Anthony Horowitz’s fifth Alex Rider novel Scorpia (Arkangel coming soon, from Walker Books) has Berkshire’s vote in the county’s new book award judged by key stage 3 pupils. Jacqueline Wilson came second with The Diamond Girls and Anne Cassidy was in third place with Looking for JJ. See www.berkshire-els.gov.uk (select Berkshire Book Award) for the reviews of entries submitted by 50 schools plus book groups in public libraries. You have to be in Berkshire to join in, but anyone can pinch the ideas for promoting the award and boosting reading in secondary schools.