We're thrilled to announce that the winner of this year's NE Book Award is local author Dan Smith with the gripping wartime adventure, The Wall Between Us.

Our young judges loved this high-stakes story, set during the Cold War.  They particularly loved the way it is written in a compelling mix of letters, notes, diary entries and reports, which really help the reader to understand what it was like to live through these traumatic events. 

Congratulations to Dan on his well-deserved NEBA win,  and to his brilliant publisher, Chicken House.