Students from across Abingdon came together in the library at St Helen’s to celebrate another inspiring year of Carnegie Shadowing.
The event marked the culmination of months of enthusiastic reading, lively discussion, and thoughtful debate about this year’s shortlisted titles.
This year’s Carnegie Medal Award for Writing shortlist explored themes of identity, belonging, relationships, and the meaning of home, while showcasing powerful storytelling and imaginative wordplay. Throughout the Shadowing programme, students immersed themselves in the books, sharing ideas, challenging perspectives, and developing their confidence as readers and speakers.
The Carnegie Shadowing programme brought together students from five Abingdon schools—Europa, Fitzharrys, John Mason, Larkmead, and St Helen’s—for three memorable collaborative events: the Abingdon Schools’ Carnegie Tea, the Carnegie Quiz, and the Carnegie Forum. Alongside these shared celebrations, students met weekly in their own schools from March until the announcement of the Carnegie Medal winner in mid-June, building a vibrant local community of readers who inspired one another through thoughtful discussion and a shared love of books.
