Flossie Watkins (14) shares her thoughts on winning the 2026 Schools Book Mastermind, sponsored by Suffolk Book League since 1997

Flossie holding her shield with SBL’s chair, Sue Blything-Smith and author, Julian Sedgwick

My name is Flossie Watkins, I’m 14 years old and I’m from Debenham High School. The book I chose as my specialist subject was called Reckless by Lauren Roberts. I chose this book because of the adventure, constant betrayals, magic and romance. My favourite character is Paedyn Gray because she is such a fierce and independent woman who is a big feminist. And my favourite quote in this book is ‘call us even. Call me crazy. I don’t care. Just … Just call me yours’- Kai Azer. Whenever I hear that quote it always tugs on my heartstrings it’s such a deeply personal message to Pae. Kai and Pae have always had such a rollercoaster of a relationship. I would describe this book as Enemies to be the death of each other.

All the other competitors in this competition were all really nice and seemed really friendly!

I’m so honoured to win this competition too as I only won by half a point! So it was VERY, VERY close. With the winnings I’ve earned I would like to buy so many books so I’ll just name a few: 

The Prisoners Throne by Holly Black (Hot Key Books: 2025)

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas (Bloomsbury Publishing: 2022)

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (Magpie: 2023)

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E Pearson (Hodderscape: 2022)

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E Pearson (Hodderscape: 2022)

Heartless by Marissa Meyer (Macmillan Children’s Books: 2017)

Flossie Watkins xxx