Best children's books - Jhalak Children's and YA Prize

Jhalak Children's and YA Prize Shortlist 2025

Bringing Back Kay-Kay

Chapter book

Winner of the Commonword Diversity YA novel in 2018, Dev Kothari brings us her much anticipated, debut novel bringing to life her experience of growing up in a small village outside of Mumbai.

Aimed at the middle-grade market but equally compelling for older years too, Kothari has artfully created a gripping mystery story interwoven with a narrative that leaves you simultaneously fearing for and cheering on the main characters.

Lena has grown up in the shadow of her older brother, Kay-Kay, always feeling second-best at school and at home but, when KayKay goes missing, Lena realises just how much her brother has always been there for her and vows to help find him.

Bringing back Kay-Kay is a story of love – for India, for family and sometimes even for those who seem least deserving. Touching on the true-life, shocking statistics of missing children in India, as well as some quite difficult issues, such as depression, poverty and runaways, this story is most suitable for UKS2 and beyond. Suitable as a class read or as a good quality library addition.

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Flower Block

Hoang Giang & Lanisha Butterfield

Picturebook

When Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the very last thing he expects is for the vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his apartment!As Jeremiah and his brother chase the magical plant up through the floors of their tower block home, they discover an array of curious neighbours who join in the adventure. But what could be waiting for them at the top of the building? And will Jeremiah find his voice to help the neighbours discover the true magic hidden within these sunflower seeds?A glorious celebration of the power of nature to bring communities together, from talented debut author Lanisha Butterfield and illustrator Hoang Giang.

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King of Nothing

Nathanael Lessore

Chapter book

ANTON AND HIS FRIENDS ARE THE KINGS OF YEAR 9.They're used to ruling the school and Anton wears the crown. The other kids run away when he's about but that's the way he wants it - he's got a reputation to live up to after all.So when he gets into serious trouble at school, he doesn't really care, but his mum most definitely does. She decides it's time for Anton to make some new friends and join the Happy Campers, a local activity group. Anton would quite literally rather do anything else, especially when he finds out Matthew, the biggest loser in school, is also a member.But after Matthew unexpectedly saves Anton's life, Anton figures maybe this kid is worth a shot. Teaching him some game is the least Anton can do to repay the debt.As the boys strike up an unlikely friendship, Anton finds himself questioning everything he thought was important. Does he want ruling the school to be his crowning glory or should he set his sights on better things?Perfect for teen readers of Alex Wheatle, Jason Reynolds and Patrice Lawrence.

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Mayowa and the Sea of Words

Chibundu Onuzo

Chapter book

WARNING: DO NOT JUMP ON THIS BOOK!Have you ever jumped on a book? Perhaps not. Most people would think it was a rather unusual thing to do.Ten-year-old Mayowa has always thought that her Grandpa Edward, who dyes his beard emerald green and jumps on books in private, is rather unusual too. Until one day she jumps on a book for herself, and uncovers a huge family secret …Mayowa can book jump.By jumping on a book, she can harness the emotions inside it and channel them directly into other people. And when the opportunity to use her power to save the lives of countless refugees presents itself, Mayowa wants to jump in with both feet.But Mayowa and her grandpa aren’t the only book jumpers in existence. And not everybody wants to use this power for good …The first title in a dazzlingly imaginative adventure trilogy about one girl's power to change the world through the magic of book-jumping. Brimming with heart, Mayowa and the Sea of Words is a modern classic in the making. Perfect for everyone who knows the true power of a good book …

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The Boy to Beat the Gods

Ashley Thorpe

Chapter book

Discover a fierce and fun story of one boy versus six gods, from a magical new voice in children's fiction.Kayode dreams of eating the forbidden fruit of the Orishas, so he can gain the power of the gods and stop them terrorising his people. So when a fruit mysteriously appears in his path after the Orishas snatch his sister, he leaps on it. Surging with new and difficult-to-control powers, he joins forces with a shapeshifting trickster god and a vengeful princess to save his sister and put an end to the mighty Orishas. But each has more fearful powers than the last - and Kayode's stolen half-god strength won't last forever.

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The Thread That Connects Us

Ayaan Mohamud

Chapter book

A story of shared blood and bad blood, endings and beginnings.Safiya has struggled to pick up the pieces of her family since her dad left them and moved to Somalia. She refuses to trust in love, despite wishing she could fall for boy-next-door Yusuf. And then her dad moves back to town with his new family, shattering her life all over again.Halima doesn't want to move to England. She resents her stepdad for dropping her in a strange new life with a new language to learn, replacing her friends with bullies who set out to shame her.When the girls are thrown together at school, it's hate at first sight. But as they uncover life-changing secrets from their parents' past, they begin to realize - What if the key to all their problems lies in their sisterhood?

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