Branford Boase Award 2024 shortlist announced

'Own voice' stories dominate the shortlist for the 2024 Branford Boase Award, which highlights debut authors and the work of their editors. The award also celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Judges said they have been inspired by stories with authentic voices and real life settings; two of the shortlisted authors, Nathanael Lessore (Steady for This) and Hiba Noor Khan (Safiyyah's War), are also in contention for the Carnegie Medal for their debuts, while Beth Lincoln's The Swifts has won the Nero Book Prize.

The shortlist includes 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; the comic travails of a wannabe rapper in southeast London; and a gender-playful murder mystery.

The shortlisted authors and their titles

The six shortlisted books are:

The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, edited by Charlotte Hacking (Otter-Barry Books)

The First Move by Jenny Ireland, edited by Ruth Knowles with Sara Jafari (Penguin)

Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan, edited by Eloise Wilson (Andersen Press)

Steady for This by Nathanael Lessore, edited by Ella Whiddett and Ruth Bennett (Hot Key Books)

The Swifts by Beth Lincoln, illustrated by Claire Powell, edited by Ben Horslen and Julie Strauss-Gabel (Puffin)

You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud, edited by Sarah Stewart (Usborne)

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 this year.  The Branford Boase Award has consistently 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.

branfordboaseaward.org.uk / #BBA2024 / @BranfordBoase