Each year, the Historical Association runs ‘Young Quills’, a competition for published historical fiction for children and young adults (14+). The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition – so 2024 for this year’s selection.

Our aim is to seek out books which: 

• Are a ‘good read’, engaging the imagination of the young reader
• Have good historical content and factual information
• Have history as a component of the story, not just a convenient backdrop or setting
• Inspire young readers to find out more about that historical period or people.

Our judges are all adults, so to get the opinions of young readers, copies of the books were sent out to a number of schools, where the teachers have kindly volunteered to recruit pupils to read and review them and always receive a magnificent total of reviews, which guide the shortlisting process.

This year's shortlisted books are below. Some of the young people's reviews of this year’s books will be available soon on our website. The winners will be announced in July.

For readers aged 5-8 years 

Title	Author
Blitz – One Family’s War	Martin Impey
Cobweb	Michael Morpurgo
Delta and the Lost City	Anna Fargher
King Alfred and the Ice Coffin	Kevin Crossley-Holland (illus. Chris Riddell)
Mo’s Best Friend	Bridget Marzo

 

For readers aged 8-11 years 

Title	Author
Angel of Grasmere	Tom Palmer
Birdie	J. P. Rose
The Boy, the Witch and the Queen of Scots	Barbara Henderson
Circus Maximus: Return of the Champion	Annelise Gray
Roman Boy	Tony Bradman

 

For readers aged 11-13 years 

Title	Author
The Bletchley Riddle	Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Fallout	Lesley Parr
The Fights That Make Us	Sarah Hagger-Holt
Kirin of the Dobunni	Anne Buffoni
Nine Girls	Stacy Gregg
Shadow Creatures	Chris Vick

 

For readers aged 14 years and above 

Title	Author
Cobalt	Sue Klauber
The Djinn’s Apple	Djamila Morani
Where the Heart Should Be	Sarah Crossan