11 Sep Celebrating Storytellers: Prestigious Historical Novel Prize Longlist Announced
The ARA Historical Novel Prize is the richest individual literary prize in Australasia.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Readers and Writers
The ARA Historical Novel Prize has announced its 2025 Children and Young Adult (CYA) longlist. The award shines a light on books that transport young readers back in time, sparking curiosity, imagination and a deeper understanding of history.
Now in its fifth year, the prize is presented by the Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA) with the generous support of the ARA Group. Each year, it recognises outstanding writing that re-imagines the past and connects it to the present. The CYA category winner will receive $30,000, with $5,000 awarded to each of the two shortlisted authors.
HNSA Chair Elisabeth Storrs says this year’s stories show the power of historical fiction to reclaim lost narratives and explore themes such as gender stereotypes, early feminism, heroism, folklore, and ancestral connections. “The longlist spans centuries and cultures, inviting young readers into worlds as diverse as medieval Europe, colonial Australia, WWII France and more,” she explains.
2025 Children and Young Adult Longlist
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- Moonboy by Anna Ciddor (Allen & Unwin)
- On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards (Riveted Press)
- The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal (HarperCollins Publishers)
- Our History: Bold Ben Hall by Sophie Masson (Walker Books)
- Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars by Catherine Norton (HarperCollins Publishers)
- The Midwatch by Judith Rossell (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
- R.I.P. Nanny Tobbins by Lucie Stevens (HarperCollins Publishers)
- Desert Tracks by Marly & Linda Wells (Magabala Books)
Edward Federman, Executive Chair and CEO of the ARA Group, says: “I am proud to support the ARA Historical Novel Prize, which celebrates excellence in writing for young readers. Congratulations to all the talented authors longlisted this year.”
What Happens Next
The shortlist will be revealed on 24 September 2025, with the winners announced at a celebratory event in Sydney on 16 October 2025.
For parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians, the longlist is an exciting reading guide, showcasing books that not only entertain but also enrich young people’s understanding of the past – and the role it plays in shaping their future.
For further information: ARA Historical Novel Prize
