BOOK OF THE YEAR DISCOVER


OVERVIEW Making its début at  the Discover shortlist is aimed at amplifying books from traditionally underrepresented writers, with a particular focus on the work of indie presses and imprints. These titles challenge conventional and normative ways of thinking, but also showcase superb writing and illustrating.


KEISHA THE SKET Jade LB’s iconic story was acquired by Merky Books alongside an updated text to recapture original readers and introduce an audience to Keisha. LB’s identity was kept hidden and teased as part of the marketing. Merky printed 8,000 hardbacks and then immediately reprinted. Essays included in the hardback came from the likes of Candice Carty-Williams and Caleb Femi.


KEEPING THE HOUSE Keeping the House is a story of women living in north London on the fringes of the Turkish community and its heroin trade. And Other Stories acquired in 2020, for almost double what it had paid for any other advance. Max Porter agreed to edit the book after mentoring author Tice Cin—the only book he has edited since leaving Granta. It was the indie’s bestselling title in 2021.


PUBLISHERS 1 MERKY BOOKS 2 AND OTHER STORIES


3 SERPENTS TAIL 4 BLUEBIRD 5 MAGIC CAT 6 OWLET PRESS


WE HAVE A DREAM Mya-Rose Craig is an environmental campaigner, known as “Birdgirl”, seeking equal access to nature with her charity Black2Nature. We Have a Dream explores the interconnection between environmental and race activ- ism, highlighting 30 people of colour who are working to protect the planet. Craig was unagented when publisher Jenny Broom approached her.


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DETRANSITION, BABY Detransition, Baby is a witty and engaging work of fiction about trans and cis characters. Serpent’s Tail planned stra- tegically, finding outlets and platforms for Torrey Peters to speak about her work without fear of backlash, celebrating her as a major new voice in fiction. Detransition, Baby was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and has sold more than 12,000 copies to date.


MAYBE I DON’T BELONG HERE Bluebird triumphed in a 14-way auction for David Harewood’s unflinching memoir examining the intersection between race and mental health. A sensitive campaign was emblematised in a talk between Harewood and his mental health nurse, Simon Arday, discussing racism in the mental health system and beyond.


NEN AND THE LONELY FISHERMAN An adaptation of “The Little Mermaid”, this picture book is one of few to speak directly of an LGBTQ+ relationship that celebrates love in all forms. It has sold more than 5,000 copies and was loved by Stephen Fry so much he narrated the audio- book— for free. Owlet developed teaching materials with author Ian Eagleton.The illustrator is James Mayhew.


© Oliver Edwards


© Dillon Kalyabe


© Stuart Simpson


© Natasha Gornik


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