Third and fourth years pupils across North Lanarkshire now know that they will have one of their toughest decisions to make over the next few months, following today's (Thursday) announcement of the shortlist for the North Lanarkshire Catalyst Book Award 2007, which celebrates the best in contemporary teenage fiction.

The pupils will be tasked with selecting a winner from the four shortlisted books selected by the Catalyst Fiction Group, which comprises school and public librarians working within North Lanarkshire Council.

The shortlist includes:

• Just in Case by Meg Rosoff (published by Puffin Books). In Rosoff’s follow-up to her highly acclaimed first novel, David Case believes Fate is out to get him after he saves his baby brother from dying. His only problem is how to outrun Fate and stay alive.
• Henry Tumour by Anthony McGowan (published by Doubleday) – already named winner of the 2006 Booktrust Teenage Prize. This is the story of Hector Brunty and his struggle to cope with his abusive talking brain-tumour, Henry, who is trying to take over his life.
• Startled by His Furry Shorts by Louise Rennison (published by Harper Collins Children’s Books). Rennison’s seventh instalment of the trials and tribulations of teenager, Georgia Nicholson.
• Tokyo by Graham Marks (published by Bloomsbury). Marks’ fourth young adult novel, set against the backdrop of fast-paced, neon Tokyo. Adam is searching for his missing sister, knowing it is a race against time, as he is drawn into the Tokyo underworld.

Pupils from all 25 secondary schools in North Lanarkshire can participate in the judging process and come along to the award ceremony – attended by each of the shortlisted authors – which will be held on 4 October 2007 in Motherwell Concert Hall, where the winner will be announced.

The North Lanarkshire Catalyst Book Award is now in its fourth year and previous winners include Bali Rai (2004), Theresa Breslin (2005) and Alan Gibbons (2006). Alan Gibbons won last year for his book, Hold On. He said: "It was a great surprise and pleasure to win last year's Catalyst Award. I always prize the awards voted for by my readers most of all. I write for teenagers and their views matter more than anything. Good luck to this year's authors – I hope they enjoy the event as much as I did."

The award was set up by the Catalyst Fiction Group to promote teenage fiction in North Lanarkshire’s secondary schools and community libraries and encourage a higher level of teenagers reading for enjoyment. The group was established in 2004 and the awards ceremony has quickly established itself as a major event on the schools' calendar.

Asma Altaf (14) from Abronhill High was involved in the judging process last year. She said: "I really enjoyed taking part in the judging process for last year's Catalyst Award. It gave me a chance to try out some new authors for the first time and read different styles of writing, which I wouldn't have done otherwise."

Marcus Campbell (13) from Kilsyth Academy added: "I would definitely encourage other pupils to get involved as it was good fun and gave me chance to think about what makes a good book."

Katie McGivern, Chairperson of the Catalyst Fiction Group and Learning Resource Centre Manager at Abronhill High School in Cumbernauld, said: "We are very pleased to reveal the four books in the running for this year's award. Individually, they are all real page-turners and offer readers different experiences; together, they showcase the best in contemporary teenage fiction.

"I know how difficult it was for the group to whittle the long list of 20 books down to four, so I know it won't be an easy task for pupils to pick the winner as they are all real contenders. But that's what Catalyst is all about – putting the decision in the hands of our readers – and even if they have to make a difficult decision in the end, they will have great fun getting there!"