Blonde Roots by Bernardine Evaristo has been announced by the Orange Prize youth panel as their overall winner.

The title beat the other shortlisted titles including A Mercy by Toni Morrison and The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser.

Bernardine, who read from Blonde Roots at a Litfest event last year said: “This is such a lovely surprise and I’m absolutely delighted to receive this recognition for Blonde Roots. It’s also a great new Orange Prize initiative to embrace and encourage the readers of the future.”

The youth panel of six girls and six boys was recruited via www.spinebreakers.co.uk as part of a campaign to engage younger readers with the Orange Prize.