Teenagers from Stone were among thousands of young readers across Staffordshire who helped choose this year’s Staffordshire Young Teen Fiction (YTF) Award winner.
Hundreds of students headed to the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands on Tuesday 7 July to celebrate a year of reading, discussion and voting, as Scott Reintgen’s The Last Dragon on Mars was announced as the 2026 winner.
Since last autumn, young people aged 11 to 14 from schools across Staffordshire have been reading four shortlisted books before casting their votes for their favourite.
This year’s shortlist featured:
- The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen
- The Girl with the Red Boots by Alex Wheatle
- The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- Red Flags by Sophie Jo
Following months of reading and voting, The Last Dragon on Mars emerged as the county wide winner.
Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said
“The Young Teen Fiction Award is a fantastic example of how reading can bring young people together, spark imagination and build confidence.
“What makes this award so special is that the winner is chosen entirely by Staffordshire’s young readers, giving them a genuine voice and encouraging them to engage with books they may not otherwise have discovered.
“It’s wonderful to see so many pupils taking part and celebrating their love of reading. A huge well done to everyone involved in another hugely successful year for the award.”
Scott Reintgen said
“I was honoured to learn that ‘The Last Dragon on Mars’ won the Staffordshire YTF book award. I have spent the first decade of my career writing for young people. My greatest hope is to invite more readers to the table of reading. I want them to know they have a place there and that sometimes all it takes is one book to make them a lifelong reader. Thank you to all the young readers who voted for Last Dragon this year. It means the world.”
Now in its 21st year, the Young Teen Fiction Award encourages young people to read for pleasure, discover new authors and share their views on some of the best young adult fiction published in the UK.
The celebration event also featured visits from authors A.J. Clack, whose thriller Lie or Die won last year’s award, and bestselling children’s writer Ross Welford, who met pupils, answered questions and signed books.
