I think my favourite one is definetly The crowfield feather which just fantastic. I would love to see this book published.

Wesley Griffiths, Hartland,

I would pick the secret life of Jemma Jones as I love true life stories and all my friends love them too.

Amy, London,

The secret life of Jemma Jones sounds like it will be sad and make you forget everything else. I love that kind of book.

Lucy, London,

I liked "The Secret Life of Jemma Jones" the best because of its plain, easy writing style which drew me in and made me identify strongly with Jemma.

Sarah, Berkeley, CA, USA

I like The Secret Life of Jemma Jones. It's got all the right ingredients like mystery and a drama school and family problems. Some of the others are good as well but this is the only one I would buy probably.

Ellen, London,

Although all the shortlisted novels sound great, I particularly like the extract from The Crowfield Feather... there is something very alluring about it. Congratulations everyone!
Suzy, Algarve

Suzy, Algarve, Portugal

Congratulations to those on the shortlist, beating 2,000 others is a huge achievement.
I didn't make it but it was a lot of fun making the deadline and it was a really useful editing exersice, so thanks Chicken House :)

Steve, Chichester, UK

My vote goes to The Crowfield Feather. Atmospheric writing, a "Name of the Rose" for children. What's not to love?

Lia, Los Angeles, USA

Given that the objective was to find the next Rowling, and that Harry Potter ran to a series of several books with the same basic set of characters, do any of the above concepts have the same staying power?

:0) Congrats to everyone listed.

David R, Peterborough, Cambs

I like the Secret Life of Jemma Jones. It's like a real life book but with a mystery. Who is Crystal and what has happened to her? Also I think it is written in a way that draws you in to the story. If it wins I will definitely buy it.

Danielle, London,

Don't lose heart all those whose manuscript wasn't in the final five, and not included in the last twenty two.
JK Rowling was turned down by several publishing houses before being "Found".

JOHN GLOVER, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Was the competition limited to British authors? That wasn't mentioned in the contest rules yet that's what it sounds like in the announcement above. Knowing that would have saved me all the money it cost to print, bind, and mail my book overseas (I never did get my prepaid postcard back in acknowlegement). I wonder what they do with the manuscripts that didn't make it? Oh well. I'd still like to thank Chicken House and Times for having this wonderful competition and I wish good luck to the final five!

Sara Thomas, Madras,

I really enjoyed both 'The secret life of Jemma Jones' and 'The Crowfield Feather', I would buy them both on reading the extracts here.
Thank you to Chicken House and The Times for promoting children's writing as an important genre, it's always my favourite section to browse in bookstores and I don't think it gets enough press for the lesser known names and new writers. Please keep this competition going every year!

Jennifer Crawte, Poole, UK

Congratulations to the 5, how exciting this has been and still is! I too, would like to see the long list. For those who didnt make it, dont give up - there is still next year's competition!

Many thanks to all involved for giving us this chance to submit our manuscripts!

Laura Kirkwood, Northampton, UK

Just for the information of those people wanting to know the long-list. Those people on it were contacted by letter to let them know that they'd just missed out (well I was anyway). I was also provided with a 'readers report' which highlighted key sales points of the piece and which even rated it in terms of entertainment, quality and originality. I was very impressed by the detail they went into - it will be a tremendous use in approaching agents. They also said that this is intended to become an annual competition.
Thanks a lot Chicken House!

Chris Parsons, Fleetwood,

Aliens FC! Sounds like a kids' book to me!

Fifi, London,

I enjoyed reading all five extracts, and was drawn to want to read more of The Crowfield Feather!
Good luck to the now "Famous Five". It must be agonising for each of them whilst awaiting the result. Perhaps reading a good book may be a good distraction.

I too, would like to see the LIST OF"22".

JOHN GLOVER, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Please don't publish the longlist. Some of us don't need to have prospective agents/editors informed that we didn't make the shortlist. Surely it would be far kinder to send the longlist to everyone who is on it via email.

Bea Smith, London,

I think it would be only fair to the entrants to publish the long list, together with brief comments on why they were rejected, so that those writers on the right track can correct their work for the future.
K. Hudson

K. Hudson, Okehampton, Devon, UK

Well done to the shortlisted writers. I, too, am very intrigued to see the larger list as I entered a manuscript and would love to know if it as considered highly or not. Thanks.

Andrew, Radcliffe, UK

A look at the longer list would be a real treat and great encouragement for those who were on the right track, but would otherwise be none the wiser... I hope it is given serious consideration.

The Reavers seemed to have particularly strong writing; best of luck to the 5 selected.

MP, Oxford, UK

Congratulations, once again. A very exciting time. I have looked for the long list - will it be announced?

A, St. Helens

Aliss, St. Helens,

Please, please tell us the long-list.

Jon from London, London, UK

Congratulations to the final five, I wish each of you the best of luck.
I was wondering if it would be possible to know who made the longlist of 22?
Many thanks

Tracy, Cambridge, England