The Diverse Book Awards 2023 – Shortlists Announced!
22 September, 2023The shortlists for The Diverse Book Awards 2023 were announced on Thursday 21st September.
Now in their fourth year, The Diverse Book Awards were set up by award-winning author Abiola Bello and award-winning publicist Helen Lewis to highlight the best of the diverse voices published in the UK and Ireland. There are nine shortlisted titles for each of the four award categories – Picture Books, Children’s Fiction, Young Adult Fiction and Adult Fiction.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators!
The Diverse Book Awards 2023 – Picture Book Shortlist:
Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane (Andersen Press)
John Agard’s Windrush Child by John Agard, illustrated by Sophie Bass (Walker Books)
Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa’ Tarnowska, illustrated by Vali Mintzi (Barefoot Books)
Our Story Starts in Africa by Patrice Lawrence, illustrated by Jeanetta Gonzales (Magic Cat Publishing)
Our Tower by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Richard Johnson (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
Small’s Big Dream by Manjeet Mann, illustrated by Amanda Quartey (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper, illustrated by Gill Smith (Walker Books)
The Missing Piece by Jordan Stephens, illustrated by Beth Suzanna (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
You Need to Chill! by Juno Dawson, illustrated by Laura Hughes (Farshore)
The Diverse Book Awards 2022 – Children’s Fiction Shortlist:
A Flash of Fireflies by Aisha Bushby (Farshore)
Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah, illustrated by Sonia Albert (Chicken House)
Future Hero: Race to Fire Mountain by Remi Blackwood (Scholastic)
Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse by Sangu Mandanna (Hodder Children’s Books)
Mia and the Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy, illustrated by Ana Latese (Faber Children’s)
Sadé and Her Shadow Beasts by Rachel Faturoti, illustrated by Rumbidzai Savanhu (Hodder Children’s Books)
The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J.T. Williams, illustrated by Simone Douglas (Farshore)
The Secret of Haven Point by Lisette Auton (Puffin)
The Twig Man by Sana Rasoul (Hashtag Press)
The Diverse Book Awards 2022 – YA Fiction Shortlist:
Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow (Hot Key Books)
Cuts Both Ways by Candice Brathwaite (Quercus Children’s Books)
Gay Club! by Simon James Green (Scholastic)
If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So (Stripes Publishing)
Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)
When Our World Collided by Danielle Jawando (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)
The Haunting of Tyrese Walker by J.P. Rose (Andersen Press)
The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven (Electric Monkey)
Why is Nobody Laughing? by Yasmin Rahman (Hot Key Books)
The Diverse Book Awards 2022 – Adult Fiction Shortlist:
Here Again Now by Okechukwu Nzelu (Dialogue Books)
Love Marriage by Monica Ali (Virago)
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy by Marie-Claire Amuah (Oneworld Publications)
Still Lives by Reshma Ruia (Renard Press)
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli (Magpie)
The Attic Child by Lola Jaye (Macmillan)
These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany (Trapeze)
Wahala by Nikki May (Doubleday)
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn (Viking)
The winners of The Diverse Book Awards 2023 will be announced on 25th October at an in-person awards ceremony in London. Watch out for our winner announcement.
