Each year, the Goncourt Prize for High School Students allows nearly 2,000 high school students to choose their winner from among the authors selected by the Academy. Created and organized by Fnac and the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, and Research, under the patronage of the Académie Goncourt, this prize aims to foster a love of reading among young people.
14 novels selected* for the 2025 Prix Goncourt des Lycéens
- Nathacha Appanah, « La nuit au cœur », Gallimard
- Emmanuel Carrère, « Kolkhoze », P.O.L
- David Deneufgermain, « L’Adieu au visage », Marchialy
- Ghislaine Dunant, « Un amour infini », Albin Michel
- Paul Gasnier, « La collision », Gallimard
- Yanick Lahens, « Passagères de nuit », Sabine Wespieser
- Caroline Lamarche, « Le Bel Obscur », Seuil
- Hélène Laurain, « Tambora », Verdier
- Charif Majdalani, « Le nom des rois », Stock
- Laurent Mauvignier, « La Maison vide », Minuit
- Alfred de Montesquiou, « Le crépuscule des hommes », Robert Laffont
- Guillaume Poix, « Perpétuité », Verticales
- Maria Pourchet, « Tressaillir », Stock
- David Thomas, « Un frère », L’Olivier
How the Goncourt Prize for High School Students Works
From September to November 2025, students in grades 10 through 12 from 57 high schools—including those in general, technical, and vocational tracks—will read and study the books. They will also have the opportunity to interact with the nominated authors during events organized by Fnac in seven French cities.
These readings and discussions will enable the high school students to select the regional finalists during the regional deliberations on November 24. Then, following the national deliberations on November 27, the 2025 winner will be announced that same day, succeeding Sandrine Collette, who won the 2024 Prix Goncourt des Lycéens for « Madelaine avant l’aube » (published by JC Lattès).
*The Prix Goncourt des Lycéens cannot award the prize to the same winner twice. David Diop, having already won the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens in 2018, is therefore not included on the list.
