We are thrilled to announce the longlist for the Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults 2023 competition. Every results day we think that no year can possibly top this one for incredible storytelling but, once again, you’ve raised the bar. You captured our curiosity from the very first sentence and left us desperate to read on at the end. In our eyes you are all worthy winners.
After much deliberation and a few sleepless nights our reading team has finally arrived at the longlist.
Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults Longlist 2023
Ava and Luscious Gardens
Bifurcation
Bring Me the Mind of Oscar Brown
Buzz Blackstone and the Case of the Professor and the Pawsetta Stone
Cordelia Creak − Zombie Princess
Dys-connected
Elita Moon & The Keeper of Curiosities
Ellie Anderson is Dead
Every Color of My Blood
Fight the Stars
F.O.U.L
Goon
Lightbulb
Luna and the Sky Gods
Stirling Liquorice and the Golems
The Box of Life
The Boy Who Didn’t Sleep
The Mystics of Little Edmunswick
The Peregrine’s Apprentice
The Shadow Six
The Trials of Benny Pilgrim
Our highly respected judge, Literary Agent Silvia Molteni, will now read the longlisted entries and decide the top 10 stories, including an overall winner. Results will be published on 26th January, 2024.
If you’re one of our longlistees feel free to shout from the rooftops, but please don’t identify the title of your story on social media while judging is still taking place. Best of luck!
Thank you all for sharing your marvellous stories with us. Keep writing!