Celebrating Literary Excellence: Finalists For The 2024 National Book Prize And Terramaxka Prize Announced

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Posted on August 27, 2024

The National Book Council (NBC) is announcing the shortlist for the 2024 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize, for books published in 2023. This is the 47th edition of the National Book Prize, the highest literary prize assigned to authors, editors, translators, publishers and illustrators of books published in Malta.

The winners in each category of the National Book Prize and the Terramaxka Prize will be announced during an award-giving ceremony on 20 September 2024. Winning books will enjoy an adequate period of promotion, and a suitable showcase at the upcoming edition of the Malta Book Festival 2024 on 6-10 November.

The 61 finalists making the 2024 National Book Prize shortlist have been unanimously selected by an independent panel of adjudicators according to a set of established criteria. 49 books have been shortlisted across the six National Book Prize categories, and 27 books for children and young adults have been shortlisted in the six Terramaxka Prize categories. The titles were published by 10 different publishers and authored by 27 different authors and translators. Nine different illustrators contributed with their illustrations in books shortlisted in the Terramaxka Prize categories. As per regulations, the adjudicators were asked to select a maximum of five entries for each shortlisted category.

The categories of the National Book Prize for adults are Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, Non-Fiction, Translation, Research and Historiographic Research. No entries were submitted in the Drama category. The six categories of the Terramaxka Prize are – Picture books for children (ages 0–7), Children’s Literature (ages 8–12) and Young Adult Literature, as well as Picture books translated into Maltese (ages 0-7), Children’s Literature translated into Maltese (ages 8-12), and Young Adult Literature in Maltese Translation.

The adjudication process for the 2024 National Book Prize was launched in February 2024 with the publication of the longlist. By 2 April 2024, publishers and authors had submitted a total of 173 longlisted and eligible books to be considered for the current edition of the National Book Prize.

The adjudication panel for the National Book Prize has decided not to shortlist any titles in the Novels category in this year’s competition. This choice reflects a commitment to maintaining the highest literary standards and ensuring that the integrity of the prize is preserved. The panel found that, while many submissions demonstrated thorough research, the overall literary quality fell short of the expectations for a national award.

The decision was made after careful deliberation, with the panel agreeing that the focus remains on raising the bar for what constitutes exceptional literary work in Malta. In light of their comments, the panel suggested exploring opportunities to support authors through initiatives such as masterclasses, which could help bridge the gap between popular writing and literary excellence.

Adjudicators highlighted the quality of research books, spread out across a wide range of publishers and boasting diverse themes. The poetry category was strong enough to warrant lively debate among adjudicators ahead of the final selection — speaking to the variety of interesting voices among the shortlisted entries — while the translation category featured works with significant cultural relevance and impressive efforts in translation. In the Terramaxka categories, the shortlisted books stood out for their engaging illustrations and well-crafted narratives.

As per regulations, only one prize will be awarded per category, and prizes will only be given in categories where the shortlisted titles meet a high standard of literary, cultural, or academic merit, with a minimum score of 90 marks.

The prize money awarded in each National Book Prize category, including the special prizes, is €4,000. The only exception is the prize money for the translation categories of the Terramaxka Prize, which is €2,000. The publisher of each winning book will also receive an additional prize of €1,000 per winning book.

All of the National Book Prize shortlisted books are available in local bookstores and online shops, and will be available at the upcoming 2024 Malta Book Festival (6–10 November) to be held at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali.

For further news about the 2024 National Book Prize and all other National Book Council initiatives, follow us on Facebook or visit ktieb.org.mt.

The 2024 National Book Prize Shortlist

Novels

No shortlisted titles

Short Stories

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Moffa u Rakkonti OħraAlfred SantQuinque
SjestaTrevor ŻahraMerlin Publishers

Poetry

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
The BellMaria Grech GanadoKotba Calleja
Għażiż ĠismiImmanuel MifsudKlabb Kotba Maltin
Daħlet ix-Xilep: Kontralimerikki tal-PandemijaAdrian GrimaKlabb Kotba Maltin

Translations

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Traduttur
Translator		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Il-Frammenti ta' Saffo (Saffo)Warren BartoloEde Books
Dar fil-Limbu (Mary Calafato)Kit AzzopardiKlabb Kotba Maltin
Fjura tas-Sabbara, Fjura tax-Xadina (Irene Chias)Mark VellaKlabb Kotba Maltin

Literary Non-Fiction

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Fejjaqtni Int: Rużar Briffa – u JienPaul P. BorgAwtoppubblikat / Self-published
Minn Marsa għal Marsa: Stejjer mit-TuneżijaClare Azzopardi, Katel Delia, Leanne EllulL-Ambaxxata ta' Malta fit-Tuneżija
Bilkemm Jitwemmnu!: Stejjer Veri ta' Nies minn kull Rokna ta' Malta u Għawdex (L-Ewwel Volum)George CremonaMerlin Publishers
Staying On in MaltaPaul HeywoodMidsea Books Ltd

