Young Adult Literature Prize 2025: Ejiro Umukoro’s “Distortion of Hadassah” Stands Out

Abuja, Nigeria – The Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP) 2025 has unveiled the regional finalists from a staggering 106 entries, showcasing the best of Nigeria’s emerging literary talent. Among the standout authors is Ejiro Umukoro (who also writes as E. R. Umukoro), whose thought-provoking novel, “The Distortion of Hardassah,” has been selected as the South South regional finalist.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to Umukoro’s exceptional storytelling skills and solidifies her position as a rising star in African literature. “The Distortion of Hardassah” is a gripping narrative that follows the journey of eleven young adults across Nigeria as they navigate the complexities of identity, acceptance, and opportunity.

Umukoro’s debut novel, “Distortion,” was a groundbreaking fiction mental health true crime novel that garnered widespread critical acclaim. The book’s impact extends beyond the literary world, having been approved by the Ministry of Education, Delta State, as a literature textbook for secondary schools. It was also selected as the Book of Discussion on World Press Freedom Day by the United States Agency for Global Media in 2024.

The novel’s influence is evident in its selection for the Lagos Arts and Book Festival’s CORA Book Trek, which aims to promote literacy and a love of reading among secondary school students. “Distortion” has received glowing reviews from prominent media outlets, including BusinessDay, News Central, Arise News, TVC, Trust TV, and The Guardian, with mention by the Pulitzer Centre.

Jerry Adesewo, representing TYBLI, congratulated the regional finalists, saying, “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.”

Umukoro expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “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 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, providing a platform for emerging writers to showcase their talent and gain recognition in the literary world.

The other regional finalists include:

• 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 Young Adult Literature Prize (YALP) is an annual literary competition that recognizes and celebrates outstanding young adult writers in Nigeria, promoting creative writing, encouraging literary excellence, and providing a platform for emerging writers to gain recognition.