At a ceremony at the British Library, Sarah Hagger-Holt was last night announced winner of the 2024 Polari Children’s and YA Prize. She won with The Fights That Make Us (Usborne), a moving tale of acceptance which draws on LGBTQ+ history. The Polari Book Prizes are awarded to the UK’s book prizes for emerging and established LGBTQ+ writers.

Jodie Lancet-Grant, judge of the Polari Children’s and YA Prize, said, ‘The entire panel adored The Fights That Make Us. We found the way that Sarah weaves two timelines – one around growing up in the 1980s under Section 28 – and one set in the present day – together, effective and moving. We also loved the form; half of the book is presented in diary format, which provided an extra layer of emotion to book.’

Sarah Hagger-Holt has previously won the Little Rebels Prize for Proud of Me, also published by Usborne. She receives a cheque for £1,000 from sponsors Ash Literary and the prize of a package holiday of her choice from headline sponsors easyJet holidays.

The shortlist for the 2024 Polari Children’s and YA Prize in full:

Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn (Andersen)

Out of the Blue by Robert Tregoning (Bloomsbury)

The Fights That Make Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt (Usborne)

Gwen and Art are not in Love by Lex Croucher (Bloomsbury)

Away With Words by Sophie Cameron (Little Tiger)

At the same ceremony, the Polari First Book Prize went to Nicola Dinan for Bellies and Jon Ransom won the Polari Book Prize for The Gallopers.

The prizes are run by Polari literary salon, which is currently touring the UK, showcasing prize winners past and present, together with nominees from the prizes’ 14 year history.