The NE Teen Book Award (NETBA)  was set up in 1999 due to popular demand; schools wanted a similar programme to the prestigious Carnegie Greenaway Book Awards to engage and challenge readers but one which was closer to home, one where our young people could make their own voices heard while discovering exciting new authors and maybe meet those authors for themselves.

The aim of our YA award remains the same as it was 25 years ago when we started off with just 3 (very enthusiastic!) schools; we want to make our young people more aware of the quality and variety of exciting writing out there, to celebrate and support both established and up and coming authors and to create opportunities for the authors to meet their avid readers. 

Books which make it onto the NETBA shortlist all have what it takes to be a winner!

Books eligible for consideration for our shortlist must have been published for the first time in paperback in the  previous 12 months and written by an author resident in the UK/Ireland.

This is to ensure that the books, and their authors, are as accessible as possible to all of our  judges and schools.

November - shortlist announced
December - students begin reading, reviewing and debating
early March - students vote for their favourites
April  - winner announced at  NETBA party in Newcastle.  All schools taking part in the awards are invited
June-September - books selected for the longlist by librarians, teachers and previous student judges