2025

Moira Buffini’s “gripping” dystopian debut novel, Songlight (published by Faber), was crowned the YA Book Prize 2025 winner. The first volume in The Torch Trilogy, it is set in a post-apocalyptic future where an advanced form of telepathy has emerged, known as “songlight”. In the oppressive society of Brightland, anyone with songlight is caught, persecuted and denounced. The story centres on two young women who have formed an incredible telepathic connection despite the distance between them and the growing dangers surrounding them.

Moira is a dramatist who has written films and plays, as well as the co-creator and showrunner of the TV series Harlots. In an interview with The Bookseller, she described Songlight as “a book about our need for connection with one another, about love, resistance, rebellion, resilience”. The novel was chosen as the winner by a judging panel including teenage students and book industry experts such as author David Almond OBE, who said: “It’s gripping, emotionally moving, philosophical, political, strange, action-packed. Set in the distant future, it has deep connections to the world as it is today.”  

Find out more about the 2025 shortlist on the YA Book Prize 2025 website.

2024

Lex Croucher won the 10th YA Book Prize in 2024 for Gwen & Art Are Not in Love (published by Bloomsbury YA), described as a “masterclass in teen romantic comedy” by judge and bestselling author-illustrator Alice Oseman. The novel, which is set in an Arthurian-inspired world, follows Princess Gwendoline (Gwen) and future lord Arthur (Art) who have been betrothed since birth but can’t stand each other. When Gwen sees Art kissing a boy and he discovers her writing about the kingdom’s only female knight, they reach an uneasy alliance to cover for each other and pretend to be in love to appease their families. 

In an interview with The Bookseller, Lex said that they wrote Gwen & Art for their “teen self”, adding: “If I’d had books like the ones on the [YA Book Prize] shortlist this year, it would have changed everything for me.” FairyLoot CEO and prize judge Anissa de Gomery called the book a “stand-out winner for its refreshing and inclusive take on historical romance”, praising its “witty dialogue, relatable characters and engaging storyline”.

Find out more about the 2024 shortlist on the YA Book Prize 2024 website.

2023

Danielle Jawando’s coming-of-age novel, When Our Worlds Collided (published by Simon & Schuster Children’s), won the YA Book Prize 2023. The story follows three teenagers living in Manchester whose lives become intertwined when a boy named Shaq is stabbed. Soon they become a tight-knit group, relying on each other for support while navigating the world as Black teenagers. Danielle told The Bookseller that she “wanted to write something that looks at the issues that Black teenagers face on a daily basis.” She added: “At the same time, I also wanted to explore the deeply racist gang narrative that you often see constructed when it comes to young Black boys, as well as the constant policing and criminalisation that happens in many forms.”

Author and former YA Book Prize winner Patrice Lawrence, who was on the judging panel, said: “Danielle writes with lyricism, empathy and even humour about tough subjects. The characters in When Our Worlds Collided are flawed and completely believable, as they unpick a world that values Black lives less than others.” Fellow judge Gary Deane, Waterstones’ national children’s events co-ordinator, called the novel “raw, powerful and thought-provoking”.

Find out more about the 2023 shortlist on The Bookseller website.

2022

Adiba Jaigirdar’s queer rom-com, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating (published by Hachette Children’s), was the winner of the YA Book Prize 2022. It focuses on two very different Bengali girls—popular Hani and academic overachiever Ishu—who begin a fake relationship to both help Hani convince her friends that she is bisexual and increase Ishu’s popularity and chances of becoming head girl. Before long, they start to develop real feelings for each other, but not everyone in their lives is rooting for them. 

Bangladeshi-Irish author Adiba told The Bookseller: "Winning the YA Book Prize has been a huge honour and an incredible career milestone. It's not always easy to have your work recognised and celebrated in the publishing industry, especially as an Irish author of colour, so I'm immensely grateful. I feel like winning the YA Book Prize has also led to many more opportunities for me, and to more teens having access to my books." Children’s writer, events programmer, bookseller and reviewer Sarah Webb, who was on the judging panel, called it a “charming, relatable, funny book about family, friendship and relationships”.

Find out more about the 2022 shortlist on The Bookseller website.

2021

Alice Oseman scooped the YA Book Prize 2021 with her coming out story about a teenager who realises that she is aromantic and asexual, Loveless (published by HarperCollins Children’s Books). It follows Georgia, who heads to university ready to find romance. With her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her dream is in sight, but when her attempts to form a relationship wreak havoc, she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. 

Alice said: “Loveless was the most difficult creative project of my life, and I am so utterly thrilled that it has won such a prestigious award. The UK is home to such an incredible and unique YA literature community, it’s an honour to have been chosen as this year’s YA Book Prize-winner.” Judge Rachel Fox, who is children and schools programme director at Edinburgh International Book Festival, described Loveless as “a joyful book that truly promotes celebrating our differences”. 

In 2021, the YA Book Prize also gave the third ever YA Book Prize Special Achievement Award to former Children's Laureate, Malorie Blackman, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first novel in her seminal Noughts & Crosses YA series. 

Find out more about the 2021 shortlist on The Bookseller website.

