Latymerians take 1st prize at TSBA Ceremony

9 May 2023

Latymerians, Lili, Idil and Helios in Year 7, won 1st Prizes in the student competitions announced at the ninth annual Trinity Schools Book Award (TSBA) Ceremony last week, hosted at Ibstock Place School.

Lili & Idil were awarded joint 1st Prize Best Creative (Film) Response for their song & video “Coder Girl” in response to the book In The Key Of Code by Aimee Lucido. In the book review category, Helios won 1st Prize for his witty and thoughtful review of the same book.

They were all there to collect their prizes in person, from the seven shortlisted authors in attendance at the event.

Students and authors alike were excited to return to an in-person ceremony for the first time since 2020, with seven authors from all over the UK in attendance (Naomi Gibson, Sarah Govett, Lauren James, Nadia Mikail, Louisa Reid, Anthea Simmons and William Sutcliffe) and six more joining virtually, including from the USA (Femi Fadugba, Aimee Lucido, Elle McNicoll, 2023 winners Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman, and 2022 winner, Dr Jewell Parker Rhodes).

Student competition winners were celebrated for their book reviews and creative responses to the shortlisted books. These ranged from cakes to poetry and songs, videos, drawings and sculptures! After the formal ceremony, guests had the opportunity to view a special exhibition of these creative responses, as well as to meet the authors in attendance and get their books signed.

“We took 19 students in Years 7–10 to the Ceremony and it was joyous to be back in person at a really exciting event. I’ve had tremendous feedback from some parents already,” said Ms McCargar, Latymer Librarian.

“Lili & Idil’s song and Helios’ book review were both in response to the same book, In the Key of Code, so I shared them with the author, Aimee Lucido. The students & parents were all excited to learn that she would like to share them more widely. Lili & Idil’s song especially blew us away,” she continued.