RCW authors triumph at the British Book Awards 2025
The 35th British Book Awards saw Percival Everett being awarded The Fiction Book of the Year for James, a reimagining of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Judges called James a “future classic”, a “gripping, stunning” and “beautifully executed” story. When crowning James the winner, the panel of judges agreed that the story delivers “the message the world needs right now”. Everett was also named as Author of the Year, with “the past 12 months cementing his position as one of the great literary novelists of our time”.
Butter by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton, was awarded The Debut: Fiction prize. The judges found the story “evocative” and “wonderfully” executed.
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler were awarded the Children’s Illustrated prize for Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin. The panel praised the duo’s tale of a plucky penguin for its “celebration of conservation” and “effortless rhyming” narrative.
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee was awarded the Book of the Year – Crime & Thriller award.
Related Articles
'Jonty Gentoo' by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is No.1 Children's Bestseller
Pari Thomson and G.M. Linton shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2024
Shortlists revealed for Polari Prizes with Julia Armfield, Seán Hewitt & Tom Crewe
Femi Fadugba and Hannah Gold shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2022
Francesca Gibbons & Jenny Pearson Shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2021
