National Book Prize and Terramaxka 2025 longlist published 

The National Book Council is publishing the list of titles submitted for consideration to the 2025 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize, awarded to outstanding works published in 2024. Widely regarded as the highest literary recognition in Malta, the National Book Prize honours authors, editors, translators, publishers and illustrators for books published with a locally issued ISBN during the preceding year.

The National Book Prize encompasses eight distinct categories for books for Adults: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, Non-Fiction, Prose Fiction in Translation, Research and Historiographic Research, and six categories of children’s books known as Terramaxka – the National Book Prize for Children and Young Adults: Picture books for children (ages 0–7), Children’s Literature (ages 8–12), Children’s Literature in translation (ages 8-12) and Young Adult Literature.

An independent adjudication board has screened all submissions for eligibility and ensured their placement in the appropriate categories. This year, the National Book Prize longlist includes 149 eligible titles: 86 titles spread across the eight categories of the National Book Prize, and 63 titles spanning the four categories of the Terramaxka Prize.

In the following months, the jury members will review the submissions and select the finalists for the 2025 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize. The shortlists will be published on 26 August.

The winners of both the National Book Prize and the Terramaxka Prize for children and young adults will be announced during an award-giving ceremony, which will be held on 26 September.

For the latest updates on the National Book Prize and other initiatives by the National Book Council, follow us on Facebook or visit ktieb.org.mt.

The full list of eligible submissions can be found below:

National Book Prize 2025: Books 2024

 

Novels

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Min Nasab lis-Sur Wilf?	Ben Agius	Horizons
Allat Tal-Qerq	Ben Agius	Horizons
The Divorce Party	Gerard James Borg	Midsea Books
L-Imħabba Oħt il-Ġenn	Richard Attard	Horizons
Bint L-Emigrant	Charles Buttigieg	Horizons
It-Tewmi tax-Xmara	Charles Buttigieg	Horizons
Qtil fir-Raħal t’Isfel u l-Imgħoddi Ma Jintesa Qatt	Anthony J. Saliba	Spes Publishers
Il-Qattiel tal-Klieb	Chris Azzopardi	Wise Owl Publications
Missjoni Sigrieta Lule	Monica Gatt	BDL Publishing
Il-Labra tad-Deheb	Sharon Calleja	BDL Publishing
Id-Djarju tan-Nannu Ċikk u n-Nazisti jieħdu Malta	Toni Abela	Kite Group
Imħabba taħt Assedju: Deċennji Qabel	Darren Agius	Horizons
Din il-Ġawhra ta’ Pajjiżna	Tyrone Grima	Horizons
A-Ma Alchemy of Love	Nataša Pantović	Artof4Elements
M	David Samuel Hudson	Horizons
Bellilote u L-Bjar ta’ Napuljun	Charles Xuereb	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Mistura Wara l-Kanċell	Nunziella Zahra Giglio	BDL Publishing
Filli Ma Tcun Xein, Filli Tithol fl'Esistenza	Immanuel Mifsud	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Dak li Tiżra', Taħsad	Therese Vella	Horizons
Tahaya: Tales of the Tal-Qadi Stone	Anna Grima	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
It-Togħma Morra taċ-Ċiċri	Noah Fabri	Merlin Publishers

 

Short Stories

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Nazju l-Anzjan	Charles Casha	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Gamewwiet mill-Imgħoddi	Mary Rose Mifsud	Faraxa Publishing
Ara Ġejja l-Mewt Għalik	Joseph A. Cachia	BDL Publishing
Bejn Storja u Oħra	Joe Friggieri	Kite Group
Reffiegħa tad-Dellijiet	Joe Camilleri	Horizons
Kafè Kolombja: Stejjer ta' Difetti Sudamerikani	Gabriel Schembri	Klabb Kotba Maltin
L-Aħħar Għanja u Eki Oħra mill-Pandemija	John Saliba	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Iljieli Bla Rqad u Rakkonti Qosra Oħra	Sergio Grech	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Erwieħ Mherrija	Marie Louise Ellul	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
Ma' Kull Riħ	Rita Saliba	Klabb Kotba Maltin

 

