2026 11-14+ Shortlist
We’re thrilled to present this year’s 11-14+ Shortlist:
Black Star. Written by Kwame Alexander (Andersen Press)
The Boy I Love. Written by William Hussey (Andersen Press)
The Line They Drew Through Us. Written by Hiba Noor Khan (Andersen Press)
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now. Written by Jason Reynolds (Faber)
When the Bones Sing. Written by Ginny Myers Sain (Electric Monkey)
Wolf Siren. Written by Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins)
2026 11-14+ Longlist
UKLA are pleased to announce that the 2026 11-14+ Book Awards Longlist is:
Black Star. Written by Kwame Alexander (Andersen Press)
Every Borrowed Beat. Written by Erin Stewart (Rock the Boat)
Handle with Care. Written by Louisa Reid (Guppy Books)
Here to Slay. Written by Radhika Sanghani (Knights Of)
Let the Light In. Written by Jenny Downham and Louis Hill (David Fickling Books)
Shrapnel Boys. Written by Jenny Pearson (Usborne)
Songlight. Written by Moira Buffini (Faber)
Songs for Ghosts. Written by Clara Kumagai (Zephyr)
Stealing Happy. Written by Brian Conaghan (Bloomsbury)
The Boy I Love. Written by William Hussey (Andersen Press)
The Last Dragon on Mars. Written by Scott Reintgen (Rock the Boat)
The Line They Drew Through Us. Written by Hiba Noor Khan (Andersen Press)
The Thread That Connects Us. Written by Ayaan Mohamud(Usborne)
Thunder City Written by Philip Reeve (Scholastic)
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now. Written by Jason Reynolds (Faber)
Us in the Before and After. Written by Jenny Valentine (Simon & Schuster)
What Happens Online. Written by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key Books)
When It’s Your Turn for Midnight. Written by Blessing Musariri (Zephyr)
When the Bones Sing. Written by Ginny Myers Sain (Electric Monkey)
Wolf Siren. Written by Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins)
Read more about why the judges made their selections below:
The award is given every year for books in which the language is powerful. It must have an effect on the child reader and be memorable in some way because of the way it is used. The current award seeks to recognise the use of language in a fiction, poetry or picture book from those books nominated by a wide and inclusive range of publishers.
To submit to this Award, please use the submission form below (while submissions are open). The full judging criteria and guidance for submissions can be found below. Information about the past winners can also be found below and represent true excellence endorsed by teachers who have seen their impact upon young readers.