Award-winning children’s and YA books

Who this page is for

Parents, teachers and young readers looking for children’s and young adult books that won or were shortlisted for a book prize. Books are grouped by reader age and by result, and each entry lists the prize, says what the book is about and, where the publisher or catalogue gives one, the age range it is listed for. Longlisted and nominated books are not included. Carnegie Medal books have their own page, and picture books are on a separate page.

Children’s books: winners

• Rune: The Tale of a Thousand Faces by Carlos Sánchez (Winner: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2025 (Younger Readers)). Best friends Chiri and Dai stumble from their orphanage into the magical kingdom of Puddin' and have to find their way home; a 144-page graphic novel.
• Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher (Winner: The Week Junior Book Awards 2025 (Poetry)). Fia and her cousin Mish run from their village with her snow deer Solas to find the mythical Deer Mother; listed for ages 9–11.
• Evil Emperor Penguin: The World Will Be Mine! by Laura Ellen Anderson (Winner: Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2025 (Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 9–12-year-olds)). A comic book by Laura Ellen Anderson about a penguin supervillain; listed for ages 9–11.
• Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson (Winner: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2024; Shortlisted: Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards 2023 (Children's Fiction)). Daisy Thistledown escapes boarding school to search for her missing mother and finds a hidden door into a world of plant magic; the first book in a series, for readers aged 9–11.
• I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery (Winner: Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards 2024 (Children's Fiction)). Rebel the farm dog follows his boy Tom into a war to bring him home; an animal adventure listed for ages 9–11.
• Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan (Winner: The Week Junior Book Awards 2024 (Older Fiction); Shortlisted: Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2024). When war reaches Paris and her father is arrested for his Resistance work, Safiyyah runs dangerous errands and helps the Jews sheltering at the mosque where she lives; for readers aged 9–11.
• Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions by Carrie Sellon (Winner: The Week Junior Book Awards 2024 (Younger Fiction)). Pete, who is too frightened to leave home, and his friend Anna make magical pizzas from a mysterious briefcase to save his dad's pizza shop; listed for ages 6–8.
• Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin (Winner: The Week Junior Book Awards 2024 (Graphic Novel)). Pedro Martin's graphic memoir of an eleven-strong family road trip in a Winnebago to bring his grandfather home from Mexico; listed for ages 9–11.
• The Swifts by Beth Lincoln (Winner: Nero Book Awards 2023 (Children's Fiction)). When someone tries to murder Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude, Shenanigan Swift and her sisters and cousin set out to find out whodunit; a funny mystery for readers aged 9–11.
• The Last Bear by Hannah Gold (Winner: Blue Peter Book Awards 2022 (Best Story); Winner: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2022). On a remote Arctic island, April meets a starving, lonely polar bear and sets out to save him; illustrated by Levi Pinfold, and the publisher suggests it for readers aged 8 and over.
• Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman (Winner: Waterstones Children's Book of the Year 2022). Thirteen-year-old Skandar wants to be a unicorn rider, until an enemy steals the Island's most powerful unicorn; the first book in a fantasy series the publisher recommends for age 9+.
• The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf (Winner: Blue Peter Book Awards 2019 (Best Story); Winner: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019). A group of friends make a plan to help Ahmet, a refugee boy who has joined their class; a story about friendship and kindness told from a child's point of view, listed for ages 9–11.
• The Village by the Sea by Anita Desai (Winner: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 1983). Lila and Hari, aged 13 and 12, keep their family going in a fishing village near Bombay while their mother is ill; for readers aged 9–11.
• Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian (Winner: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 1982). In 1940, eight-year-old evacuee Willie Beech arrives at the countryside home of gruff Tom Oakley; a Puffin Classics novel listed for ages 9–11.
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (Winner: Newbery Medal 1977). Cassie's family fight to keep their land and their independence in 1930s Mississippi; listed for ages 9–11.
• Watership Down by Richard Adams (Winner: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 1973; Winner: Carnegie Medal 1972). Hazel, his brother Fiver and a few other rabbits leave their threatened warren and set out to find a new home on Watership Down; this is the 496-page 40th anniversary edition, and Penguin gives no age range for it.
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Winner: Newbery Medal 1963). Meg and Charles Murry travel through a wrinkle in time to find their lost father on a planet ruled by a giant brain called It; a Puffin Classics novel for readers aged 9–11.