Poetry

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Numina	Charló Camilleri	Horizons
Wara l-Kilometri	Jonathan Balzan	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
68 Seconds	Donna Darmanin	Kotba Calleja
Over Coming Disorder	Dion P. P. Pizzuto	Faraxa Publising
Labirintimi	Jesmond Sharples, Omar Seguna	Klabb Kotba Maltin
SOMNVM	Glen Calleja	Il-Fondazzjoni tal-Knisja tal-Ġiżwiti
Il-Ħsad tal-Peprin: Poeżiji għal Gaza	John P. Portelli, David Aloisio	Horizons
The Shadow: Poems for the Children of Gaza	Ahmed Miqdad, John P. Portelli	Horizons
Meta tasal, tasal	John P. Portelli	Horizons
Jgħaddi Maħrub it-Tren	Joe Friggieri	Kite Group
Reflections of a Butterfly	Raymond C. Grech	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
VÁH	Immanuel Mifsud	Midsea Books
A Galaxy of Thoughts	Elisa Cordina	Faraxa Publishing
Planetarju	Nael Schembri	Faraxa Publishing

 

Drama

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
It-Teatru tal-Miskin	Luke Saydon	Saydon Studio
Minn Dinja għal Oħra u Drammi Oħra	Mario Thomas Vassallo	Kite Group
Is-Subgha l-Werrej / The Pointing Finger	Narcy Calamatta	ZARARTI

 

Non-Fiction

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Lino Briguglio: No Man Is an Island	Michael Briguglio, Marie Briguglio (edi/eds)	Kite Group
Sika: Tfuliti fil-Gżira ta’ Għawdex	Ursola Borg	Delicon Books
Mela … L-Istorja Stramba, Straordinarja (u Sigrieta) tal-Ilsien Malti Kif ma Jgħiduhilekx fil-Klassi	Antoinette Borg, Mark Scicluna (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Bilkemm Jitwemmnu! Stejjer Veri ta’ Nies minn Kull Rokna ta’ Malta u Għawdex (Vol. 2)	George Cremona	Merlin Publishers
Poġġi	Gabriel Lia	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
Ġo Baħar Jiskura sad-Dlam: Annotazzjonijiet mill-Għarqa	Gioele Galea	Horizons
The Oath: Journeys of a Medic from a Levantine Society	Stephen Brincat	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
Sens ta' Ħarifa	Kurt Borg	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Jien Niftakar il-Belt: 1949–1961 Memorji Personali ta' Tifel Żgħir	Philip M. Bonello	Faraxa Publishing
Straight to the Point: An Autobiography	Kevin Casha	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
Lawrence Gatt: Ħajti u Ħidmieti	Lawrence Gatt, George Cassar (ed)	Kite Group

 

Prose Fiction in Translation

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Traduttur Translator	Pubblikatur Publisher
L-Avveniment (Annie Ernaux)	Claudine Borg	Faraxa Publishing
Il-Problema tat-Tliet Korpi (Cixin Liu)	John A. Bonello	Faraxa Publishing
Lejl in-Nar (Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt)	Toni Aquilina	Faraxa Publishing
Noti fuq Demm u l-Laħam (Shahd Alshammari)	Toni Aquilina	Faraxa Publishing
Il-Kelb tat-Terrakotta (Andrea Camilleri)	Antoinette Borg	Merlin Publishers
Bawxati u Reati tal-Imperaturi Rumani tal-Ewwel Seklu WK	Carmel Serracino, Jordan Sant	Kite Group

 

Research

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Eclecticism and the Baroque Revival in the Decorative Arts in Malta: The Context for Abramo Gatt (1863–1944)	Mark Sagona, Anthony Gatt	Midsea Books
Insects of the Maltese Islands	Thomas Cassar, David Mifsud	Entomological Society of Malta
In His Own Way: Harold Frederick Weaver Hawkins in Malta (1926–1930)	Caroline Miggiani	Kite Group
Dun Karm’s Beyond Self as a Theology from the Mediterranean	Jean Claude Attard	Kite Group
Edward Pirotta Sculptor 1939–1968: A Historical Documentation of His Work	Joseph Paul Cassar	Heritage Malta Publishing
Maltese Mythology: Volume 2	Stephan D. Mifsud	Merlin Publishers
“So We Can Do Our Best.”: Care in Children’s Relationships with Teachers	Mary Darmanin	Malta University Press
Antoine Favray	Roger De Gaetano	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
Folklor: It-Tieni Ktieb	Ġużi Gatt (ed)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
British Army Murals at the Main Guard	Denis A. Darmanin	Heritage Malta Publishing
British Maps of Malta	Emmanuel Chetcuti, Joseph Schiro	Heritage Malta Publishing

 

