Congratulations are in order! November 15th marked the 74th annual National Book Awards, a celebration of the best literature in America. The National Book Foundation strives to expand the patronage of literature, to expand its audience and ensure that books have a prominent place in American culture. (Those who missed it can check out the full ceremony livestream here!)
Hosted by actor, director, producer and literacy advocate LeVar Burton, this year’s ceremony was a joyful commemoration of American literature — and also politically charged. Throughout the night several award recipients asked for a ceasefire in Gaza during their acceptance speeches. Not only were international current events mentioned, but an acknowledgement of national events as well; throughout the program, there was a constant awareness of the book bans that are rampant throughout the United States.
LeVar Burton opened the event saying “[t]here is a reason I believe why books are under attack. It’s because they are so powerful. Stories are the tool that enable us to better understand ourselves and, yes, our history. To live over the course of a few pages in the experiences of another, and to create a world where we can all be free.” Special guest Oprah Winfrey gave her own wisdom, saying that “[t]o ban books is to snuff out the flame of truth. Of what it means to be alive.”
With these sentiments in mind, we here at BookTrib congratulate the winners and finalists, and recognize their hard work and contribution to the richness of American literature. Now, here are the winners!
National Book Award Winners:
Fiction: Blackouts by Justin Torres
Nonfiction: The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History by Ned Blackhawk
Poetry: from unincorporated territory [åmot] by Craig Santos Perez
Translated Literature: The Words That Remain by Stênio Gardel, translated by Bruna Dantas Lobato
Young People’s Literature: A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Lifetime Achievement Awards:
National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters: Rita Dove, National Book Award Finalist and Pulitzer Prize winning poet
Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community: Paul Yamazaki, principal buyer at City Lights Booksellers & Publishers
Finalists:
Fiction:
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
The End of Drum-Time by Hanna Pylväinen
Nonfiction:
Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza
Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe
We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I: A Palestinian Memoir by Raja Shehadeh
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant
Poetry:
How to Communicate by John Lee Clark
suddenly we by Evie Shockley
Tripas by Brandon Som
From From by Monica Youn
Translated Literature:
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur
Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop
Translated from the French by Sam Taylor
Abyss by Pilar Quintana
Translated from the Spanish by Lisa Dillman
On a Woman’s Madness by Astrid Roemer
Translated from the Dutch by Lucy Scott
Young People’s Literature:
Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow
Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy
Big by Vashti Harrison
The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine by Katherine Marsh
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