Branford Boase Award unveils longlist of 21 books by Steadman, Kenny and more

The Branford Boase Award for an outstanding debut novel for children has unveiled a longlist of 21 books “representing contemporary children’s publishing at its best”.

The award was set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, one of the founders of Walker Books. Siobhan Dowd, Meg Rosoff, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Patrick Ness, Frances Hardinge, Philip Reeve and, most recently, Maisie Chan are among past winners and shortlisted authors. For the third year running more than 60 books from 28 publishers were submitted.

The longlist features fantasy novels, including bestseller Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A F Steadman, edited by Ali Dougal (Simon & Schuster); coming-of-age YA novels; a Georgian-era crime adventure; and The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks by Emily Kenny, edited by Katie Jennings (Rock the Boat). The latter was also longlisted for the new Adrien Prize for novels giving a positive portrayal of a character with a disability.

Chair of the judges, co-founder of the Branford Boase Award and children’s director of the Hay Festival, Julia Eccleshare said: “Now in its third decade, the Branford Boase Award highlights the most exciting new authors for children but also reflects the current complexion of literature for young people. We are excited that this year’s longlist includes such a wide variety of voices, of subjects and themes, representing contemporary children’s publishing at its best.”

This year’s judges are Maisie Chan, author and winner of the 2022 Branford Boase Award; critic Joanne Owen; Darren Matthews, primary advisory teacher at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education; and Sajeda Amir, English teacher and KS3 coordinator at Levenshulme High School, Manchester.

The award is delivered in partnership with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by Walker Books. The shortlist will be announced on 27th April. The winner will be announced on 13th July at an award ceremony in London.

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, will open on 7th February. 

The 2023 Branford Boase Award longlist in full: 

• The Bones of Me by Kel Duckhouse, edited by Harriet Birkinshaw (Flying Eye Books)
• The Eternal Return of Clara Hart by Louise Finch, edited by Siobhàn Parkinson (Little Island Books) 
• Running Out of Time by Simon Fox, edited by Tom Bonnick (Nosy Crow) 
• The Spectaculars by Jodie Garnish, edited by Becky Walker and Alice Moloney (Usborne) 
• The Miraculous Sweetmakers by Natasha Hastings, edited by Michelle Misra (HarperCollins Children’s Books), illustrated by Alex T Smith
• The Whisperling by Hayley Hoskins, edited by Katie Sinfield (Puffin) 
• Wishes Come in Threes by Andy Jones, edited by Non Pratt (Walker Books) 
• The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks by Emily Kenny, edited by Katie Jennings (Rock the Boat) 
• Seed by Caryl Lewis, edited by Sarah Hughes (Macmillan Children’s Books), illustrated by George Ermos
• Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Linn, edited by Gráinne Clear (Walker Books) 
• Mia and the Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy, edited by Leah Thaxton (Faber)
• Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna, edited by Felicity Alexander (Welbeck Flame)
• Rapunzella, or Don’t Touch My Black Hair by Ella McLeod, edited by Yasmin Morrissey and Genevieve Herr (Scholastic) 
• The Cats We Meet Along the Way by Nadia Mikail, edited by Bella Pearson (Guppy Books) 
• The Bird Singers by Eve Wersocki Morris, edited by Jenna Mackintosh (Hodder Children’s Books) 
• Ellie Pillai is Brown by Christine Pillainayagam, edited by Leah Thaxton (Faber) 
• The Haunting of Tyrese Walker by J P Rose, edited by Chloe Sackur (Andersen Press) 
• If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So, edited by Mattie Whitehead (Little Tiger)
• Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A F Steadman, edited by Ali Dougal (Simon and Schuster)
• The Map of Leaves by Yarrow Townsend, edited by Rachel Leyshon (Chicken House)
• The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries by J T Williams, edited by Liz Bankes and Aleena Hasan (Farshore)