The 2024 shortlist of The Diverse Book Awards was announced today, and we have another year of amazing titles that the shortlist judges have to choose from! Once again, I am seeing a few of my favorite books of the year nominated, so I am happy that I am on the right track to great reading! If you haven’t had a chance to read these mentioned titles, you are missing out!
Created by award-winning author Abiola Bello and award-winning publicist Helen Lewis and co-founders of The Author School, this award aims to highlight the best of the diverse voices published in the UK & Ireland, this year focusing on those published during 2023, both traditionally and self-published. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite book with the Readers” Choice Awards. Click on the link to start voting for your favorites!
The winners of the Diverse Book Awards will be announced at a ceremony in October. And now without further ado, here is the shortlist:
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Picture Book
Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate
After Milly discovers a pride flag in Grandad’s attic, this adorable pair are motivated by the past to start a pride parade in their small town. Activism and celebration go hand in hand as the town gathers to help “build a world where everyone is proud to be themselves.” This beautiful follow-up to Grandad’s Camper is filled with heart and purpose. (Credit: Little Bee Books)
One Little Word by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Allison Colpoys
This big hairy monster slowly balloons in size, ruining everyone’s fun.
But this isn’t any old monster. This is a hairy argument that just won’t go away. They try calling it names, yelling at it, and even ignoring it. Nothing works.
“The argument came from nowhere.
It sat huge and bloated
in the middle of the playground
between me and my best friend.”
Until… the best friends say that one little word that makes everything better. They learn how to shrink the monster until it vanishes completely. And soon, they can’t even remember what it looks like!
We all know how an argument can balloon into something we never expected. What starts as a simple tiff has the power to really hurt our feelings. This book describes those intense feelings perfectly and provides a comforting solution in the form of an apology, which serves to cool down and reunite the friends.
The perfect metaphor for difficult discussions that can get in the way of daily life, and a gentle way to introduce your child to the concept of compromise. Coelho’s gentle and lyrical verse pairs perfectly with Allison Colpoys’ classic illustrations to create a book which will be treasured by young readers. This is an ode to the power of an apology, and to treasuring a special bond that runs deeper than even the friends realized. (Credit: Quarto Publishing)
- A Hero Like Me by Angela Joy & Jen Reid, illustrated by Leire Salaberria (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
- Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin (Little Tiger)
- Not Now Noor! by Farhana Islam, illustrated by Nabila Adani (PRH Children’s)
- Shine by Sarah Asuquo, illustrated by Nadia Fisher (Scholastic)
- Stop! That’s Not My Story by Smriti Halls, illustrated by Erika Meza (Simon & Schuster Children’s)
- To The Other Side by Erika Meza (Hodder Children’s Books)
- I’m Going to Be a Princess by Stephanie Taylor, illustrated by Jade Orlando (Nosy Crow)
Children
Kicked Out by A.M. Dassu
After their friend Mark’s mum wins the lottery and gets a giant house with an indoor pool, Ali and Sami have been having the time of their lives hanging at Mark’s house. Even their friend Aadam gets a job there, which means he can make more money for his legal battle for UK residency. But when some money goes missing, Aadam is accused of stealing it–and all three boys are unceremoniously kicked out of Mark’s house in suspicion.
On top of that, Ali’s dad, who abandoned the family when Ali was little, is suddenly turning up everywhere in town, and a half-brother Ali never knew has shown up at Ali’s school. Ali feels miserable and resentful about it, making it hard to be a good friend.
The boys know Aadam is innocent, and if he doesn’t raise thousands of pounds right away, he could get deported back to Syria amidst its civil war. At least Ali has a plan: they’ll host a charity football penalty match to raise money for Aadam so he can stay in the UK.
But can Ali pull together the match–even if he feels his whole life at home is falling apart? (Credit: Tu Books)
Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
Safiyyah loathes the brutal Nazi occupation of Paris, even though her Muslim identity keeps her safe–or, at least, safer than her Jewish neighbors. Violence lurks in the streets, her best friend has fled, and even her place of refuge–the library–has turned shadowy and confusing, as the invaders fear the power of books.
