Shortlist 2024 – The Branford Boase Award and The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition

The Branford Boase Award
2024 Shortlist

‘Own voice’ stories dominate the shortlist for the award that identifies future stars of children’s books.

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 Final Year

Author: Matt Goodfellow
Editor: Charlotte Hacking
Illustrator: Joe Todd-Stanton
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books

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.

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The First Move

Author: Jenny Ireland
Editor: Ruth Knowles with Sara Jafari
Publisher: Penguin

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.”

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Safiyyah’s War

Author: Hiba Noor Khan
Editor: Eloise Wilson
Publisher: Andersen Press

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”.

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Steady for This

Author: Nathanael Lessore
Editor: Ella Whiddett and Ruth Bennett
Publisher: Hot Key Books

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.”

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The Swifts

Author: Beth Lincoln
Editor: Ben Horslen and Julie Strauss-Gabel
Illustrator: Claire Powell
Publisher: Puffin

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.”

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You Think You Know Me

Author: Ayaan Mohamud
Editor: Sarah Stewart
Publisher: Usborne

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.

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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