YOUNG reading enthusiasts from Hampshire were inspired after meeting an award-winning author.

Year 9 students from Applemore College in Dibden Purlieu met Jo Cotterill, the author of this year’s Hampshire Book Award’s winning novel Looking at the Stars.

The award, run by the Hampshire School Library Service, is for the best paperback fiction title published in the previous year for the 11-14 age group.

Students across the county are given a shortlist of six titles which they then read and discuss before voting for their favourite.

The other short-listed titles this year were Winterkill by Kate A Boorman, Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan, Devil You Know by Cathy MacPhail, The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel and Smart by Kim Slater.

Looking at the Stars is an inspiring story of Amina’s family who live in country ruled by dictatorship. When war breaks out and the regime is overthrown they find their “liberators” are even more cruel than the predecessors.

At the awards event, winning author Jo Cotterill talked about how she became an author and presented a photo-story of her writing process.

She said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the librarians and staff involved in organising the awards and making them such a special occasion.

“But my biggest thank you goes to the young people who read all six books on the shortlist and debated them hotly on ‘decision day’ before casting their votes.

“I gather that Looking at the Stars was the winner at five out of the six voting stations on the day.

“Knowing how strongly young readers can feel about books – and how you really can’t get away with sub-standard stories – I am massively honoured that you chose my book.”