Children’s books: shortlisted

• Turtle Moon by Hannah Gold (Shortlisted: The Week Junior Book Awards 2025 (Older Fiction)). Silver's family travel to a turtle rescue centre in Costa Rica, hoping the trip will help them; illustrated by Levi Pinfold, and the publisher suggests it for readers aged 8 and over.
• Crookhaven: The School for Thieves by J.J. Arcanjo (Shortlisted: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2024 (Younger Fiction)). Thirteen-year-old pickpocket Gabriel is caught and recruited by a secret school for thieves; the first Crookhaven book, for readers aged 9–11.
• The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman (Shortlisted: Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards 2024 (Children's Fiction)). Isaac Turner follows a trail of clues through London's landmarks after his father, the horologist in charge of Big Ben, vanishes; a locked-room mystery for readers aged 9–11.
• Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan (Shortlisted: The Week Junior Book Awards 2024). After Natasha is forced to leave her puppy behind near Chernobyl in 1986, two pups, Misha and Bratan, grow up in the wild; listed for ages 9–11.
• By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison (Shortlisted: Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards 2021 (Children's Fiction)). Three tiny, ancient beings, Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, set off on an adventure when their home is destroyed.
• Owen and the Soldier by Lisa Thompson (Shortlisted: Blue Peter Book Awards 2020 (Best Story)). Owen tries to save a stone soldier in the park that the council wants to pull down; a 96-page story of loss and remembrance, suggested by the publisher for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.
• The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd (Shortlisted: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019 (Younger Fiction)). The first book in Andy Shepherd's The Boy Who Grew Dragons series; listed for ages 6–8.
• The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon (Shortlisted: Carnegie Medal 2017; Shortlisted: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016). Subhi, a boy born in a refugee detention centre, meets Jimmie, who carries a notebook she cannot read; the publisher gives an interest age of 12 and over.
• Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen (Shortlisted: Blue Peter Book Awards 2015 (Best Story)). Ade and his mum are trapped at the top of their tower block as strange plants take over and buildings fall around them; for readers aged 9–11.

Young adult books: winners

• Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald (Winner: Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2025; Winner: UKLA Book Awards 2025 (Ages 11–14+); Shortlisted: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2025 (Older Readers); Shortlisted: YA Book Prize 2025). Finlay, a nursing student who has come straight from care, and Banjo, who is settling in with a new foster family, try to find their way in Glasgow; a novel for teenage readers, listed for ages 12–18.
• Songlight by Moira Buffini (Winner: YA Book Prize 2025). The first book in the Torch Trilogy, a YA dystopia in which people who have songlight, a form of telepathy, are hunted; listed for ages 12–18.
• Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher (Winner: YA Book Prize 2024; Winner: Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards 2023 (Young Adult Fiction); Shortlisted: Nero Book Awards 2023 (Children's Fiction)). Gwen, the Princess of England, and Arthur have been betrothed since birth and agree only that they hate each other, until each learns the other's secret; a funny historical romance listed for ages 12–15.
• When Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando (Winner: YA Book Prize 2023). After fourteen-year-old Shaq is stabbed outside a Manchester shopping centre, three teenagers are brought together and confront prejudice and racism; listed for ages 12–15.
• All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (Winner: Michael L. Printz Award 2023). Best friends Salahudin and Noor grow up as outcasts in a desert town in California, alongside the story of Misbah's life in Lahore; listed for ages 12–15.
• Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide (Winner: Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards 2021 (Young Adult Fiction)). Two students at an elite private school are targeted by an anonymous texter who reveals their secrets; a special edition with extra content, listed for ages 12–15.
• The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (Winner: Carnegie Medal 2019; Winner: Michael L. Printz Award 2019; Winner: Pura Belpré Award 2019; Shortlisted: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019 (Older Fiction)). Xiomara, a teenager in Harlem, keeps her poems in a notebook under her bed until a slam poetry club brings them into the open; a YA novel about finding your voice that deals with race, feminism and faith, listed for ages 12–15.
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Winner: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2018). Sixteen-year-old Starr is the only witness when a police officer shoots her unarmed best friend, Khalil; a YA novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, listed for ages 12–18.
• Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence (Winner: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017 (Older Fiction); Winner: YA Book Prize 2017). Sixteen-year-old Marlon promised his mum he would not follow his older brother down the wrong path, until a date ends in tragedy and he is hunted; listed for ages 12–18.
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Winner: Carnegie Medal 2010; Winner: Newbery Medal 2009). Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is raised by ghosts in a graveyard while a man called Jack waits in the world of the living; this edition has illustrations by Chris Riddell and is listed for ages 12–15.
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Winner: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2008). In Prentisstown everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts, until Todd Hewitt finds a spot of complete silence and has to run; the first Chaos Walking novel, listed for ages 12–15.
• How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff (Winner: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2004). Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from New York to spend the summer with her English cousins as war breaks out; listed for ages 12–15.

