PUPILS in St Joseph’s high school reading club have been busy judging the best of this year’s CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist.

Students from Years 7–9 read the eight shortlisted books, and, in groups, picked their favourite before producing a short video trailer to promote their chosen title.

This was the first year the school have used technology as part of the exercise. Teacher, Paul Watts, said: “I’m really proud of them.

“It’s remarkable what they’ve done.”

Ciaran McConnell, 13, presented on The Bunker Diary, by Kevin Brooks, which was announced the winner of this year’s award.

He said: “I’m a big horror fan, but [Brook’s] puts horror into a believable setting.”

Deputy head teacher, Jackie Jarrett, said: “It says something very important about you as young people that you value the library and reading.”

Year 7 pupils Molly Johnson, Nansi Jones and Zoe Paginton, all 12, had such fun making their trailer for Katherine Rundell’s Rooftoppers, they fancy themselves as filmmakers.

Molly said: “I think it would make a great film – we should make it.”