Safiyyah longs to fight back and hates feeling powerless to help her Jewish friends. Worse yet, her father–who taught her to always do the right thing–is acting strangely and doing nothing to help them either.
Or is he?
Unravelling the mystery of her father’s odd behavior draws Safiyyah deep in the heart of the perilous underground resistance to the Nazis, where her bravery is put to the ultimate test… (Credit: Allida)
- A Different Kind of Story: A Romani Story by Richard O’ Neill (Scholastic)
- Glitter Boy by Ian Eagleton (Scholastic)
- Glow Up Lara Bloom by Dee Benson (Hot Key Books)
- Steady For This by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key Books)
- The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Otter-Barry Books)
- The Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
- The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron, illustrated by Aleesia Trunifo (Faber)
Teen & Young Adult
Boy Like Me by Simon James Green
It’s 1994 and thanks to Section 28, there can be no mention of gay relationships in UK schools. When a kind librarian leads Jamie to a disguised novel in the library that reflects his own confused feelings towards boys, Jamie sees that he’s not the only one who has checked the book out. Will Jamie and this mystery boy have the courage to meet and if they do, what will it take to hold on to each other? (Credit: Scholastic)
A Million To One by Adiba Jaigirdar
Josefa is an unapologetic and charismatic thief who loves the thrill of the chase. She has her eye on her biggest mark yet–the RMS Titanic, the most luxurious ship in the world. But she isn’t interested in stealing from wealthy first-class passengers onboard. No, she’s out for the ultimate prize: the Rubiyat, a one-of-a-kind book encrusted with gems that’s worth millions.
Josefa can’t score it alone, so she enlists a team of girls with unique talents: Hinnah, a daring acrobat and contortionist; Violet, an actress and expert dissembler; and Emilie, an artist who can replicate any drawing by hand.
They couldn’t be more different and yet they have one very important thing in common: their lives depend on breaking into the vault and capturing the Rubiyat. But careless mistakes, old grudges, and new romance threaten to jeopardize everything they’ve worked for and put them in incredible danger when tragedy strikes.
While the odds of pulling off the heist are slim, the odds of survival are even slimmer…(Credit: HarperTeen)
- Away With Words by Sophie Cameron (Little Tiger)
- Gwen and Art are NOT in Love by Lex Croucher (Bloomsbury YA)
- My Life As A Chameleon by Diana Anyakwo (Atom)
- This Book Kills by Ravena Guron (Usborne)
- The First Move by Jenny Ireland (PenguinRandomHouse Children’s)
- Wild Song by Candy Gourlay (David Fickling Books)
- You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud (Usborne)
Adult
Maame by Jessica George
Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.
It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.
So when her mum returns from her latest trip, Maddie seizes the chance to move out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts” She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But when tragedy strikes, Maddie is forced to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils–and rewards–of putting her heart on the line.
Smart, funny, and affecting, Jessica George’s Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong. (Credit: St. Martin’s Griffin)
Those People Next Door by Kia Abdullah
Salma Khatun is hopeful about Blenheim, the suburban development into which she, her husband, and their son have just moved. The Bangladeshi family needs a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like just the place.
Soon after they move in, Salma spots her White neighbor, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner her son put in the front garden. Avoiding confrontation, Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window. But the next morning, she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint.
When she does speak to Tom, battle lines are drawn between the two families. As racial and social tensions escalate and the stakes rise, it’s clear that a reckoning is coming . . .And someone is going to get hurt. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
- Bellies by Nicola Dinan (DoubleDay)
- Close to Home by Michael Magee (Hamish Hamilton)
- Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks (Jonathan Cape)
- Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton (Hodder and Stoughton)
- How (Not) to Have an Arranged Marriage by Dr Amir Khan (Macmillan)
- Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie (Oneworld)
- Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Viking)
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