{{short description|English author}} {{Infobox person | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1990 | birth_place = Camberwell, London, England | alma_mater = University of East London | occupation = | years_active = 2022–present }} '''Nathanael Leon T. Lessore''' (born 1990) is an English author of children's and young adult literature. His work has earned a number of accolades, including the Branford Boase Award, a Waterstones Children's Book Prize and a Jhalak Prize.
==Early life== Lessore was born one of eight in Camberwell, South London to a French father and a Malagasy mother<ref name="sm jul 25">{{Cite web|url=https://sademagazine.co/blogs/news/nathanael-lessor|title=A conversation with Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice winner - Nathanael Lessore|work=Sadé|date=3 July 2025|accessdate=19 February 2026}}</ref> and grew up on the North Peckham Estate. Lessore attended St Thomas the Apostle College. After leaving, he worked various jobs and started writing at age 24 while working in a call centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/peckham/peckham-author-hopes-to-inspire-teens-to-keep-reading-with-his-new-book/|title=Peckham author hopes to inspire teens to keep reading with his new book|work=Southwark News|first=Isabel|last=Ramirez|date=24 April 2023|accessdate=31 March 2025}}</ref> Lessore completed a year-long foundation course and graduated with a degree in Creative Writing from the University of East London. He worked in marketing before pursuing writing professionally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uel.ac.uk/about-uel/news/2024/april/former-student-publishes-debut-novel|title=Former student publishes debut novel|work=University of East London|date=25 April 2023|accessdate=31 March 2026}}</ref>
==Career== During the COVID-19 lockdown, Lessore reworked the three chapters he started for his dissertation. Via a four-way auction and two-book deal in 2022, Hot Key Books (a Bonnier imprint) acquired the rights to publish Lessore's debut novel ''Steady for This'' in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/hot-key-books-wins-four-way-auction-for-future-star-lessore-in-two-book-deal|title=Hot Key Books wins four-way auction for 'future star' Lessore in two-book deal|work=The Bookseller|first=Katie|last=Fraser|date=22 June 2022|accessdate=31 March 2025}}</ref> ''Steady for This'' won the Branford Boase Award. It was also shortlisted for a Jhalak Prize and the Carnegie Medal.
This was followed by Lessore's second novel ''King of Nothing'' in 2024. ''King of Nothing'' won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Readers, the Jhalak Prize in the Children's and Young Adult category, and the Carnegie Medal's Shadowers' Choice Award.
Announced in 2024,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/little-tiger-bags-nathanael-lessores-brilliantly-funny-middle-grade-series|title=Little Tiger bags Nathanael Lessore's 'brilliantly funny' middle-grade series|work=The Bookseller|first=Lauren|last=Brown|date=24 April 2024|accessdate=31 March 2025}}</ref> Little Tiger acquired the rights to publish Lessore's middle grade ''Not My Superpower'' series illustrated by Simran Singh. In addition, Lessore reunited with Hot Key Books for the publication of ''What Happens Online'' in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/hot-key-books-signs-two-from-nathanael-lessore|title=Hot Key Books signs two from Nathanael Lessore|work=The Bookseller|first=Heloise|last=Wood|date=28 August 2024|accessdate=31 March 2025}}</ref> ''What Happens Online'' was shortlisted for a Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards and a British Audio Award.
