November 11, 2026
Members of the Content Team were delighted to represent Accelerated Reader at the Diverse Book Awards ceremony in London recently. Founded by Abiola Bello and Helen Lewis, the UK and Ireland-based prize champions outstanding diverse books and voices and is now in its seventh brilliant year. With a room jam-packed with amazing authors, the mood at Waterstones Piccadilly was lively. After networking around tropical drinks and canapes, the guests were ready for the big reveals.
This year’s fantastic winners included Fidan Meikle’s My Name Is Samim as Best Children’s Book. This courageous Middle Years novel explores the experiences of young refugees and asylum-seekers and is part of the 2026 Reading for Empathy Collection.
The crowd got loud for Asli Jensen, who took home the gong for Best Young Adult Book for her debut novel, Love on Sight. The content team loved this contemporary story about falling in love despite cultural and family expectations.
Finally, the room erupted when Catherine Johnson was named the winner of the Malorie Blackman Impact Award, sponsored by Renaissance and created to honour game changers in publishing. No stranger to Accelerated Reader, Catherine’s award-winning books for young readers include gripping historical adventure, with themes of social justice and the achievements of real figures from the past. Malorie’s speech, read by Abiola, honoured all of the shortlisted authors for making a difference and changing reading habits and lives.
What a wonderful evening! We already can’t wait for next year’s awards.
AR quizzes are available for:
My Name Is Samim by Fidan Meikel
MY ┃Quiz #271082 ┃BL 4.6 ┃Floris Books
After Samim’s family is killed, he makes a dangerous journey from Afghanistan to the UK, where he must tell his story to convince the authorities to let him stay.
My Name is Zayn by Fidan Meikel
MY+┃Quiz #272760┃BL 4.1 ┃Floris Books
Thirteen-year-old Afghan refugee Zayn loses his best friend Samim on the perilous journey to the UK. Living in a hotel with other asylum seekers, he tries to rebuild his life while looking for his missing friend.
Love on Sight by Asli Jensen
UY┃Quiz #272901┃BL 6.2 ┃Chicken House
Sabrina has her future planned out. But then she meets Jalaal, a boy trapped on the wrong path and desperate for a way out.
Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson
MY+┃Quiz #234314┃BL 4.6 ┃Barrington Stoke
When Matthew Henson ran away from his stepmother to the big city, he ended up becoming the first man to reach the North Pole. This is the story of his achievement and how it was ignored due to the colour of his skin
Freedom
MY+┃Quiz #237117┃BL 4.5 ┃Scholastic
When Nat is sent to England with his master, he hopes that life will be different. But when it turns out that life isn’t much different, he jumps at his first chance to run.