The ARA Historical Novel Prize awards $50,000 to the Adult category winner, with an additional $5,000 to be awarded to each of the remaining two shortlisted authors. In the CYA category, the winner will receive $30,000, while the two short listers will receive $5,000 each.

Shortlist for the 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize are:

Adult category

• Dusk (Robbie Arnott, Picador)
• The First Friend (Malcolm Knox, A&U)
• I Am Nannertgarrook (Tasma Walton, Bundyi)

Children and young adult category

• The Midwatch (Judith Rossell, HGCP)
• Moonboy (Anna Ciddor, A&U Children’s)
• The Year We Escaped (Suzanne Leal, HarperCollins).