Letter: Junk fiction

Sir: When the late Robert Westall (twice winner of the Carnegie Medal) won the Federation of Children's Books Award for Gulf, his novel inspired by the Gulf War, read both on the BBC's Jackanory and Radio 4's A Book at Bedtime, a 13-year-old judge wrote: "Each book of yours, Mr Westall, opens the door a tiny bit further, lets another ray of light peep through. That light is an ability to see the world through the eyes of others. The door is intolerance, and the doorknob? Fiction."

If Junk ("Heroin novel wins children's book prize", 17 July) fulfils those criteria, should we not all be delighted?

MIRIAM HODGSON

Editorial Director - Fiction

Reed Children's Books

London SW3