George Latham IV
First place winner
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2026 contest update
Celebrating our young authors with care.
To protect the privacy and safety of our young authors, the names of 2026 contest participants and award recipients have not yet been published. We are waiting for parental or legal guardian permission before sharing their names.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we celebrate our amazing young authors.
Awesome Young Authors Awards & Community
Sign up for 2027 contest updatesSeven years of young voices
A national celebration of young authors.
Hosted by Awesome Young Authors Awards (AYAA), this annual national book contest provides a meaningful platform for young writers to showcase their creativity, share their unique stories, and receive recognition for their literary achievements. For seven years, AYAA has remained committed to advancing youth literacy, encouraging creative writing, building confidence, and inspiring the next generation of authors, storytellers, and future leaders.
Through this exciting literary celebration, AYAA honors the dedication, imagination, and accomplishments of young published authors while promoting the importance of reading, writing, education, and self-expression.
Book contest submissions were accepted July 1–31, 2026. On November 1, National Authors Day, we celebrate the young authors recognized in the 7th Annual Awesome Young Authors Awards Book Contest.
Seven Years of Celebrating Young Voices, Inspiring Great Stories, and Empowering Future Leaders!
2026 contest · National Authors DayRecipient names will be shared once guardian permissions are received.
Meet past winnersStory Spark
What will you dream up next?
Mix a character, a place, and a surprise. Then make the story your own.
Character
a shy dragon who collects forgotten words
Place
in a library that opens only at midnight
Twist
the ending has disappeared from every book
Write a story about a shy dragon who collects forgotten words in a library that opens only at midnight. The twist: the ending has disappeared from every book. What happens next?
2025 honorees
Congratulations to our winners.
Tahlia South
Second place winner
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Third place winner
Shop the book (opens in a new tab)Explore the bookshelf
Find your next young-author read.
Browse our honorees by year, then follow a book or author to learn more.
- George Latham IV
- Tahlia South
- Sydney Elise Russell
2025 · First place
George Latham IV
Discover books by George Latham IV
Explore this author Opens the author's book or shop page in a new tab.Why participate
More than an award. A launchpad.
Recognition & achievement
Celebrate the creativity, hard work, and dedication it takes to become a published author.
Community support
Meet young authors, parents, educators, and supporters who share a love of writing.
Validation & inspiration
Build confidence, strengthen writing skills, and feel encouraged to pursue even bigger goals.
Networking
Connect with authors, educators, publishing professionals, and potential mentors.
Exposure & promotion
Showcase published work to a wider audience and create opportunities for new readers.
Lifelong memories
Mark a major creative milestone with family, friends, and a joyful awards experience.
The awards experience
A red carpet moment for a remarkable achievement.
- Red carpet entrance and VIP celebration
- Personalized recognition and prize package
- Young author Q&A and book signing
- Connections with fellow creators and community leaders
- A participation prize for every contest participant
Hall of honorees
Young voices worth remembering.
Every year, these published authors bring imagination, courage, and their own point of view to the page. Explore the winners whose work continues to inspire our community.
2024 award winners
We celebrated three remarkable young authors and thanked every entrant for strengthening the literary community with their work.
Zandria Bastian
Award-winning Awesome Young Author
Shop the book (opens in a new tab)Rosemary Nwaosuagwu
Award-winning Awesome Young Author
Shop the book (opens in a new tab)Mary Ann Jensen
Award-winning Awesome Young Author
Shop the book (opens in a new tab)2023 award winners
Three published creators recognized for the stories, ideas, and joy they shared with readers.
2022 award winners
Every participant received a prize in recognition of their contribution to literature and our community.
The community behind the celebration
Honorees, mentors, and champions.
The awards grow because authors, judges, families, and organizers keep showing young people that their stories matter.
2019 honoree
Jordan Ford
Award winner and author of The Plane Who Couldn't Fly.
Community founder
Semone Love
Founder and executive director of Awesome Young Authors Awards & Community.
2022 contest judge
Laura Anne Bird
Author, book reviewer, blogger, and supporter of young literary voices.
Learn more (opens in a new tab)With gratitude
Thank you to the partners who have stood with young authors.
This gallery recognizes sponsors, donors, and community partners featured in AYAA's past materials. Their support has helped young authors feel seen and celebrated.
