The Branford Boase Award 2024 Shortlist
By Branford Boase Award
The Branford Boase Award 2024 Shortlist
By Branford Boase Award
Introducing the shortlisted titles for the 25th anniversary of the Branford Boase Award, celebrating the most talented debut writers for children and their editors.
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 winner will be announced at a ceremony at CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) in central London on Wednesday 10 July 2024.
Explore all six titles and celebrate the shortlist! Purchases made from this list supports both the Branford Boase Award and independent bookshops.
The Final Year
Matt Goodfellow and Joe Todd-Stanton
£8.99 £8.54With 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
Jenny Ireland
£8.99 £8.54With 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
Hiba Noor Khan
£7.99 £7.59Richly 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: the laugh-out-loud and award-winning teen novel!
Nathanael Lessore
£7.99 £7.59MC 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
Beth Lincoln and CLAIRE POWELL
£7.99 £7.59Who 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
AYAAN MOHAMUD
£8.99 £8.54Hanan 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.”