The Young Quills winners and highly commended have been announced for his year. This competition for historical fiction for children is a way of celebrating and recognising those authors who are continuing the long tradition of creative writing about the past for children.

All of the books are reviewed by children to create the shortlist – find out why they loved the books that this year won the awards.

5-8 years category

Winner: The Most Famous Rhinoceros by Dianne Hofmeyr, illus. Simona Mulazzani (Otter-Barry Books)

Review by Charlie, St. Peter’s CE Primary School, Heysham:

I really enjoyed reading this book, particularly the ending because it wasn’t what I expected, it was quite sad but the right thing to do.

Highly Commended: Moving the Millers' Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers, illus. Júlia Sardà (Walker) 

Review by Aoife, St. Peter’s CE Primary School, Heysham:

I really enjoyed the book, it had wonderful illustrations which helped me to understand the story.

8-11 years category

Winner: Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler (Simon & Schuster)

Review by Ayesha, Witton Park Academy Blackburn:

The writing in this book was just captivating! The characters were so believable that I actually cared for them

Highly Commended: Vita The Gladiator by Ally Sherrick (Chicken House)

Review by Mujtaba, Claremont High School, Harrow, Middlesex:

In the story of Vita and The Gladiator, Ally Sherrick masterfully creates a story wrapped in resilience, courage, and emotional drama. As the plot unfolds, Sherrick weaves together elements of mystery, intrigue, and action, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

11-13 years category

Winner: Where the River Takes Us by Lesley Parr (Bloomsbury)

Review by Scarlett, Thomas Telford School, Shropshire:

I would definitely recommend this book to other students who like historical fiction, adventure, and friendship stories. It is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and think. It is also a book that will inspire you to follow your dreams and stand by your friends, no matter what.

Highly Commended: The Diary of Sarah Forbes Bonetta: A Novel - Victoria Princewill (Scholastic)

Review by Lola-Belle, Marriotts School Stevenage:         

Overall, this book has made me realise that I have a voice, and that I should use it. It has made me feel a sense of empowerment of knowing my self worth and boundaries. It has changed me as a person; for the better.

14+ category

Winner: The Wolf Girl, the Greeks and the Gods - Tom Holland, illus. Jason Cockcroft (Walker)

Review by Aaron, Claremont High School, Harrow, Middlesex:

Tom Holland's "The Wolf Girl, the Greeks, and the Gods" is a remarkable fusion of ancient mythology and historical epic set during the Persian Wars, centred on Spartan Princess Gorgo. This novel stands out for its rich narrative that blends the fantastical elements of Greek myths with the gritty realities of war, all seen through the lens of a powerful female protagonist.

Highly Commended: The Wall Between Us - Dan Smith (Chicken House)

Review by Jacob, Coombe Dean School, Plymouth:

I will start off by saying that I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading and history.

About Young Quills 

The Young Quills for Historical Fiction are book awards for authors writing historical fiction for young readers between the ages of 5 years through to young adult. The book must have been published in the previous year to qualify.

Publishers apply to have the books considered for the awards, allowing the HA to create a longlist. The books are then sent into schools across the UK. The shortlist for the Young Quills is then created based on the reviews of children and their thoughts, and the final decision is made a by a judging panel of experts that include an historian, an author and a literacy expert. 

The reviews

You can read a selection of children's and young people's reviews of all the books entered into this year's Young Quills via the links below. Shortlisted books are marked with an asterisk: