Student Novel Prize: Séphora Pondi is the winner

The 13th France Culture Student Novel Prize has been awarded to Avale by Séphora Pondi, published by Éditions Grasset.

More than 3,000 students participated this year, meeting the authors and voting for their favorite.

The France Culture Student Novel Prize rewards a work from the fall literary season chosen by a jury of students. By inviting thousands of young people to discover the novels of the fall literary season and meet their authors throughout France, the Prize encourages teachers and everyone involved in promoting literature to foster a love of reading and debate around texts. The students read five books and chose Avale, the first novel by Séphora Pondi.

A resident actress at the Comédie-Française, director, and screenwriter, Séphora Pondi has written a novel that tells the story of "the trajectories of a student grappling with strange desires for devouring and an aspiring actress who realizes that her body is slipping away from her," explains France Culture in a press release.

"I'm thrilled that Avale gave some people chills, and what a relief to know that my first novel has landed in good hands." – Séphora Pondi

Marie Richeux's Book Club on France Culture

Séphora Pondi, winner of the France Culture Student Novel Prize 2025

Three students are here with us to talk with writer Séphora Pondi and tell us about their experiences.

The four other books in contention for this 13th edition were:Au grand jamaisby Jakuta Alikavazovic (Gallimard),L’Entroubliby Thibault Daelman (Le Tripode),Peau d’ourseby Grégory Le Floch (Seuil), andLes Forcesby Laura Vazquez (Sous-sol).

An initiative supported by theMinistry of Higher Education and Researchand theNational Book Center.