Historiographic Research

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Floriana & il-Furjaniżi: A Tri-Centenary Commemoration	Joan Abela, Giulia Privitelli (edi/eds)	Kite Group
Morte o Fortuna: Corsairs in Malta 1747–1798	Liam Gauci	Heritage Malta Publishing
Napoleon: ‘Malta or War’	Victor Aquilina	Kite Group
Bread & Bakers in Eighteenth-Century Malta	Noel Buttigieg	Midsea Books
Medical Sciences in Early Modern Malta: Giuseppe Demarco on the Use and Abuse of Chocolate in Medicine (1760)	Jurgen R. Gatt (ed)	Malta University Press
Marching On: Captain Frederick Oloff Samut and the Union of Maltese Fascists	Gabriel Micallef	Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna
Cleardo Naudi: The University’s First Professor of Chemistry and Materia Medica, A Delphian and Enigmatic Academic	Roger Ellul Micallef	Malta University Press
Mediterranean Jews, Crypto-Jews and the Inquisition in Early Modern Malta	Carmel Cassar	Malta University Press
Breaking The Silence: Homosexuality in Maltese History	Konrad Buhagiar and James Licari (edi/eds)	Midsea Books
Discovering Women's History in Malta	Yosanne Vella (ed)	Faculty of Education, University of Malta

Terramaxka Prize 2025: Books 2024

 

Picture books for children (ages 0-7)

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
I Love ...	Jahel Zammit	Faraxa Publishing
Il-Barmil tax-Xewqat Sbieħ	Doris Schembri, Elaine R. C. Saliba (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Riħa ta’ Ċirasa	Rita Saliba, Nuntia (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Tilfet il-Vuċi!	Rita Saliba, Nuntia (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
The Eletrump	Naomi Gatt	Merlin Publishers
Jekk Taqbad id-dawl	Clare Azzopardi, Matt Stroud (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Żewġ Rakkonti ta' Patricia Bondin: Bebbux u Pjanti Salvaġġi	Patricia Bondin, Emma Galea Naudi (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
IL-Bawxati ta' Marju: Marju u l-Logħba Ballun	Ursola Borg, Cynthia Agius (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Il-Bawxati ta' Marju: Marju u l-Ħmara l-Griża	Ursola Borg, Cynthia Agius (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Il-Bawxati ta' Marju: Marju u l-Ikla Pastizzi	Ursola Borg, Cynthia Agius (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Fejnhom il-Kalzetti ta' Prunella?	Maria Cini, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	Horizons
L-Avventuri fil-Bagalja: Liam u L-Ispazju	Maria Farrugia, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
L-Avventuri fil-Bagalja: Liam u L-Piramida	Maria Farrugia, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
L-Avventuri fil-Bagalja: Liam u D-Dinosawri	Maria Farrugia, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
L-Avventuri fil-Bagalja: Liam u L-Pirati	Maria Farrugia, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Il-Praspar ta' Orsettu: Il-Kejk tal-Għasel	Sara Abela, Matt Stroud (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Gaby Ma Tridx Tirritorna d-Dar	Marisabelle Ebejer, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Lulu, Wiġi u l-Pirati	Sarah Ellul, Amanda Tanti, Kite Group (ill.)	Kite Group
Miranda u d-Dinja ta' Taħt Fuq	Rita Saliba, Steffi Venturi (ill.)	Horizons
Id-Dinosawru tal-Foresta	Charles Casha, Matt Stroud (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Glenda u l-Magna tal-Granita	Claudia Aloisio, Nathalie Micallef (ill.)	Klabb Kotba Maltin
Meta l-Manjieri Marru Jilagħbu	Maria Cini, Sue Flask (ill.)	Horizons f'kollaborazzjoni mal-Aġenzija Nazzjonali tal-Litteriżmu
Ninni Ninni	Antoinette Borg	Merlin Publishers
Il-Papa’ Tiegħi Bravissimu… imma Differenti!	Evan Chetcuti, BDL Books (ill.)	BDL Books

 

Children’s Literature (ages 8-12)

