Shortlists 2025
Excelsior Award White Shortlist 2025
The books on the Excelsior Award White shortlist have been designated as suitable for children aged 9+ (or Key Stage 2 in schools)
Winner - Tosh's Island
by Linda Sargent, Joe Brady and Leo Marcell
Published by David Fickling Books / The Phoenix
ISBN-13: 978-1788453332
Cactus Kid: The Battle for Star Rock Mountain
by Emmanuel Guerrero
Published by Flying Eye Books
ISBN-13: 978-1913123215
Stitch Head
by Guy Bass and Pete Williamson
Published by Little Tiger
ISBN-13: 978-1788956376
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
by Stephanie Williams and Asia Simone
Published by Scholastic
ISBN-13: 978-1338785524
Minecraft: Heart of Cobblestone
by Andrew Clemson and Jeremy Lawson
Published by Dark Horse
ISBN-13: 978-1506743080
Excelsior Award Blue Shortlist 2025
The books on the Excelsior Award Blue shortlst have been designated as suitable for children aged 11+ (or Key Stage 3 in schools)
Winner (and Overall Winner) - Lord of the Flies
by William Golding and Aimee De Jongh
Published by Faber & Faber
ISBN-13: 978-0571374250
Spider-Gwen: Smash
by Melissa Flores and Enid Balam
Published by Marvel Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1302956554
Shazam!: Meet the Captain
by Mark Waid and Dan Mora
Published by DC Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1779525116
Green Arrow: Reunion
by Joshua Williamson and Sean Izaakse
Published by DC Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1779524744
Harry Dickson: Mysterion
by Jean Ray, Luana Vergari, Doug Headline and Onofrio Catacchio
Published by Cinebook
ISBN-13: 978-1800441279
Excelsior Award Red Shortlist 2025
The books on the Excelsior Award Red shortlst have been designated as suitable for children aged 14+ (or Key Stage 4 in schools)
Winner - Hirayasumi, Volume 1
by Keigo Shinzo
Published by Viz Media
ISBN-13: 978-1974746910
Avengers: Twilight
by Chip Zdarsky and Daniel Acuna
Published by Marvel Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1302921484
Alice Never After
by Dan Panosian and Giorgio Spalletta
Published by Boom! Studios
ISBN-13: 978-1608862146
Uncanny Spider-Man
by Simon Spurrier and Lee Garbett
Published by Marvel Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1302952266
Superman: Supercorp
by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell
Published by DC Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1779523235
Excelsior Award Black Shortlist 2025
The books on the Excelsior Award Black shortlist have been designated as suitable for children aged 16+ (or Sixth Form in schools).
We are avoiding topics that could be considered "offensive" or "too adult" for a school library, but books on this shortlist may include moderate swearing and moderate violence, akin to a 15-rated movie.
Winner - Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley
by Garth Ennis and Patrick Goddard
Published by Rebellion / 2000AD
ISBN-13: 978-1837861958
Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII
by Joe Kelly and Adam Kubert
Published by Marvel Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1302953478
Dark Gathering, Volume 1
by Kenichi Kondo
Published by Viz Media
ISBN-13: 978-1974738946
The Anxiety Club
by Frédéric Fanget and Pauline Aubrey
Published by SelfMadeHero
ISBN-13: 978-1914224218
The Incredible Hulk: Age of Monsters
by Philip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein
Published by Marvel Comics
ISBN-13: 978-1302954161