YOUNG literary critics are having their say about books which have been shortlisted for a prize.

Seven students from Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, have formed a book club to assess the six books that are on the shortlist for the Carnegie Book Prize, to be decided later this year.

The group, all year seven students, meet once a week to discuss the books they have read.

They have so far read two of the shortlisted books - The Road of the Dead, by Kevin Brooks, and The Road of Bones, by Barnard Castle author Anne Fine. Despite the local connection, the group agree that Brooks' novel is the best they have read so far.

"It's good because when we talk about the books, people will say different things, because they've got different opinions," said Lauren Read, aged 11.

"I might say 'I thought this book was really good, or scary', but someone else will say something different."

The youngsters plan to write a report about their findings and submit it to the competition's website, they also may have a video conference with another school about the books.

They will also present their findings to next year's prospective new students when they visit for an intake day.

"It's an opportunity to extend and challenge the more able students in the year group," said Julie Bissicks, an English teacher who is part of the group.

"By working in small groups like this, it gives the children a much better opportunity to get more out of the book and read much more challenging texts."