THE Children's Laureate has called on book lovers in Okehampton to help compile the definitive range of titles for readers to try by the time they hit 16.

Malorie Blackman opens nominations for World Book Day's 'Writes of Passage' initiative, aimed at keeping teens reading.

Malorie said: 'This is a chance for people in Okehampton to join the biggest debate about the books that help shape and inspire teenage lives — from thrilling plots and thought-provoking episodes to laugh-out-loud characters or heartbreaking narratives.

'Writes of Passage is all about ensuring no teen is left short of ideas for what to read next.

'We're excited to discover the differences between what young adults are choosing to the titles their parents enjoyed during their formative years. Alongside established classics and modern blockbusters we're hoping for a few genuine surprises and lost gems among people's nominations, giving us an eclectic mix of stories to recommend that truly fire the imaginations of today's teen readers and those of future generations.'

Anyone can take part by visiting http://www.worldbookday.com/writes-of-passage">www.worldbookday.com/writes-of-passage and sharing their favourite books by Friday, January 17, with one lucky participant set to bag every book on a final list of 50 recommended reads for teens being unveiled for World Book Day 2014, on March 6.

All children from Okehampton in full-time education are entitled to receive a £1 World Book Day Book Token, which can be exchanged for one of ten specially published World Book Day £1 Books. In 2014 these include two young adult titles: Rock War: The Audition by Robert Muchamore, and The Boy in the Smoke, by New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.