Teen literary prizes and awards
Christchurch City Libraries lists literary prize winners and links to catalogue searches, but we may not hold copies of all titles mentioned.
This page links you to winners and nominees for a range of prizes and awards for older children's, teens' and young adult books.
New Zealand
NZ Booklovers Awards
The 2026 shortlist has been announced for adult fiction, lifestyle book, young adult fiction, junior fiction, and picture books categories.
Storylines Notable New Zealand Books
Annual list of notable picture books, junior fiction, young adult fiction, non-fiction and te reo Māori titles.
The best New Zealand crime writing: Ngaio Marsh Awards 2025
Tanya reports back from a celebration of New Zealand crime writing - the Ngaio Marsh Awards.
New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults
The winners of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have been announced.
NZ Booklovers Awards
The 2026 shortlist has been announced for adult fiction, lifestyle book, young adult fiction, junior fiction, and picture books categories.
Storylines Notable New Zealand Books
Annual list of notable picture books, junior fiction, young adult fiction, non-fiction and te reo Māori titles.
The best New Zealand crime writing: Ngaio Marsh Awards 2025
Tanya reports back from a celebration of New Zealand crime writing - the Ngaio Marsh Awards.
New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults
The winners of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have been announced.
International
Lambda Literary Awards
The 2025 finalists have been announced. The Lammys (US) celebrate the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender books of the year.
Audie Awards - 2025 winners and finalists
The Audie Awards® is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.
SFWA Nebula Awards - Andre Norton Award
Sci-fi/fantasy fans! Check out the winner of the Andre Norton Award for an outstanding young adult science fiction or fantasy book.
Hans Christian Andersen Award
Winners of the most prestigious award in international children’s literature given biennially to one author and one illustrator.
Lambda Literary Awards
The 2025 finalists have been announced. The Lammys (US) celebrate the best lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender books of the year.
Audie Awards - 2025 winners and finalists
The Audie Awards® is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.
SFWA Nebula Awards - Andre Norton Award
Sci-fi/fantasy fans! Check out the winner of the Andre Norton Award for an outstanding young adult science fiction or fantasy book.
Hans Christian Andersen Award
Winners of the most prestigious award in international children’s literature given biennially to one author and one illustrator.
Australia
Awards of the Children’s Book Council of Australia
Winners in the categories: picture books, early childhood, younger readers, older readers, and Eve Pownall Award for information books.
United Kingdom
Carnegie Medal for Writing
Awarded every year by children’s librarians for an outstanding book for kids & teens. Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald is the 2025 winner.
United States
Coretta Scott King award
Annual award for African-American authors and illustrators for outstanding contributions to children’s and young adult literature.
Newbery Medal winners
Awarded each year by the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for Children.
American National Book Awards
The winners for 2025 have been announced in Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Translated literature and Young people’s literature.
Audie Awards - 2025 winners and finalists
The Audie Awards® is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.
Coretta Scott King award
Annual award for African-American authors and illustrators for outstanding contributions to children’s and young adult literature.
Newbery Medal winners
Awarded each year by the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for Children.
American National Book Awards
The winners for 2025 have been announced in Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Translated literature and Young people’s literature.
Audie Awards - 2025 winners and finalists
The Audie Awards® is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.
Featured
2024 Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
Odyssey Awards - Audiobooks for Children and Teens
Award by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions of ALA.
Audie Awards - Great Audiobooks for Young Adults
The Audie Awards is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.
2024 ALA Youth Media Awards - Young Adult
"Each year the American Library Association (ALA) honours books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens."
Ceased prizes
- Costa Children’s Book Award (formerly the Whitbread, ended 2021)
- Guardian Children’s Fiction Award (ended 2016)
- Awards of the Canadian Library Association (ended 2016)
More books and reading for teens
See also
Link to request reading recommendation form
Request reading recommendations
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