Young adult books: shortlisted

• HappyHead by Josh Silver (Shortlisted: YA Book Prize 2024). Seb joins a retreat designed to solve teenage unhappiness, and the assessments grow more disturbing; the first book in a YA series, listed for ages 12–15.
• Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston (Shortlisted: YA Book Prize 2024). Kerry and her best friend Annie investigate after Kerry finds a body at a sixth-form party; a darkly comic YA murder mystery listed for ages 12–15.
• Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn (Shortlisted: Nero Book Awards 2023 (Children's Fiction)). Mina offers herself to the Witch who claims a companion from her town once a generation; a Gothic sapphic romance inspired by Beauty and the Beast, listed for ages 12–15.

Children’s non-fiction

• Welcome to Our Table: A Celebration of What Children Eat Everywhere by Laura Mucha and Ed Smith (Winner: The Week Junior Book Awards 2024 (Non-Fiction)). An illustrated book about what children eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner around the world, and the stories and traditions behind the food; written for young children.
• Where Are You Really From? by Adam Rutherford (Winner: The Week Junior Book Awards 2024 (STEM)). A journey through millions of years of human history, from evolution to migration, which shows that we all share the same small pool of ancestors; listed for ages 9–11.
• The Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham by Matt Oldfield and Seth Burkett (Shortlisted: The Week Junior Book Awards 2026 (Hobbies and Interests)). Stories, facts and stats compare Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham so readers can decide which of the two England players is the Greatest Of All Time.
• The Funny Life of Football by James Campbell (Shortlisted: Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2024 (Best Laugh Out Loud Non-Fiction Book)). A funny fact-and-fiction book about football from comedian James Campbell, which can be read forwards, backwards and sideways; listed for ages 9–11.
• India, Incredible India by Jasbinder Bilan (Shortlisted: The Week Junior Book Awards 2023 (Younger Non-Fiction)). An illustrated journey through India's people, places, wildlife, history and culture, with artwork by Nina Chakrabarti; listed for ages 9–11.

Questions people ask

Which book won the YA Book Prize in 2025?

Songlight by Moira Buffini. The 2024 winner was Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher.

Which book won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2024?

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson was the overall winner in 2024. The 2025 overall winner was the picture book The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please.

What is the difference between the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the YA Book Prize?

The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize is awarded by Waterstones to authors early in their careers, with categories for illustrated books, younger readers and older readers and one overall winner. The YA Book Prize was set up by The Bookseller in 2014 for young adult novels by authors in the UK or Ireland published in the previous year.

Which of these prizes are chosen by children or readers?

Blue Peter Book Award winners were voted for by schoolchildren, the Lollies are voted for by children, and Books Are My Bag Readers’ Awards winners are chosen by a public vote.

How were these books checked?

Every win and shortlisting on this page was checked against the prize organisers’ published winners and shortlists, Wikipedia’s prize lists or, for the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year, a news report of the announcement. US awards (Newbery Medal, Printz Award, Pura Belpré Award) were checked against the American Library Association’s lists.

Selected by Fox & Fable from books in stock. Last updated 30 September 2026.