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Ittra mill-Uganda	Daniela Attard, Sue Flask (ill.), Kathleen Flask (ill.)	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published
ors	Miriam Galea	Kotba Calleja
Kaħlani u l-Fatati Kull Kulur	Clare Azzopardi, Leanne Ellul, Romont Willy (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Kuġini Kurjużi 1: L-Għar Moħbi taħt l-Irdum	Michael Cini, Francesca Grech (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Kuġini Kurjużi 2: Il-Misteru tal-Kalċi l-Misruq	Michael Cini, Francesca Grech (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Miss Ambrożja Pulis Kiftaranipenġini u s-Saħħaretti mill-Pjaneta Rumbrurki	Audrey Friggieri, José Luís Ocaña (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Żarbun Imsaħħar	Norman C. Borg, Clàudia Mata Serra (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
L-Istejjer tal-Professur Għasfur	Ġorġ Mallia	Merlin Publishers
Is-Sħaħar ta' Petut 3: Troffa Xagħar	Clare Azzopardi, Deandra Scicluna (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Irvin Vella Investigatur Virwali: Il-Każ tal-Bottegin tax-Xorti	John A. Bonello, Francesca Grech (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Leli: Il-Farfett il-Lejl li Jdejqu l-Lejl	David Aloisio, Vincianne Scerri (ill.)	Merlin Publishers
Max u l-Għefieret tal-Milied	Evan Chetcuti, Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Max Iżur il-Petting Farm	Evan Chetcuti Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Max: Il-Kelb Tigru Li Ma Riedu Ħadd	Evan Chetcuti, Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Martha u d-Dellijiet tal-Lejl	Melanie Darmanin, Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Mid-Djarju ta' Ċkejken, l-Għasfur tal-Bejt	Daniela Callus, Naomi Gatt (ill.)	Faraxa Publishing
Il-Ġzira tal-Pendent Dehbien	Evan Chetcuti, Naomi Montanaro Delia (ill.)	BDL Books
L-Ilbiesi ta' Kamilla	Annalise Bugeja, Naomi Montanaro Delia (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Mir-Renji Maestużi: Is-Seħer tal-Prinċipessa Aurora	Janet Mallia, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Il-Misteru tas-Sinjali	Claudia Micallef, Louiselle Sciberras (ill.)	BDL Publishing
L-Akbar Ħabib Tiegħi: It-Tfittxija għal Jacques	Lorraine Galea	Pandora Pubblications
Is-Sigriet tal-Arloġġ tan-Nanna	Claire Medati Stride	Wise Owl Publications
AtlaΣ: Il-Misteru ta' Atlantis	Claire Medati Stride	Wise Owl Publications
Il-Ħtif ta' Ajruplan Taljan: Storja Vera tal-Gwerra	Jeffrey Sammut, Sarah Pisani (ill.)	BDL Books
The School of Doom	Fantasy Island Club Malta Summer School	Faraxa Publishing
Ulied il-Wied	Ben Agius, Luca Azzopardi (ill.)	Horizons
Ir-Raħal tan-Nani: Melħu u l-Qabda Bla Ħsieb / Bomblu, Bajtru u l-Ħmara Griża	Ursola Borg, BDL Publishing (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Ir-Raħal tan-Nani: Iċ-Ċajta ta' Leħju / Id-Dgħajsa ta' Melħu	Ursola Borg, BDL Publishing (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Ir-Raħal tan-Nani: Bomblu u l-Flixkun Inbid	Ursola Borg, BDL Publishing (ill.)	BDL Publishing
Karamellu tar-Raħal t'Isfel: In-Nannu Karm	Charles Buttigieg, Nicole Mifsud Lombardi (ill.)	Awtoppubblikat/Self-Published

 

Young Adult Literature

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
Shadow Woods	Roberta Bajada	Merlin Publishers
Fables from Miragasia: The Upspringing	M. A. Fenech	Faraxa Publishing
Ella	Rita Grech	BDL Publishing
Mewta Mistħoqqa!	Marie Louise Ellul, Eneh Lang (ill.)	Horizons
Back For You	Casey Sacco	Faraxa Publishing
L-Avvent tal-Maltempata	Andreas Azzopardi	Faraxa Publishing
Min Jissaporti l-Iktar	Marie Louise Ellul	BDL Publishing

Picture books in translation (0-7 yrs)

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Awtur Author	Pubblikatur Publisher
L-Eletrumbetta (Naomi Gatt)	Naomi Gatt	Merlin Publishers

 

Children’s Literature in translation (8-12 yrs)

Titlu tal-ktieb Book title	Traduttur Translator	Pubblikatur Publisher
Orkubellu u l-Ħtif ta’ Orkidea (Fabrizio Silei, Fabrizio Di Baldo ill.)	Claudia Gauci	Merlin Publishers
Tuftytail: Stories of a Rabbit (Charles Casha, Frank Schembri ill.)	Charles Casha	Midsea Books

 

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