Winners announced for inaugural Graphic Novel Prize 2024

The winners of the inaugural Graphic Novel Prize were announced today 7 October at an awards ceremony, hosted by broadcaster and author Konnie Huq at The Cartoon Museum, London. The audience which included school children was treated to performances from graphic novelists and comic creators Jim Smith, Sophy Henn, Thiago de Moraes and, attending via video link, Sarah Bowie.

The winners of the award were revealed as:

Mark Bradley for Bumble and Snug and the Shy Ghost (Hachette Children’s Group)

John Patrick Green for Investigators: All Tide Up (Macmillan Children’s Books) in the Graphic Novel for Older Readers category

Alice Oseman for Heartstopper Volume 5 (Hachette Children’s Group) in the Graphic Novel for Teens category.

Scholastic set up the award to recognise the appeal of the genre as well as the role that graphic novels play in developing readers and building strong reading habits and positive associations with books.  Scholastic’s Rachel Partridge, Group Marketing & PR and Schools Commercial Director said, ‘We are so delighted to have seen the response to the inaugural Graphic Novel Prize, both from the industry and the schools and children who have voted for their winners. Graphic novels are often a vital route into reading for children who may not think of themselves as readers. We frequently hear from schools that investing in graphic novels for their libraries and reading corners tempts more children to pick up a book and they have an increasing role to play when we currently have the lowest levels of reading enjoyment for children aged 5-18 since 2005. I hope the shortlists for the prize act as a signpost for teachers, parents and children to discover more of these brilliant authors and illustrators in support of the work that already exists to showcase this fantastic genre.’

The judging panel was made up of Jon Biddle English lead at Moorlands School; Jo Cummins teacher, blogger and podcast host; Sha Nazir Event Producer at ACME Comic Con; Richard Ruddick teacher and Comics in Class blogger and Michael Stirling Creative Director at The Beano. Whilst the judges selected the shortlist however, the winners of the awards were decided entirely by children’s votes submitted from schools across the UK and Ireland.

The shortlists in full:

Best Graphic Novel for 6-8-year-olds

A SUPER SCARY NARWHALLOWEEN by Ben Clanton

Max and Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island by Jamie Smart

Bumble and Snug and the Shy Ghost by Max Bradley

Too Pig to Fail by Rob Harrell

Best Graphic Novel for 9-12-year-olds

Barb and the Shadow Army by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

Mexikid by Pedro Martín

InvestiGators: All Tide Up by John Patrick Green

Finding My Voice by Aoife Dooley

Best Graphic Novel for Teens

Vern: Custodian of the Universe by Tyrell Waiters

If You’ll Have Me by Eunnie

Skulduggery Pleasant: Bad Magic by Derek Landy, P. J. Holden and Matt Soffe

Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman