Undiscovered Voices is excited to announce the shortlisted novels for UV 2026.

All of these stories impressed our panel of judges, and were chosen for their originality and quality of writing. With over 250 entries this year, the standard across the competition was very high. Thank you to everyone who entered, and who trusted us with their words – it was a thrill to read them all.

Short List

FLISS GREY IN THE MOONLIGHT by Claire Gordon

GETHYN AND THE WIND DRAGON by Rachel Burrow

INVISIBLE ISABELLE by Caroline Mundy

MAJORLY MISUNDERSTOOD by Alicja Bagier

ONE GIANT LEAP INTO MURDER by Kirsty Hammond

SUNNYBROOK SECRETS by Dominic Yoboue

THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR by Monica Gutierrez

THE LOST HOUR by Clem Jemson

THE LOVE IN YOUR WORDS by Ivy Lin

THE SPACE PIRATE SAGA by Alana Warbrick

THE WIFI WIZARD OF MAPLEWOOD by Zoe Dixon

YOU WILL BE NEXT by Caroline Wigg

Long List

Any Second Now by Pia Jones

Dancing Bear and the Hunter in the Stars by Mairin O’Hagan

Kaleidosonic by Tom Owen

Operation ANNA by Kirsti Sinclair

Rose of Bedel by Nissa Van Riper

Sidelined by Katherine Shingler

Soar by Lily Grigorova

Storymania by Ian Brooks

The Boy Wonder by Ian B. Wilson

The Daughter of the King by Sinead Amirak

The Day My Gran Exploded by Carolyn Sims

The Last Scribe by Rosie Stirret

The Light Beyond the Mountains by Alka Handa

The Other Poison Maiden - Part 1 of The Toxic Queendom Trilogy by S.J. Cross

Truth Spinner by J.L. Bleakley

Whispers at Dead Penny Lane by Claire Lake

Zack Stirling Isn’t Real by Rae Swindells