The Little Rebels Award is delighted to announce its shortlist for 2024, on behalf of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers. Together, these eight titles speak to a generation of young activists and critical thinkers covering a wide range of social justice issues from Black History to Black Lives Matter, from access to the arts to the politics of Pride.
The Little Rebels Award 2024 shortlisted titles are notable for respectfully centring young children’s viewpoints, from Joe and his pals’ raised eyebrows in the face of patronising, disablist attitudes (You’re So Amazing!) to Josie pushing back against adults’ nosy, impertinent questions (Is That Your Mama?) The mix of formats work for a wide range of ages and reading abilities, taking in illustrated middle grade fiction, picture books and a reluctant reader. The shortlist welcomes Yaba Badoe’s middle grade debut and an overall debut for Jen Reid, the Bristol BLM activist famous for standing on Edward Coulson’s empty plinth in June 2020, fist raised. The list is also pleased to include the 4-year-old, micro, Birmingham-based, publisher, Dune Books (est. 2020).
The full shortlist is as follows:
- MAN-MAN AND THE TREE OF MEMORIES by Yaba Badoe and Joelle Avelino (Head of Zeus Books)
- A HERO LIKE ME by Angela Joy, Jen Reid and Leire Salaberria (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
- THE LIZZIE & BELLE MYSTERIES: PORTRAITS AND POISON by J. T. Williams with illustrations by Simone Douglas (Farshore)
- WE ARE HERE by Kate Rafiq (Dune Books)
- GRANDAD’S PRIDE by Harry Woodgate (Andersen Press)
- IS THAT YOUR MAMA? By Patrice Lawrence and Diane Ewen (Scholastic)
- YOU’RE SO AMAZING! by James & Lucy Catchpole and Karen George (Faber & Faber)
- THE PIANO AT THE STATION by Helen Rutter with illustrations by Elisa Paganelli (Barrington Stoke)
The Little Rebels Award shortlist panel was delighted to be joined this year by Dr. Darren Chetty, lecturer at UCL and columnist for Books for Keeps. He said, “Radical, rebellious fiction has found itself under attack from conservative forces in recent years. We’ve seen authors’ books removed from shelves in the USA as the culture warriors have tried to limit the imaginations of writers and readers. The Little Rebels Award matters more than ever- and I’m proud to be associated with it.”
Last year’s winner, with Needle (Barrington Stoke), Patrice Lawrence said, “Needle is the most furious book I’ve written, about a young woman who rebels against her powerlessness. It was therefore such an honour to win the Little Rebels Award as it enabled Charlene’s story to be heard more widely- and hopefully encourage conversations that lead to change”.
This year’s judges include two new additions: teacher and author, Alom Shaha and designer and illustrator, Soofiya. Alom said, “I can't think of a time during my lifetime when radical children's fiction has been more important". He joins author-illustrator Emily Haworth-Booth, reading development and children’s book consultant, Jake Hope and Regional Learning Programmes Leader at the CLPE (Centre for Literature in Primary Education), Farrah Serroukh.
In 2024, the highest number of publishers, a total of 52, submitted to the award. The award organisers published a longlist for only the second time in May, showcasing 17 of the best radical children’s fiction titles of 2023.
The Little Rebels Award Winner for 2024 will be announced at a ceremony in October. The winner’s prize includes £2,000 funded by the Marxist Socialist funder, The Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust. Free downloadable reading guides for each of the shortlisted titles will shortly be available through the Little Rebels Award website, enabling educators and carers to discuss and plan activities around the social justice topics raised in the shortlist.
For more information, visit: littlerebels.org