The shortlists for the Nero Book Awards 2025 have been announced.

Set up by Caffè Nero in partnership with the Booksellers Association and Brunel University of London, the Nero Book Awards celebrate the outstanding books of the previous 12 months across four award categories: Children’s Fiction, Debut Fiction, Fiction and Non-Fiction.

The Children’s Fiction category covers books aimed at young readers aged 9-15. This year’s judges are authors Sharna Jackson and Emily Bearn, and children’s bookseller Nick Campbell.

Commenting on this year’s shortlists, Gerry Ford, founder and CEO of Caffè Nero, said, ‘When I set up these Awards it was to celebrate great writing and great books to read and to showcase books which you would recommend to friends, family and people you know. This list more than does that. This is the strongest list of books the Nero Book Awards has seen yet and is indicative of the Awards going from strength to strength.’

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors.

The 2025 Nero Book Awards: Children’s Fiction Shortlist

My Soul, A Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin (Farshore). The judges said: ‘My Soul, A Shining Tree is the exceptionally powerful story of three young lives unexpectedly entwined by war. Only a writer of genius could tell a story on this scale in fewer than 200 pages, with such vivid prose it has the quality of poetry.’

People Like Stars by Patrice Lawrence (Scholastic). The judges said: ‘Compelling, courageous and full of heart, People Like Stars is a modern mystery that grips from the first line. Ambitious in scope yet exquisitely controlled, it’s storytelling at its most humane and powerful.’

Dragonborn by Struan Murray (Puffin). The judges said: ‘Reading Dragonborn is like riding the most exhilarating rollercoaster, full of adventure and authentic emotion. You’ll be swept along and spun around, pulse racing – and you’ll never see dragons quite the same way again.’

Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson (Usborne Publishing Ltd). The judges said: ‘Shrapnel Boys is a stunning piece of historical fiction which combines meticulous research with a beautifully imagined plot. Pearson brings the past to life with a heartfelt story that will resonate with every modern reader.’

Visit the Nero Book Awards website to see this year’s shortlists for the adult Debut Fiction, Fiction and Non-Fiction categories.

The winners of each of the four categories will be announced on 13th January 2026. From these four category winners, an overall winner will be selected for the Nero Gold Prize and announced at a ceremony in early March. Look out for our winner announcement.