2020

Juno Dawson won the YA Book Prize in 2020 with Meat Market, an exposé of the fashion industry published by Quercus Children’s Books. Meat Market tells the story of Jana who lives on a south London estate and is unexpectedly scouted to work as a model and catapulted into superstardom. However, she soon discovers that the fashion industry is as grimy as it is glamorous, and there are unexpected predators at every turn. Juno called it her “most challenging book to date” because of the difficult subject matter. 

Body positivity campaigner, influencer and author Megan Crabbe, who judged the prize, was “blown away” by Meat Market. She said: “Jana had a clear and unique voice throughout, the relationships were believable and heartwarming, and there was a beautifully satisfying ending… It’s thoroughly unforgettable.” Fellow judge, author and Wales Children’s Laureate Eloise Williams, described the winning novel as “gritty and compelling” with “such important things to say, which it says so well”.

Find out more about the 2020 shortlist on The Bookseller website.

2019

Sara Barnard won the YA Book Prize in its fifth year for her novel about the impact of a teacher-student relationship, Goodbye, Perfect (published by Macmillan Children’s Books). It tells the story of Eden, who is forced to question everything when her steady, straight-A best friend Bonnie runs away with a teacher just before the start of their GCSEs. Only Eden knows Bonnie’s location, and she must weigh up betraying her best friend with police questioning, suspicious parents and her own growing doubts. 

Everyday Sexism founder and writer Laura Bates, who was one of the prize judges, called the Sara’s writing "an absolute triumph”, adding: “This book is unputdownable and beautiful, unflinching in its exploration of important and complex topics from sexual exploitation to the foster care system. But it is also a joy to read, a tender portrayal of family and sibling relationships, of flawed and poignant female friendships and of the nuanced reality of teenage experiences and the journey to discovering who you are and what you stand for."

Find out more about the 2019 shortlist on The Bookseller website.

2018

In 2018, the YA Book Prize went to Will Hill for After the Fire (published by Usborne), which tells the story of Moonbeam, who is trying to come to terms with her past and prepare for a new life after leaving behind the cult she grew up in.

Author Louise O’Neill—winner of first ever YA Book Prize, and one of the 2018 judges—said: "After the Fire is an engrossing, brilliantly realised story which is almost impossible to put down. Both thoughtfully structured and fast-paced, it is one of the most sensitive portrayals of trauma that I have read in a long time." Fellow judges Akala, a hip-hop artist, writer and historian, and blogger and YouTuber Lucy Powrie described it as a "well-written book on a challenging subject" and "a perfect showcase of what UK YA should be".

A YA Book Prize Special Achievement Award was also given to Stripes Publishing and the authors of its YA anthology A Change is Gonna Come, to recognise their work in tackling the lack of diversity in YA publishing in the UK and Ireland.

Find out more about the 2018 shortlist on The Bookseller website.

2017

In 2017, the YA Book Prize went to Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence (published by Hodder Children’s Books). Orangeboy tells the story of 16-year-old Marlon, who finds himself facing tough choices after a date ends in tragedy. Despite not wanting to follow his older brother Andre down the wrong path, Marlon gets caught up in London’s gang culture and things soon start to spiral out of control.

Author Melvin Burgess, one of the prize judges, said: “Orangeboy ticked so many boxes for so many of the judges. It’s a page-turning thriller. The characters and their relationships are truthful, delightful, surprising and strong…. It deals with family, friendship, sex appeal, loyalty and generally being human. It is so accomplished and we all really feel there is something there for everyone.”

Find out more about the 2017 shortlist here on The Bookseller website.

2016

The YA Book Prize 2016 was won by Sarah Crossan's One (published by Bloomsbury). One is about conjoined twins Grace and Tippi, who, after years of being educated at home, go to public school for the first time. Over the course of the novel the sisters make friends who have their own problems, whilst facing a serious medical choice.

The judges were unanimous in their decision that One should be this 2016’s winner. Judge and writer Bim Adewunmi said she "fell in love" with the book."Tippi and Grace are a great addition to the pantheon of great literary sisters, and the way Crossan explores their rare (physical) bond only makes them more so," she said. "I will not soon forget either of these girls."

A YA Book Prize Special Achievement Award went to Melvin Burgess, whose novel Junk, one of the first YA novels by a UK author, was published by Andersen Press 20 years ago.

Find out more about the 2016 shortlist on The Bookseller website.

2015

Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill (published by Quercus) was the first winner of the YA Book Prize. The book tells the story of 16-year-olds freida and isabel, who are in their final year of school and waiting to see if they are selected as wives to wealthy and powerful men. The alternative, life as a concubine, is too awful to contemplate, so the intense competition between the girls over their looks starts to mount.

The judges praised Louise for her "startling and refreshing" take on the dystopian genre. Rick O’Shea, presenter at Irish broadcaster RTE, said: "Only Ever Yours is, as far as I'm concerned, not just a worthy winner of the prize but one of the best speculative fiction books I've read in years. It pushes the boundaries of contemporary YA. I'll be pressing it into the hands of anyone who might read it."

Find out more about the first YA Book Prize winner and shortlist here.