The shortlist for the 2024 Branford Boase Award, given annually to the author and editor of the year’s outstanding debut novel for children has been announced.

Judges were inspired by stories with authentic voices and real life settings making this a golden year for debut writers as the Award celebrates its 25th anniversary: two of the shortlisted authors are also in contention for the CILIP Carnegies Medal for Writing, another for the Children’s Book Award, while another received the Nero Children’s Book Award. A shortlist of six has been selected from longest longlist of 25 titles in the awards history. 

Founded in 2000 to commemorate prize-winning author Henrietta Branford and influential Walker Books editor Wendy Boase, the Branford Boase Award is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Over the last quarter-century, the Branford Boase Award has constantly picked out future stars at the start of their careers. Previous winners and shortlisted authors include Meg Rosoff, Katya Balen, Philip Reeve, Frances Hardinge, Patrick Ness, M.G. Leonard, Maisie Chan and Marcus Sedgwick. Christine Pillainayagam won in 2023 with Ellie Pillai is Brown.

The Branford Boase Award is the only award to honour the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of editors in nurturing new talent.

From an exceptionally strong longlist of 25 books, the judges have chosen six to shortlist. These include a much-praised verse novel; a will-they-wont-they romance, starring a character living with a disability; two very different stories both with courageous young Muslim women at their heart; and the comic travails of a wannabe rapper in southeast London. Beth Lincoln’s Nero Book Prize-winning gender-playful murder mystery The Swifts also makes the list.

The six shortlisted books are:

The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, edited by Charlotte Hacking. Also shortlisted for the Children’s Book Award With illustrations by Joe Todd-Stanton, and loaded with references to David Almond’s 1998 classic Skellig, Matt Goodfellow’s verse novel tells the story of Nate as he navigates the final year of primary school, facing particular challenges at home. His life with his little brothers and single parent mother is one not often represented in children’s books. The judges found this extremely accomplished, a perfect verse novel. It’s harrowing, but has a playfulness to it too, and reads like a true story. 

The First Move by Jenny Ireland, edited by Ruth Knowles with Sara Jafari. With the support of her family, almost-eighteen-year-old Juliet is getting to grips with her arthritis but when it comes to socialising, she generally opts to stay home to play chess online rather than be singled out at parties as the “girl with crutches”. Like Juliet, Ronan takes solace in playing chess on an online forum. Little do they know that the flirtatious friendships they’ve struck up with online chess-mates could become a real-life romance… The judges were enthralled by this book and admire the quality of the writing, adding, “It’s rare to see disability represented in romances and Juliet’s unglamorous disease is described very well.”  

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan, edited by Eloise Wilson. Also shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal for Writing Richly imagined and vividly drawn, Safiyyah’s War is told by a young Muslim girl whose life is changed when she gets caught up in the French Resistance in Paris in World War Two. When Safiyyah discovers her father’s bravery and compassion as he and colleagues in the French Resistance work to save the lives of Jewish neighbours, she decides to do all she can to help, too. The judges were very impressed by this illuminating story of compassion and courage, which is inspired by real events. “It’s a story I didn’t know, and one that feels really needed right now”.

Steady for This by Nathanael Lessore, edited by Ella Whiddett and Ruth Bennett. Also shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal for Writing MC Growls (Shaun to his mum) has his eyes set on fame and fortune, starting with the Raptology competition. But when he and his best friend accidentally go viral for all the wrong reasons, things go awry. Set in the Peckham estate where he grew up and written in lively, rap-infused language, Nathanael Lessore’s bildungsroman is laugh-out-loud funny but tender and moving too, dealing with issues of peer pressure and social inequality. The judges described it as “close to perfect, with a loveable central character. The story is authentic, with real emotional depth.”

The Swifts by Beth Lincoln, illustrated by Claire Powell, edited by Ben Horslen and Julie Strauss-Gabel. Winner of the Nero Book Awards, Children’s Category Who caused Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude to fall down the stairs at the regular Swift family reunion? Is it linked to the family’s periodic search for Vile Swift’s missing treasure trove? The judges loved Beth Lincoln’s clever, original reworking of the country house murder mystery, praising its comic inventiveness, and cast of colourfully named queer-friendly characters. “It’s hard to put down and keeps you guessing throughout. Brilliant use of etymology and full of ideas.”

You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud, edited by Sarah Stewart. Hanan is a clever, highly motivated student, keeping her head down at grammar school, all too aware of the Islamophobia visited on her. When the school’s former caretaker is murdered, there’s a predictable backlash against the Muslim community and Hanah decides to make a public stand at the school’s conference on diversity. Mohamud, a Somalian, has written from her own experiences of Islamophobia, vividly creating a community with a rich and vibrant culture. Hanan’s quiet courage moved all the judges, who admire the storytelling and the quality of the writing. 2023 winner Christine Pillainayagam says, “The way micro-aggressions faced by people of colour are described is powerful. This will be an important read for kids who don’t find themselves in books and young Muslims will find it particularly relevant right now.”

LoveReading4Kids' very own expert reviewer, Julia Eccleshare, co-founder of the Branford Boase Award and chair of the judges says, “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Branford Boase Award, we are particularly excited to announce this shortlist. We have seen huge changes in the number of books submitted for the award, but more importantly in the range of stories being written. The development of own voice narratives is particularly exciting. The shortlisted authors are extremely talented, and there’s an authenticity and freshness to their books that we found exhilarating.”

This year’s judges are Christine Pillainayagam, author and winner of the 2023 Branford Boase Award; Emily Drabble, Head of Children’s Books Promotion and Prizes at BookTrust; Lucas Maxwell, former School Librarian of the Year and winner of the UK Literacy Association’s Reading for Pleasure Teacher Champion Award 2022; and Amy McKay, also a past UK School Librarian of the Year and for ten years Yoto Carnegies National Coordinator. The judging panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, Director, Hay Children’s Festival.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) in central London on Wednesday 10 July 2024. The winning author receives a cheque for £1,000 and both author and editor receive an inscribed plaque.