Danielle Jawndo scoops the YA Book Prize 2023 for When Our Worlds Collided, her nuanced portrayal of three very different teenagers impacted by everyday racism.
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Winner and Shortlisted Books
Following her highly acclaimed debut novel, And The Stars Were Burning Brightly, we have another powerful story depicting an authentic story of young lives impacted upon by the institutional and everyday racism experienced here in the UK; which makes it an even more important and challenging read. Narrated by ...
Danielle Jawndo has won the YA Book Prize 2023 with her powerful novel, When Our Worlds Collided, depicting an authentic story of young lives impacted upon by the institutional and everyday racism experienced in the UK.
Danielle received her award, including prize money of £2000, at a ceremony at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) on 24th August, chaired by SF Said.
Rachel Fox, the children's and schools programme director at the EIBF, and a member of the judging panel said; "[It] completely blew me away and I am so pleased to see it crowned as the YA Book Prize winner for 2023. While the plot deals with extremely pertinent issues including racial injustice, prejudice around class and dealing with trauma, the novel is also a wonderful celebration of friendship, found family and community. I can’t wait for more readers to meet Chantelle, Jackson and Marc, and enjoy this accomplished novel as much as all of us judges.”
The panel was chaired by Caroline Carpenter, The Bookseller’s children’s editor and deputy features editor, who commented: “As YA is propelled into the limelight again thanks to BookTok and the success of recent screen adaptations, it’s inspiring to see that some of the best work in this category is originating from the UK and Ireland. This year’s brilliant, varied shortlist is testament to that, and I could not be happier with the judges’ top choice. Though this is only Danielle Jawando’s second novel, she has already proven herself to be a powerful author of deeply affecting and authentic stories and a rising star of YA.”
Read our full review of When Our Worlds Collided, and download the first chapter of the book, here.
The YA Book Prize, launched in 2014, recognises the best YA literature from the UK and Ireland according to a panel drawn from experts and young readers.
