On Thursday 16 April, we proudly hosted the 22nd Redbridge Book Awards at Redbridge Town Hall. This year’s event was especially meaningful as it aligned with Go All In: The National Year of Reading 2026 – a UK-wide campaign encouraging more people to make reading a regular part of their lives.
We were delighted to welcome over 180 pupils from across the borough to celebrate the power of storytelling and announce this year’s winners. Emily-Jane Clark took home the Children’s Award for Cringe Club, while Josh Silver was awarded the Teenage category prize for Traumaland.
This year saw more than 200 submissions from publishers across both categories. Once nominations are received, schools across Redbridge are invited to take part in the voting process – giving young readers the unique opportunity to shortlist titles and ultimately decide the winners. From start to finish, the awards are shaped by the voices of Redbridge pupils.
The shortlisted titles were:
Children’s Book Award (ages 10–12):
• Eve Ainsworth – Jellybean (Barrington Stoke)
• Emily-Jane Clark – Cringe Club (Simon & Schuster)
• Hiba Noor Khan – The Line They Drew Through Us (Andersen Press)
• Jack MacKay – Gloam (Rock The Boat)
• Brogen Murphy – Wildlands (Puffin)
• Jenny Pearson – Shrapnel Boys (Usborne)
• Kristina Rahim – The Doughnut Club (Nosy Crow)
Teenage Book Award (ages 13–16):
• Tasneem Abdur-Rashid – Odd Girl Out (David Fickling)
• Kathryn Clark – Things I Learned While I Was Dead (Faber)
• Rachael Davis Featherstone – Oxford Blood (Walker)
• Benjamin Dean – Bury Your Friends (Simon & Schuster)
• Emma Hinds – Witchlore (Usborne)
• Josh Silver – Traumaland (Rock The Boat)
We extend our congratulations to all shortlisted authors for their outstanding contributions and for inspiring young people across Redbridge to discover the joy of reading.
The event also gave pupils the chance to meet their favourite authors, with many eagerly queuing for book signings. Guest speaker Julian Sedgwick, shortlisted for Tsunami Girl in the Carnegie Greenaway Awards 2022, shared insights into his writing journey and how a visit to Japan inspired his work. Pupils then took part in an engaging Q&A session, asking thoughtful questions about storytelling and creativity.
In a special moment driven by student interest, Benjamin Dean also took part in a one-to-one interview with a pupil from Seven Kings High School, who led the discussion with their own prepared questions.
The Redbridge Book Awards continue to champion young voices, celebrate diverse storytelling, and inspire a lifelong love of reading across our community.
To find out more about Go All In and special events visit our dedicated page.
