by Gina Munyori, Marketing Executive and Chair of URVIBE ERG (UK Valuing Inclusion and Black Excellence)

I had the pleasure of attending the 5th Annual Diverse Book Awards this year with some of my colleagues, including members of our quiz writing Content team, held once again at Waterstones in Piccadilly. Since its inception in 2019, the Diverse Book Awards have amplified marginalised voices in literature.

Renaissance has proudly sponsored this initiative for the past few years as it aligns seamlessly with our core mission: to ‘See Every Student.’ The belief that every child deserves to be seen, heard, and understood—and that the stories they read play a pivotal role in shaping how they see themselves and the world around them. By partnering with the Diverse Book Awards, we aim to ensure that every student can find books that reflect their unique experiences.

The 2024 Award Winners

This year’s awards showcased an incredible array of talent across different categories. The winners of the 2024 Diverse Book Awards are:

• Best Picture Book: To The Other Side by Erika Meza (Hodder Children’s Books)
• Best Children’s Book: Steady For This by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key Books)
• Best Young Adult Book: The First Move by Jenny Ireland (Penguin Random House Children’s)
• Best Adult Book: Mamme by Jessica George (Hodder and Stoughton)

As we celebrate five years of the Diverse Book Awards, it’s worth reflecting on the progress made. The awards have become more than just a recognition of great books—they’re a movement, encouraging publishers, booksellers, and readers to prioritise diversity and representation. One of the authors present stated how much of a difference a book like hers would have made growing up with Dyslexia and in one sentence, she reminded us why it’s vital to ensure that all readers can see themselves and others in the stories they read.

In a recent interview with us, author and winner of the Young Adult Readers’ Choice Award, Simon James Green shared “the idea that the book (Boy Like Me) has resonated with that many people is so lovely”.  Set in the UK during the mid-90’s where the section 28 legislation was in action and had the effect of banning LGBTQ+ books from schools Simon admits, “I wasn’t sure if it would appeal to the teenage young adult readers when I wrote it” and whilst there is a dark reality behind these stories, there is also a sense of joy and togetherness.

This year’s event coincided with the recent announcement of Han Kang, author of The Vegetarian, as the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Kang’s win is a landmark achievement, emphasising the power of literature to cross cultural boundaries and explore the depths of the human experience. Her work, which brings Korean culture and complex themes like trauma and societal norms to an international audience, serves as a reminder of the importance of recognising diverse narratives. Her Nobel win mirrors the ethos of the Diverse Book Awards: stories from different backgrounds, when given a platform, have the power to resonate universally.

Our mission to ’See Every Student’ is at the heart of our commitment to promoting inclusive literature. By supporting awards like these, we aim to create a world where every child sees their stories reflected in the books they read. We’re proud to support this mission and look forward to seeing how the Diverse Book Awards will continue to inspire and uplift the voices of tomorrow.