The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the finalists of the 2025 Governor General's Literary Awards. The awards promote literature from Canada, recognizing the best English-language and French-language books in seven categories, including two categories for young readers—Young People’s Literature – Text and Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books. The awards carry a cash prize of $25,000, with $3,000 going to the publisher of the winning title. In addition, the finalists in each category also receive $1,000. This year, the winners will be announced on November 6. Below are the finalists for Young People's Literature.
Young People’s Literature – Text (English-language)
Beast, written by Richard Van Camp (Douglas & McIntyre)
Best of All Worlds, written by Kenneth Oppel (Tundra Books)
A Drop in the Ocean, written by Léa Taranto (Arsenal Pulp Press)
The Outsmarters, written by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books)
Tig, written by Heather Smith (Tundra Books)
PEER ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE: Wayne Arthurson, Susin Nielsen and Karen Rivers
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books (English-language)
Boy Myrtle, written and illustrated by Sid Sharp (Annick Press)
It Bears Repeating, written by Tanya Tagaq, illustrated by Cee Pootoogook (Tundra Books)
Oasis, written and illustrated by Guojing (Henry Holt & Company)
The Rock and the Butterfly, written by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan (Orca Book Publishers)
This Land is a Lullaby, written by Tonya Simpson, illustrated by Delreé Dumont (Orca book Publishers)
PEER ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE: Dawn Baker, Matthew Forsythe and Bridget George
Young People’s Literature – Text (French-language)
Cheer, written by Laura Doyle Péan (Éditions de la Bagole)
Coup bas, written by Laruie Léveille (la courte échelle)
Fatigué mort, written by Marc-André Dufour-Labbé (Leméac Jeunesse)
Tête boule disco, written by Noémie Pomerleau-Cloutier (Éditions du Boréal)
Vieille Branche, written by Catherine Fouron (Éditions de la Bagnole)
PEER ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE: Lula Carballo, Mathieu Fortin and François Gilbert
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books (French-language)
Un cadeau de Noël en novembre, written by Stéphane Laporte, illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn (Éditions de la Bagnole)
En crise, written by Annick Lefebvre, illustrated by Vincent Partel-Valette (Éditions de la Bagnole)
Le livre aspirateur, written by Jocelyn Boisvert, illustrated by Enzo (Éditions Michel Quintin)
Murielle et le mystère, written and illustrated by Charlotte Parent (Comme des géants)
La tasse de Gilles, written by Catherine Trudeau, illustrated by Qin Leng (Éditions de la Pastèque)
PEER ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE: Katia Canciani, Lyne Gareau and Samuel Parent
For the complete list of nominees in all categories, visit ggbooks.ca.