Trans author's book on growing up in St Helens shortlisted for prize

Lewis Hancox, a trans influencer, filmmaker, illustrator and author from St Helens is nominated in the Books for Older Readers category for his graphic memoir Welcome to St Hell, which tracks his younger self's hilarious, heartbreaking and healing journey – through trauma, confusion, hurt and dubious fashion choices - to discovering who he really is.

Lewis featured in the Channel 4 series 'My Transsexual Summer' back in 2014, he then co-created an ongoing film project about trans people called 'My Genderation' with trans campaigner Fox Fisher.

Much of Lewis' huge online following don't know his trans history at all, and are purely fans of his comedy.

Ever since he was a kid he's loved drawing cartoons. Entertaining people, while incidentally educating, is an important theme in his work.

Lewis Hancox, who now lives in Portsmouth, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled (and in disbelief!) that Welcome to St Hell has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.

“Growing up in a small Northern town in the early 2000s, there was no representation for people like me. I couldn’t see a positive future at all.

“So to think I could give that hope to teens today, that you will make it out of whatever hell you’re going through, means everything.

“I’d love readers to learn something from my many mishaps, to forget fitting in and feel proud of who they really are. Thank you so much, Waterstones, for seeing the importance in telling stories like mine.”

Florentyna Martin, Waterstones Head of Children’s says: “Books have the magical power to aid personal development in safe, supportive spaces, whether readers are exploring on the page or visiting a bookshop.

“With the rise in mental health topics in children's books, and studies showing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and social media on young people’s wellbeing, it is notable that we see reflections on mental health and identity on the shortlists. Our booksellers have chosen a list of exceptional new writing that offers something for everyone.”

The shortlists consist of eighteen books across three categories. Six books will compete within each category to be crowned Category Winner, with the three category winners then vying for the overall title of Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Winner 2023.

Illustrated Books

The Fairy Garden by Georgia Buckthorn (author), Isabella Mazzanti (illustrator) (Ivy Kids)

What Do You See When You Look At a Tree? by Emma Carlisle (Big Picture Press)

I am NOT a Prince by Rachael Davis (author), Beatrix Hatcher (illustrator) (Hachette Children’s Group)

Gretel the Wonder Mammoth by Kim Hillyard (Penguin Random House Children’s)

The Station Cat by Stephen Hogtun (DK)

The Missing Piece by Jordan Stephens (author), Beth Suzanna (illustrator) (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

Books for Younger Readers

The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr (Usborne Publishing)

Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan (Walker Books Ltd)

Small! by Hannah Moffatt (Everything with Words)

The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery (Penguin Random House Children’s)

Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah (Chicken House)

The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J.T. Williams (author), Simone Douglas (illustrator) (Farshore)

Books for Older Readers

All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown (Hachette Children’s Group)

Welcome to St Hell by Lewis Hancox (Scholastic)

The Cats We Meet Along The Way by Nadia Mikail (Guppy Publishing Ltd)

Ellie Pillai is Brown by Christine Pillainayagam (Faber & Faber)

If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So (Stripes Publishing)

Once Upon a Fever by Angharad Walker (Chicken House)

The winners will be announced on Thursday, March 30 2023.

The winner of each category will receive £2,000, with the overall winner receiving an extra £3,000.

In the event that the prize is awarded to a partnership, then the prize money will be split equally between the joint winners.