The Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP) 2025 has announced the regional finalists from 106 entries, with E. R. Umukoro’s thought-provoking novel, “The Distortion of Hardassah,” emerging as the South South regional finalist.
This prestigious recognition highlights Umukoro’s exceptional storytelling skills and solidifies her position as a rising star in African literature.
As the acclaimed author of the bestselling debut book “Distortion,” a groundbreaking fiction mental health true crime novel, Umukoro has already made a significant impact in the literary world.
“Distortion” was approved by the Ministry of Education, Delta State, as a literature textbook for secondary schools, and was selected as the Book of Discussion on World Press Freedom Day by the United States Agency for Global Media in 2024.
The novel has also been chosen by the Lagos Arts and Book Festival for its CORA Book Trek to three secondary schools across Lagos State in 2025.
Furthermore, “Distortion” has been highly reviewed and celebrated by prominent media outlets, including BusinessDay, News Central, Arise News, TVC, Trust TV, The Guardian, ThisDay, with mention by the Pulitzer Centre, for its gripping narrative that tackles true crime, mental health-driven narratives, and damaged identities.
According to Jerry Adesewo, representing TYBLI: “We are delighted to announce the regional finalists of the Young Adult Literature Prize 2025. We received an overwhelming response from talented writers across the country, and the quality of submissions was exceptional. We congratulate all our regional finalists on this achievement and wish them the best of luck in the competition.”
Umukoro expressed her satisfaction on the outcome as the South-South Finalist. “This literary honour is indeed an exciting news to wrap the year. It gives me great joy to be selected on the longlist of Young Adult Literature Price (YALP) 2025.”
The YALP 2025 competition attracted 106 talented writers from across the country, and the following authors have emerged as regional finalists:
* E. R. Umukoro – The Distortion of Hadassah (South South)
– Ikemefuna Chinenyike Lawrence Ezemagu – Garden of Garget (South East)
– Sarah Yousuph – When the Road Curves (South West)
– Adoo Gyuur – Daughters of Ashes (North Central)
– Daniel Yohanna – A Boy From Far North (North East)
– Yusrah Bashir Gaga – My Darkest Nightmares (North West)
“The Distortion of Hadassah” is a gripping narrative that follows the journey of eleven young adults across Nigeria who struggle with identity, acceptance, and opportunities.
The novel explores themes of resilience and the human condition, showcasing Umukoro’s mastery of storytelling and her ability to craft compelling characters.
The regional winners will receive a cash prize of N500,000 each, with the overall winner taking home a whopping N1,500,000 and a publishing deal.
The YALP 2025 competition aims to encourage young adult writers to keep writing, learning, and dreaming. The competition provides a platform for emerging writers to showcase their talent and gain recognition in the literary world.
The Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP) is an annual literary competition that recognizes and celebrates outstanding young adult writers in Nigeria.
The competition aims to promote creative writing, encourage literary excellence, and provide a platform for emerging writers to gain recognition.
