Take part in our flagship local book award, which highlights and promotes the best new reading for children and young people.
Every year, we invite all schools in the borough of Redbridge to vote for their favourite children and teen books published in the UK that year. From shortlisting the authors to selecting the eventual winner, your pupils make the final decisions.
There are two categories:
The Children’s Book Award (ages 10 – 12 years)
The Teenage Book Award (ages 13 – 16 years)
At the end of the process, there’s an opportunity for your students to meet some of the shortlisted authors.
The Redbridge Book Awards is open to all schools in Redbridge and its surrounding boroughs. It’s a great opportunity to –
Encourage your pupils to read, review and debate new literature.
Inspire reading for pleasure
Introduce your pupils to new works of fiction and new authors.
It’s free to schools that subscribe to Vision SLS, and £150 for non-subscribing schools.
Schools can sign up to take part in the Awards from 1 September 2025.
September Vision Schools Library Service invites all schools in the Borough to take part.
October Publishers submit titles for shortlisting. Only new works of fiction published in the UK that year are considered – sequels aren’t included in the shortlisting process.
November Shortlists are selected and announced. This is limited to 6 children’s titles and 6 teen titles. Shortlists will be selected by the Vision SLS team, school librarians and local pupils.
January Shortlisted titles are sent to each participating school and library reading groups. Students chosen to take part are encouraged to read and discuss which books are their favourites and reasons for their choices.
March Final voting on the shortlist. Winners and runners-up invited to the ceremony.
April – Awards Ceremony Participating schools and groups invited to Redbridge Town Hall for the Awards Ceremony. Shortlisted authors are invited along to meet the students who have chosen their books.
Winning authors are presented with their award.
Children’s Book Award
Christopher Edge – Black Hole Cinema Club (2025)
Matt Goodfellow – The Final Year (2024)
S F Said – Tyger (2023)
B.B. Alston – Amari and the Night Brothers (2022) Kereen Getten – When Life gives you Mangoes (2021) Onjali Q. Rauf – The Star Outside my Window (2020) Onjali Rauf – The Boy at the Back of the Class (2019) Helena Duggan – A Place Called Perfect (2018) Christopher Edge – The Many Worlds of Albie Bright (2017) Ali Sparkes – Car-jacked (2016) Holly Black & Cassandra Clare – The Iron Trial (2015) Sharon Gosling – The Diamond Thief (2014) Morris Gleitzman – After (2013) Sita Brahmachari – Artichoke Hearts (2012) Cathy Cassidy – Cherry Crush (2011) Suzanne LaFleur – Love Aubrey (2010) Cathy Cassidy – Ginger Snaps (2009) Cathy Cassidy – Lucky Star (2008) Morris Gleitzman – Once (2007) Anthony Horowitz – Raven’s Gate (2006) Anthony Horowitz – Scorpia (2004/5) Jean Ure – Bad Alice (2003)
Teenage Book Award
Nathanael Lessore – King of Nothing (2025)
Kika Hatzopoulou – Threads That Bind (2024)
Samira Ahmed – Hollow Fires (2023)
Faridah Abike-Iyimide – Ace of Spades (2022) Karen McManus – The Cousins (2021) Holly Jackson – A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2020) Malcolm Duffy – Me Mam. Me Dad. Me (2019) Marie Lu – Warcross (2018) Cecila Ahern – Flawed (2017) Sarah Crossan – One (2016) E Lockhart – We Were Liars (2015) Kevin Brooks – The Bunker Diary (2014) Sufiya Ahmed – Secrets of the Henna Girl (2013) Cat Clarke – Entangled (2012) Malorie Blackman – Boys Don’t Cry (2011) Suzanne Collins – The Hunger Games (2010) Anne Cassidy – Forget Me Not (2009) Alice Kuipers – Life on the Refrigerator Door (2008) Tim Bowler – Frozen Fire (2007) Darren Shan – Lord Loss (2006) Bali Rai – Rani and Sukh (2004/5)
Contact Us
For more information on the awards or how to sign up, contact Aaron Lamont (Development Librarian, Children and Young People ) Aaron.Lamont@visionrcl.org.uk
