Who wrote it?

M G Harris, who says:

“WOW! It's the first time that Invisible City has been shortlisted for an award, in fact a first time ever for me as an author. I'm very honoured indeed to be on the list with such terrific other writers. Looking forward to coming up to Leeds and meeting the organisers, readers and other the other shortlistees. As we like to say at Scholastic - GO JOSHUA!

In the meantime, readers may like to know that Joshua's adventures continue in the first sequel, Ice Shock, out on March 2nd... together with an interactive online murder mystery game set in the world of The Joshua Files.”

What's it about?

One boy, one deadly prophecy, one heart-stopping adventure. When his archaeologist father goes missing after an air crash in Mexico, UFO-obsessed Josh suspects alien abduction. But after he discovers his dad was murdered, Josh is caught up in a race to find the legendary Ix Codex - a lost book of the ancient Maya containing a prophecy about the end of the world...

Fact File

M G Harris tried her hand at screenwriting from the age of eleven, once winning a runner-up prize in a Blue Peter competition for Grange Hill.

The Joshua Files website is at www.joshuafiles.co.uk.

Who wrote it?

Chris Higgins, whose other books include It's a 50/50 Thing, Pride and Penalties and 32c That's Me.

What's it about?

Perfection. That's the key aim in Eva's life. She works hard to be the girl all the other girls wish they could be. She seems to have it all. But the arrival of new girl Patty threatens Eva's perfect life and soon her mother's in rehab, her father's absent and her best friend seems more interested in snogging her brother.

Fact File

Chris lives in Cornwall with her husband, 4 children, a sheepdog, a rabbit and a goldfish that will be 21 this year!

Chris's website is at www.chrishigginsthatsme.com.

Who wrote it?

Gemma Malley, a successful author of women’s fiction. The Declaration is her first book for younger readers.

What's it about?

Anna Covey is a 'Surplus'. She should not have been born. In a society in which ageing is no longer feared, and death is no longer an inevitability, children are an abomination. Like all Surpluses, Anna is living in a Surplus Hall and learning how to make amends for the selfish act her parents committed in having her. She is quietly accepting of her fate until, one day, a new inmate arrives. Anna's life is thrown into chaos. But is she brave enough to believe this mysterious boy? This is a tense and utterly compelling story about a society behind a wall, and the way in which two young people seize the chance to break free.

Fact File

Gemma used to be a journalist and contributed regularly to publications such as Company magazine and The Sunday Telegraph.

Gemma's publisher's website is at www.bloomsbury.com.

Who wrote it?

Sophie McKenzie, who won the Red House Children's Book Award and was one of the winners of the Richard and Judy Children's Book Awards in 2007 for Girl, Missing.

What's it about?

When Theo discovers the father he thought died when he was a baby is still alive, he's determined to find him. The clues lead him to the lonely Rachel, who has problems of her own, including parents who compare her unfavourably to her long-dead sister. But when Rachel and Theo are attacked by men from RAGE - the Righteous Army against Genetic Engineering - at Rachel's school disco, they are rescued by strangers and taken to meet a mysterious figure. There, they both make some startling discoveries about their identities, which will affect their past, present, and future in dramatic and life-altering ways...

Fact File

The first idea for Blood Ties came when an image of a boy escaping from a bodyguard popped into Sophie's head. When she realized the boy didn’t know why he had a bodyguard in the first place, she was hooked.

Sophie's website is at www.sophiemckenzie.net.

Who wrote it?

Marcus Sedgwick, author of numerous acclaimed books including Floodland, The Book of Dead Days, The Foreshadowing, My Swordhand is Singing and Blood Red, Snow White.

What's it about?

Marko and Sorrel meet in Venice for the first time. They must uncover the mystery of what has happened both to Sorrel's father, plagued by a strange madness that prevents him from sleeping, and to Marko's father, a doctor, who has mysteriously gone missing after travelling to Venice to help his old friend.

Years on from My Swordhand is Singing and Peter is still on the trail of the Shadow Queen. His search leads him to Venice, a city whose beauty disguises many ugly secrets. The Shadow Queen is there, gathering strength, recruiting a new army of the Undead for a final confrontation.

Fact File

Marcus illustrates some of his books, and has provided wood-engravings for a couple of private press books. His books have been shortlisted for numerous awards including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, The Carnegie Medal and the Blue Peter Book Award.

Marcus's website is at www.marcussedgwick.com.