In 2026, Lessore was nominated for the Ruth Rendell Award. His next teen novel ''Against All Odds'' featured on the 2026 World Book Day list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/books/world-book-day-2026-books-5618424?page=3|title=World Book Day 2026: Here is every single £1 book available during World Book Day 2026|work=The Scotsman|first=Lauren|last=Jack|date=3 March 2026|accessdate=15 April 2026}}</ref>
==Bibliography== ===Standalone=== *''Steady for This'' (2023) {{small|(released as ''Dropping Beats'' in the U.S.)}} *''King of Nothing'' (2024) *''What Happens Online'' (2025) *''Against All Odds'' (2026) *''Like A Brother'' (2026)
===''Not My Superpower''=== *''Solving Crime is NOT My Superpower'' (2025) *''Time Travel Is NOT My Superpower'' (2025)
==Accolades== {| class="wikitable sortable |+ !Year !Award !Category !Title !Result !{{Ref heading}} |- | rowspan="3" | 2024 | Jhalak Prize | Children's and Young Adult | rowspan="3" | ''Steady for This'' | {{sho}} | <ref name="tbs may 24">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/yepoka-yeebo-and-hiba-noor-khan-win-the-jhalak-prizes|title=Yepoka Yeebo and Hiba Noor Khan win the Jhalak Prizes|work=The Bookseller|first=Melinda|last=Spanoudi|date=30 May 2024|accessdate=4 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/blog/hiba-noor-khan-is-announced-as-the-jhalak-prize-2024-childrens-and-ya-winner-6682|title=Hiba Noor Khan is announced as the Jhalak Prize 2024 Children's and YA Winner|work=Love Reading 4 Kids|date=31 May 2024|accessdate=4 June 2024}}</ref> |- | colspan="2" | Carnegie Medal | {{sho}} | <ref name="tg mar 24">{{Cite journal|url=https://theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/13/carnegie-medal-for-childrens-books-shortlist-announced|title=Carnegie medal for children's books shortlist announced|journal=The Guardian|first=Ella|last=Creamer|date=13 March 2024|accessdate=13 March 2024}}</ref> |- | colspan="2" | Branford Boase Award | {{won}} | <ref name="tbs apr 24">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/nathanael-lessores-story-of-a-lovable-teen-rapper-wins-the-2024-branford-boase-award|title=Nathanael Lessore's story of a 'lovable teen rapper' wins the 2024 Branford Boase Award|work=The Bookseller|first=Melina|last=Spanoudi|date=10 July 2024|accessdate=12 September 2024}}</ref> |- | rowspan="5" | 2025 | Waterstones Children's Book Prize | Older Readers | rowspan="3" | ''King of Nothing'' | {{won}} | <ref name=winners2025>{{cite news |last1=Creamer |first1=Ella |title=The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods wins Waterstones children’s book prize |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/27/the-cafe-at-the-edge-of-the-woods-wins-waterstones-childrens-book-prize |access-date=27 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=27 March 2025}}</ref> |- | Jhalak Prize | Children's and Young Adult | {{won}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/mimi-khalvati-ns-nuseibeh-and-nathanael-lessore-win-the-2025-jhalak-prizes|title=Mimi Khalvati, NS Nuseibeh and Nathanael Lessore win the 2025 Jhalak Prizes|work=The Bookseller|first=Heloise|last=Wood|date=4 June 2025|accessdate=10 June 2025}}</ref> |- | Carnegie Medal | Shadowers' Choice Award | {{won}} | <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Carnegie 2025 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2025/03/12/267848/carnegie-2025-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}</ref><ref name="sm jul 25"/> |- | Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards | Young Adult Fiction | rowspan="2" | ''What Happens Online'' | {{sho}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://locusmag.com/2025/11/2025-books-are-my-bag-readers-awards/|title=2025 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards|work=Locus|date=5 November 2025|accessdate=8 November 2025}}</ref> |- | British Audio Awards | Best Audiobook: Young Adult | {{sho}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.listening-books.org.uk/speakies-2025-british-audio-awards-winners-announced|title=Speakies 2025: British Audio Awards Winners Announced|work=Listening Books|date=25 November 2025|accessdate=28 November 2025}}</ref> |- | 2026 | ALCS Annual Awards | colspan="2" | Ruth Rendell Award | {{sho}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.alcs.co.uk/news/ruth-rendell-award-2026-shortlist-announced/|title= Ruth Rendell Award 2026 shortlist announced|work=ALCS|date=13 February 2026|accessdate=15 April 2026}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lessore, Nathanael}} Category:1990 births Category:Alumni of the University of East London Category:British people of Malagasy descent Category:British writers of young adult literature Category:English children's writers Category:English people of French descent Category:Living people Category:People from Camberwell Category:People from Peckham Category:Writers from the London Borough of Southwark