Shortlist 2020 – The Branford Boase Award and The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition

The Branford Boase Award
2020 Shortlist

The shortlist for the 2020 award is particularly rich and varied.

The shortlist for the 2020 Branford Boase Award is announced today, Thursday 30th April 2020. Since 2000, the Branford Boase has been awarded annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children. Uniquely, it also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent.

Founded to commemorate author Henrietta Branford and influential Walker Books editor Wendy Boase, the Branford Boase Award is recognised as one of the most important awards in children’s books with an impressive record in identifying outstanding authors at the start of their careers. Winners and shortlisted authors include Siobhan Dowd, Meg Rosoff, Mal Peet, Philip Reeve, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Frances Hardinge, Patrick Ness and Marcus Sedgwick. The shortlist for the 2020 award is as follows:

Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties

Author: Humza Arshad & Henry White
Editor: Sharan Matharu and Holly Harris
Illustrator: Aleksei Bitskoff
Publisher: Puffin: 9+

A raucous and very funny contemporary school story, starring 12-year-old wannabe ninja-rapper Humza Khan, and the band of Pakistani aunties who mysteriously take over his school, armed with delicious, sugary snacks.

‘brilliant comedy’; ‘great fun, with a unique voice’; ‘full of heart – I’ve recommended it left, right and centre’; ‘the friendship between the two boys is so well drawn’.

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The Space We’re In

Author: Katya Balen
Editor: Lucy Mackay-Sim
Illustrator: Laura Carlin
Publisher: Bloomsbury: 10+

The story of brothers Frank, who loves code and numbers as a way to make sense of the world, and his five-year-old brother Max, for whom the world is often a scary place, where anything unexpected, too loud or too bright can upset him. An examination and ultimately uplifting celebration of neurodivergence.

‘an important book, beautifully written’; ‘so powerful, it enables us to see right into Frank’s mind’; ‘the insight into the family relationships is excellent’.

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A Pocketful of Stars

Author: Aisha Bushby
Editor: Liz Bankes and Sarah Levison
Publisher: Egmont: 9+

When her mum falls ill, something strange happens and Safiya finds herself transported back to her mother’s childhood home in Kuwait, and presented with a magical puzzle to solve. An unusual and skilful examination of grief, love and growing-up.

‘I love the voice, and the story brought me to tears’; ‘Safiya is a very well rounded, developed character’; ‘a really clever idea, and the story is so well told’; ‘she makes the magic credible’; ‘I was so impressed by the way the friendships developed’.

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Bearmouth

Author: Liz Hyder
Editor: Sara Odedina
Publisher: Pushkin Press (12+)

Since the age of four, Newt has worked in the labyrinthine coalmine Bearmouth, ruthlessly exploited in appalling conditions and a virtual prisoner for life. But with the arrival of a young rebel, things are about to change. A claustrophobic dystopian novel of oppression and hope.

‘Astounding!’; ‘I loved every single second’; ‘plot, story and voice are superb’; ‘I was totally invested in the characters’; ‘interesting, challenging and original’.

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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Author: Holly Jackson
Editor: Lindsey Heaven
Publisher: Electric Monkey (YA)

The murder of schoolgirl Andie Bell was the talk of Pippa Fitz-Amobi’s town, and she’s convinced the police got the wrong guy. Under the guise of writing an EPQ on the media’s coverage of the crime, Pippa sets out to discover the truth. An unusual and clever YA whodunnit.

‘compulsive reading’; ‘all the characters are credible’; ‘I loved the story, loved its pace’; ‘I was caught out by the twist!’.

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Frostheart

Author & Illustrator: Jamie Littler
Editor: Naomi Colthurst
Publisher: Puffin: 8+

Life or death battles against terrifying monsters, an orphan’s desperate search for home and family, escapes in the nick of time, a snowy other-world setting, a crew of lovable outsiders, and big questions about right and wrong – Frostheart has them all!

‘kids will gobble this up’; ‘great world-building and I loved the characters and their relationships to one another’; ‘a fresh and very different fantasy adventure’.

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The Million Pieces of Neena Gill

Author: Emma Smith-Barton
Editor: Naomi Colthurst
Publisher: Penguin (YA)
Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award

Neena’s brother Akash disappeared 10 months ago and her parents are broken with grief. As she tries to find out what’s happened to him, her grip on reality starts to crack.

‘very impressive, a powerful depiction of mental health’; ‘totally gripping’; ‘very well written, I couldn’t put it down’; ‘very engaging and written with extraordinary insight’.

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BBA & HBWC Administrator

Andrea Reece
30 Winton Avenue, London, N11 2AT
Tel: 0208 889 1292
Mob: 07807 893369
Email: branford.boase@gmail.com

Press Enquiries

Andrea Reece
Tel: 07807 893369 | Email: branford.boase@gmail.com