The Young Quills Award is an annual book award set up by the Historical Association to celebrate good historical fiction writing for children and young people aged 5 to 14+. 

The shortlist for the Young Quills Award is drawn up based on the reviews provided by pupils in primary and secondary schools across the UK, who are sent copies of the longlisted titles to review against the award criteria:

• Is it a ‘good read’?
• Does it have good historical content and factual information?
• Is history a proper component of the story, not just a convenient backdrop or setting?
• Does the book inspire young readers to find out more about that historical period or people?

A judging panel made up of historians, authors and literacy experts then selects the winners for each of the four age categories.

Schools who are interested in being part of the shortlisting process should contact the Historical Association.

Timeline:

• The shortlists are announced in May.
• The winners are announced in July.

Cost: Free

About the Historical Association: The Historical Association is a registered charity set up to advance the study, teaching and enjoyment of history at all levels. As the UK subject association for history it carries out research into the state of history education; represents members’ interests to government and policy-makers; and supports the teaching of history in schools through its programme of CPD and wide range of resources, including the Primary History and Teaching History journals.