General Research

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Pilatus: A Laundromat Bank in EuropeRobert AquilinaMidsea Books
Reforming Malta's Media SystemJoseph Borg, Therese Comodini CachiaMidsea Books
Il-Kelma ta' Eddie Fenech Adami: Studju dwar id-Diskors u l-Kelma UżataJames Aaron EllulKlabb Kotba Maltin
Karattri tal-Fantasija MaltinĠużi GattKlabb Kotba Maltin
Vincenzo Bonello: His Legacy in HeritageTheresa Vella (ed.)Kite Group

Historiographic Research

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Jacques François de Chambray: The Order he Served, The Island he Loved, and the Fort He BuiltJoseph SciclunaKite Group
Health, Plague, and Society in Early Modern MaltaCarmel CassarKite Group
28 April 1958: Mintoff and the National InterestJoseph M. PirottaMidsea Books
Breaking the Law in Nineteenth-Century Malta: An Analysis of the Criminal Court Records 1838-1888Evelyn PullicinoMidsea Books
At the Margins: Children, Petty Criminals, Suicides and Others in 19th Century Malta and BeyondMichael RefaloKite Group

2024 Terramaxka Prize Shortlist

Picture books for children (ages 0-7)

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Il-Praspar ta' Orsettu: Il-Logħba VirtwaliSara Abela; Matt Stroud (ill.)BDL Publishing
Rola n-Nannakola VjolaRamona Attard; Naomi Gatt (ill.)Awtoppubblikat / Self-published
M għal MaltaNaomi GattMerlin Publishers Ltd
Madame Ortensja Paskwalina De RohanClare Azzopardi; Moira Scicluna Zahra (ill.)Merlin Publishers Ltd
Nina n-Nokkla u l-Kamaleonte tal-ĠnienNadia Abdilla; Elisa Chetcuti (ill.)Klabb Kotba Maltin

Children’s Literature (ages 8-12)

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Ir-Rigal tar-Re RicardoJanet Mallia; Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)BDL Publishing
Il-Każ tal-Kappell IkkalibratLeanne Ellul; Marisa Attard (ill.)Merlin Publishers Ltd
ŻrabenTrevor ŻahraMerlin Publishers Ltd
Irvin Vella, Investigatur Virtwali: Il-Każ PegasusJohn A. Bonello; Francesca Grech (ill.)Merlin Publishers Ltd
Meta r-Ramel Sar BluDenise MuscatHorizons

Young Adult Literature

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Awtur
Author		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Min Tiela' u Min Nieżel: Ġabra ta' NovelliMarie Louise Ellul; Kite Group (ill.)Kite Group
The Maltaverians: Konnessjoni Inkredibbli tal-Imħuħ (Ħarġa 2) / An Amazing Touch of Minds (Issue 2)Martin G. Debattista; Robert Caruana (ill.)Malta Digital Innovation Authority
Iż-Żmien Kurjuż taż-ŻgħożijaClare Azzopardi, Glen Calleja (edi / eds)Aġenzija Żgħażagħ
Danika Tiddeċiedi: Rumanz għaż-ŻgħażagħCharles CashaKlabb Kotba Maltin
The Summer of the Great StormCharles EynaudMidsea Books

Picture books translated into Maltese (ages 0-7)

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Traduttur
Translator		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Oħlom X'Se Ssir (Joseph T. Garcia; Kimberley Barnes ill.)Karl SciclunaBDL Publishing
L-Istorja ta' Peter il-Fenek (Beatrix Potter)Terence PortelliHorizons
Iddeverti Kemm Tiflaħ, Binti! (Mandy Archer; Shane Crampton ill.)Janet MalliaBDL Publishing
Din Xi Pjaneta Hi? (Eduarda Lima)Rachel PortelliMerlin Publishers
Lupu Lupettu Jsir il-Mexxej tal-Foresta (Orianne Lallemand; Éléonore Thuillier ill.)Clare AzzopardiMerlin Publishers

Children’s Literature translated into Maltese (ages 8-12)

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Traduttur
Translator		Pubblikatur
Publisher
It-Taħriġ tal-Pappagall (Rabindranath Tagore; Shokofeh Ghafari ill.)Terence PortelliHorizons
L-Awdaċi Detektiv Eda Fostna: Il-Ħallelin tal-Mobajls (Yilmaz Yeşildaš; Betül Gönüllü ill.)John A. BonelloFaraxa Publishing
Maskra Ħamra: Sensiela Kif Issir Supereroj 2 (Elias Våhlund; Agnes Våhlund ill.)Antoinette BorgMerlin Publishers
Tifkira ta' Milied (Truman Capote; Beth Peck ill.)Ludvic Azzopardi FerrandoMerlin Publishers
Il-Ħaġar li Jweswes: Sensiela Għanjet il-Lupu (Saviour Pirott; Davide Ortu ill.)Noel TantiKlabb Kotba Maltin

Young Adult Literature in Translation

Titlu tal-ktieb
Book title		Traduttur
Translator		Pubblikatur
Publisher
Fake ta' Veru (Nereida Carrillo; Alberto Montt ill.)David AloisioMerlin Publishers Ltd
Aqla' Kjass!: Disa' Stejjer ta' Sfida (Il Castoro ed.)Clare AzzopardiMerlin Publishers Ltd

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