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 took part this year, met the authors, and voted for their favorite.

The France Culture Student Novel Prize honors a work from the fall literary season selected by a jury of students. By inviting thousands of young people to discover the novels of the fall literary season and to meet their authors throughout France, the Prize encourages a love of reading and discussion of literary works among teachers and the entire network of literary promoters and intermediaries. The students read five books and selected *Avale*, the debut 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 journeys of a student grappling with strange, devouring desires and an aspiring actress who realizes her body is slipping away from her,” explains France Culture in a press release.

“I’m thrilled that *Avale* gave some readers 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 2025 France Culture Student Novel Prize

Three students are here with us to talk with the writer Séphora Pondi and share their experiences with us.

The four other books in the running for this 13th edition were:*Au grand jamais*by Jakuta Alikavazovic (Gallimard),*L’Entroubli*by Thibault Daelman (Le Tripode),*Peau d’ourse*by Grégory Le Floch (Seuil), and*Les Forces*by Laura Vazquez (Sous-sol).

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