Maisie Chan has been named the winner of the Jhalak Children’s and Young Adult (YA) Prize 2022 for her middle grade novel Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths, illustrated by Anh Cao (Piccadilly Press). The Jhalak Children’s and YA Prize was set up in 2020 to celebrate books for children, teens and young adults written by British or British-resident BAME writers.

A warm and endearing story of family, expectation and creativity, Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths was chosen from a shortlist of six titles. It tells the story of 11-year-old Danny Chung, a budding artist who loves drawing more than anything else – and certainly more than maths. Danny’s life is turned upside down by a surprise visit from his little, ex-maths-champion grandmother from China. Nai Nai speaks no English and it is Danny’s job to look after her during his school holidays.

Judge Patrice Lawrence, who won last year’s inaugural Jhalak Children’s and YA Prize, said she loved the book for the “warm-heartedness, humour and nuanced way it approaches the challenges of being a child negotiating multiple identities”.

Fellow judge Sufiya Ahmed said it was “warm and funny”, and a “great class read for schoolchildren everywhere”.

Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths has been shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2022 and was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2022 earlier this year.

Click here to see the full list of shortlisted titles for this year’s Jhalak Children’s and YA Award.