, A Most Improper Magick 2012 Caroline Green, Dark Ride 2013 L A Jones, The Nightmare Factory 2014 Erika McGann, The Demon Notebook 2015 Simon Mayle, Shoutykid - How Harry Riddles Made a Mega-amazing Zombie Movie 2016 Kerr Thomson, The Sound of Whales 2017/18 Katie Smith, The Pumpkin Project 2018/19 Andrew Clover, Rory Branagan, Detective
External links Waverton Good Read website Saint, T. "'I'm not even the fifth best novelist in Waverton'", Telegraph (30 June 2004) Keeper of the Snails: The Waverton Good Read Award (interview with one of the organisers)