Congratulations to Sarah Hagger-Holt who was crowned the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Award for her empowering and immersive novel The Fights That Make Us (Usborne).  This is the second time that Hagger-Holt has won the Little Rebels Award. Her novel  Proud of Me (Usborne) was the winning title in 2022.

Told from dual perspectives across two different time periods, The Fights That Make Us explores the impact of the Section 28 legislation back in the 1980s alongside contemporary issues of discrimination and acceptance.

The organisers of the Little Rebels Award described The Fights That Make Us as a ‘beacon of resistance in this current climate’, adding: ‘Sarah Hagger-Holt’s novel could hardly be more timely and relevant for the queer community – particularly for young people, who are paying close attention to a history of both discrimination and resistance, while steeling themselves for contemporary protest.’

This is the 13th year of the Little Rebels Award, which celebrates books for children aged 0-12 that explore political ideas, challenge the status quo and promote a more peaceful and fairer world. This year’s winner was chosen from a shortlist of six titles by a panel of judges that included author and illustrator Chris Haughton; Centre for Literacy in Primary Education librarian Phoebe Demeger; teacher and author Alom Shaha; and designer, illustrator and lecturer Soofiya.

For more children’s book awards, click here.