Brilliant Book Award

The Brilliant Book Award is a great way to inspire reading for pleasure and introduce Key Stage 3 students to engaging, high-quality contemporary fiction.

Managed by Inspire Education Library Service, the award is open to KS3 students in participating schools across Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Derbyshire and Derby City.

The shortlist is selected by ELS alongside staff from participating schools. Students then read the shortlisted titles, discuss and share their views, before voting for their favourite.

The 2026/27 shortlist will be announced in September 2026, with the award launching in November and culminating in a Live Author Event and winner announcement in March 2027.

The Brilliant Book Award is supported by One More Chapter, an independent bookshop in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham.

• Inspire reading for pleasure through engaging, high-quality contemporary fiction
• Amplify student voice by placing young readers at the heart of discussion and voting
• Broaden reading horizons through diverse, inclusive and representative books
• Spark conversation and curiosity with original stories that encourage reflection and debate
• Celebrate accessible reading through a range of formats, styles and reading experiences
• Champion new voices by introducing students to recently published books, including emerging and debut authors

Titles are considered against the following criteria:

• High-quality writing
• Strong appeal and engagement for KS3 readers
• Diversity and representation
• Originality and potential to stimulate discussion
• Accessibility, including length, readability, illustrations and format
• Published within the previous 12 months
• UK-based authors – desirable
• Debut authors – desirable
• Available in paperback – desirable