The Branford Boase Award was set up in the memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase. It rewards the most promising new authors and their editors, highlighting excellence in writing and publishing for children.
The Award is made annually to the most promising book for children of seven and upward by a first-time novelist and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019. Past winners and shortlisted authors have included Siobhan Dowd, Meg Rosoff, Frank Cottrell Boyce and Patrick Ness as well as Frances Hardinge, Philip Reeve and most recently Maisie Chan.
The longlist for 2023 has been released and features 21 titles that, according to Julia Eccleshare (chair of the judges, co-founder of the Branford Boase Award and children’s director of the Hay Festival) represent "contemporary children’s publishing at its best".
You can request copies of titles on the longlist from the library catalogue. Just follow the link below the title you wish to request.
The Bones of Me by Kel Duckhouse, edited by Harriet Birkinshaw (Flying Eye Books)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2659730
The Eternal Return of Clara Hart by Louise Finch, edited by Siobhàn Parkinson (Little Island Books)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2659734
Running Out of Time by Simon Fox, edited by Tom Bonnick (Nosy Crow)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2351788
The Spectaculars by Jodie Garnish, edited by Becky Walker and Alice Moloney (Usborne)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2587214
The Miraculous Sweetmakers by Natasha Hastings, edited by Michelle Misra (HarperCollins Children’s Books), illustrated by Alex T. Smith
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2643217
The Whisperling by Hayley Hoskins, edited by Katie Sinfield (Puffin)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2432040
Wishes Come in Threes by Andy Jones, edited by Non Pratt (Walker Books)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2464386
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks by Emily Kenny, edited by Katie Jennings (Rock the Boat)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2482267
Seed by Caryl Lewis, edited by Sarah Hughes (Macmillan Children’s Books), illustrated by George Ermos
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2461187
Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Linn, edited by Gráinne Clear (Walker Books)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2363315
Mia and the Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy, edited by Leah Thaxton (Faber)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2350140
Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna, edited by Felicity Alexander (Welbeck Flame)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2736800
Rapunzella, or Don’t Touch My Black Hair by Ella McLeod, edited by Yasmin Morrissey and Genevieve Herr (Scholastic)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2471725
The Cats We Meet Along the Way by Nadia Mikail, edited by Bella Pearson (Guppy Books)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2345440
The Bird Singers by Eve Wersocki Morris, edited by Jenna Mackintosh (Hodder Children’s Books)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2343389
Ellie Pillai is Brown by Christine Pillainayagam, edited by Leah Thaxton (Faber)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2346428
The Haunting of Tyrese Walker by J.P. Rose, edited by Chloe Sackur (Andersen Press)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2634568
If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So, edited by Mattie Whitehead and Ella Whiddett (Little Tiger)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2527184
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman, edited by Ali Dougal (Simon and Schuster)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2760700
The Map of Leaves by Yarrow Townsend, edited by Rachel Leyshon (Chicken House)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2499970
The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries by J.T. Williams, edited by Liz Bankes and Aleena Hasan (Farshore)
https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2436806