On behalf of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers, we are delighted to announce the Little Rebels Award shortlist for 2025
Six books to speak to a generation of young activists and critical thinkers.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators!
The winner will be revealed on the 1st October.
Cottonopolis
by S F Layzell (Northodox Press)
A short and pacy chapter book set in the slums of 1840s Little Ireland, Manchester starring Nellie Doyle whose family are struggling to survive from hand to mouth. A welcome distraction comes in the form of workhouse resident, Chloe Valentine, offering a belief in magic, friendship and perhaps a little more. A historical portrayal of working class struggle and endurance amidst extreme poverty and inhumane labour conditions and a rare pre-twentieth-century foregrounding of queer and PoC identities.
The Fights That Make Us
by Sarah Hagger-Holt (Usborne)
Two parallel stories collide: Lisa and Nicky, in the 1980s, falling in love against the backdrop of the prohibitive, homophobic, legislation, Section 28; friends Jesse, who identifies as non-binary, and Simran, who identifies as pansexual, pushing back against current day prejudices. An important tribute to the LGBTQ+ movement of the 1980s/90 and a celebration of contemporary activism.
Keedie
by Elle McNicoll (Knights Of)
13-year-old Keedie Darrow lives in Jupiter, a tiny and inward looking Scottish village. It’s a place which makes her and her best friend Bonnie – who is also neurodivergent – feel exiled. But Keedie is passionate about her right to stand out and thrive. Determined to tackle their hostile environment at both an individual and structural level, she sets up an anti-bullying agency in her school (addressing both pupils and teachers) and, from here, she defiantly takes on the village, its legacies and traditions. A novel with an autistic protagonist whose voice issues a defiant, uncompromising challenge to oppressive social norms
Kende! Kende! Kende!
Written by Kirsten Cappy & Yaya Gentille, illustrated by Rahana Dariah (Child’s Play)
A family escape violence in their country, joining a line of people on foot, then travelling by truck, then arriving at a UNHCR refugee camp until, finally, finally, they board a plane to a new country. While the region they flee is unspecified, the creators were inspired by the situation in the DRC and the dual language French/English text, interspersed with Lingala words, honours the many multilingual families of Central Africa.
Mayowa and the Sea of Words
by Chibundu Onuzo, with illustrations by Paula Zorite (Bloomsbury)
At the age of just 8, Mayowa started jumping on books. Despite her mum’s ban, Mayowa is still keeping up the family book leaping tradition 2 years later. With a visit to Grandpa Edward, she finally discovers what lies behind this legacy and what powers she can unleash into the world with the right training. A friendship with a local refugee family, an introduction to a campaigner and the imminent threat of the government passing a vicious anti-immigration bill, culminates in political polarisations, crescendoing in to a clash of magical forces and a fight between cruelty and compassion.
Zac and Jac
by Cathy Jenkins, with illustrations by Monique Steele (Graffeg)
9-year-old Jac has his very own, home-grown hero, Dad. And, within his tight knit group of friends he also has bestie, Zac. And, he’s finally getting to play football for the local team. But when Jac’s dad realises that means his son will be spending more time, not just with Zac, but Zac’s family, his behaviour becomes troubling. Slowly Jac realises that his ‘hero’ has been raised on racist ideas and is perpetuating them still. A direct but subtle look at intergenerational racism.
The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award 