Each year, the Historical Association runs the 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. Divided by age suitability the books are given to schools on the condition that the children and young people there write a review of the book following our criteria. Those reviews are used as the basis for us to create the shortlist from which the winners are selected.
You can read a selection of this year's reviews by children and young people here.

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Young Quills 2025:

For readers aged 5-8 years

Winner: Blitz: One Family’s War by Martin Impey

Highly Commended: King Alfred and the Ice Coffin by Kevin Crossley-Holland (illus. Chris Riddell)

For readers aged 8-11 years

Winner: Birdie by P. Rose

Highly Commended (2 books): 
The Boy, the Witch and the Queen of Scots by Barbara Henderson
Roman Boy by Tony Bradman

For readers aged 11-13 years

Winner: Shadow Creatures by Chris Vick

Highly Commended: The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

For readers aged 14 years and above

Winner: Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

Highly Commended: Cobalt by Sue Klauber
 

Comments from the judges

Blitz: One Family’s War

Beautifully drawn and very relatable characters whose world you are quickly drawn into – their worries and fears. It is an incredible feat of compelling, heart-felt narration and beautiful, historically-accurate illustration.

In summary, an authentic, dramatic, heart-warming tour de force, which in spite of the war-torn setting, brims with hope and love.

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin

An atmospheric evocation of the life and achievements of Alfred the Great, celebrating in particular, his translation of Latin texts into the vernacular so that all can understand them.

Birdie

A sensitive exploration of the important themes of racism, tolerance and acceptance of difference as well as the importance of finding a loving home, as seen through the lens of a young girl of mixed-race growing up in post-war Britain and her touching relationship with the pit-pony she names Mr Duke. This book explores the feelings those subjected to prejudice can face, and allows the young reader to see how challenges to stereotypes have been important in the past and express what that past may have really looked like.

The Boy, the Witch and the Queen of Scots

A great opening – full of mystery and period atmosphere which hooks you in from the off. It is an interesting time in Scottish history at the start of the reign of the charismatic and controversial Mary Queen of Scots rather than the oft-told later story of her fall from power.

Roman Boy

A well-told, pacy tale with a very relatable main character in Lucius following him on his journey into adulthood and all the bridges, physical and emotional he has to cross to get there. Well researched portrayal of what life would have been like in the Roman army for a new recruit posted north of the wall in Britannia. It would make an excellent resource for schools in support of their Romans topic.

Shadow Creatures

An evocative and powerful story about the Norwegian resistance during the Second World War. The main protagonists all have well drawn characters whose experiences and decisions help the story unfold and keep the plot exciting while also being true to the historical period and its realities. It takes the reader into a world not usually explored and uses a layers of local history and folklore to enhance a sense of mystery, danger and heritage. A great read for children and anyone who wants to widen their understanding of Norway and its history.

The Bletchley Riddle

Told from the perspective of a brother and sister, both of whom are grappling with family secrets in world where secrets can be dangerous the book is an exciting mystery that draws the reader in while never losing a proper sense of time and place. The codebreakers of Bletchley Park and the work that goes on there is central to the plot as well as providing a focus for examining the lives of those effected by conflict and the world of the 1940’s. A brilliant way for young people to get a solid understanding of the importance of Bletchley Park without being lectured to.

Where the Heart Should Be

The story of the potato famine in Ireland in the nineteenth century told through the eyes of a young woman whose relationships and experiences covey the history of suffering and disregard that some classes had for others. The whole story is told in verse, using a poetic beauty in contrast to the story’s hardships and small-minded attitudes that many experience. This book manages to express the cold heartedness of people and institutions while evoking a sense of emotional connections that leaves the reader both historically informed and moved by the strength of feelings people have for one another even in difficult times.

Cobalt

This books takes the reader on a journey of excitement and bravery without ever losing sight of the realities of conflict and its brutality. Based on a true story it reminds the reader that war isn’t only one story and that personal identity in a time period isn’t solely a single narrative. Instead it tells the story of how three Jewish siblings each fight back against Nazism in their different ways including the Hungarian resistance, and with the British authorities through intelligence work and the SOE.

Comments from winning and highly-commended authors

Winner – 5-8 Years category

Martin Impey, author of Blitz, One Family’s War:
Writing & illustrating Blitz: One Family's War has been a huge undertaking, but one I have enjoyed immensely. Weaving family and other first hand anecdotes into the story was so exciting. Whether it be fact or fiction, a historical themed book must have integrity gained by extensive research and where possible primary source material, giving the reader a believable pathway to the past. I hope my book does this.

Originally the book was going to be 32 pages, 16 illustrations with a front cover, but as I developed the story, it quickly became apparent that this was becoming a far more complex tale and so 32 pages became 120 and 16 illustrations became 247!

My own family lived through and experienced the Blitz as they were living in Bow at the time. My grandfather like the Dad in the book was in the AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service), he too left the service to fight across the deserts of North Africa. All my life I have tried to soak up family tales and people's stories along the way keeping them in my memory bank, sketchbooks and notes ready to call upon when they are needed, so this story is a testament to listening and keeping those memories alive.

To be given the Young Quills Award from an Association that I so respect and admire is such an honour and truly makes all those hours, days, months and even years worthwhile. BLITZ One Family's War has a sequel that I am currently working on, so this recognition will only spur me on to make it the very best it can be!

Highly Commended – 8-11 Years category

Barbara Henderson, author of The Boy, the Witch and the Queen of Scots:
I am so honoured and delighted to see The Boy, the Witch and the Queen of Scots Highly Commended in the Young Quills. The longlist in that category was so strong, and full of writers and books I respect enormously. I was thrilled to make the shortlist, never mind the runner-up! Huge thanks to my excellent publishers Luath Press for believing in this story.

Tony Bradman, author of Roman Boy:
I’m delighted that Roman Boy has achieved Highly Commended status in this year’s Young Quills, especially as the shortlists were packed with brilliant books! The Young Quills Awards go from strength to strength, and have clearly played a major role in the renaissance of historical writing for today’s children and young people. Long may that continue!

Winner – 11–13 years category

Chris Vick, author of Shadow Creatures:
History is made of stories. People simply living, sometimes through turmoil and terror. There are books about the Blitz, and evacuees. But what of the children who lived under occupation?

I grew up with my Norwegian mother’s stories: of giving food to starving Russian prisoners, of Grandpa burying the family "treasure" in the woods, of my uncle risking his young life to deliver resistance newssheets; giving hope that one day the "black caps" (SS) would leave.

As a writer, these stories were simply too good not to use. I hope I have honoured them and am thrilled to win this award.

Highly Commended – 11–13 years category

Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, authors of The Bletchley Riddle:
We’re honoured that The Bletchley Riddle has been Highly Commended by the Young Quills 2025. To know that children have read, reviewed and enjoyed our codebreaking mystery means the world to us, and we’re overjoyed to know that our story is inspiring a love of historical fiction with today’s young readers.

Highly Commended – 14+ years

Sue Klauber, author of Cobalt:
I'm absolutely thrilled to be highly commended in the 14+ category and it means even more to me because young people were involved in the shortlisting process. It's an honour to be recognised by the Historical Association in this way and I'm deeply grateful for the recognition.