Here are the 5 winners and all 25 finalists of the 2024 National Book Awards

Barbara Kingsolver and Percival Everett have been announced the winners at the 75th National Book Awards, during a ceremony gala held on November 20, in New York.

Back in September 2024, National Book Foundation has named the 25 finalists for the 2024 National Book Awards, from a total of 1,917 books submitted for this year’s competition.

Five finalists were recognized in five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature.

And on November 20, 2024, at the National Book Awards Ceremony, the winners of the 75th edition of this prestigious book awards were announced.

First of all, Barbara Kingsolver, acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner for Demon Copperhead, received the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

In her speech, she emphasized the role of disruptive literature in fostering understanding and driving social change. Kingsolver highlighted the power of empathy, saying, “We use our best beautiful tricks to lure people into letting go of themselves… because that empathy, my friends, is our salvation.”

The foundation also honored W. Paul Coates with the Literarian Award for his contributions to the literary community. In 1978, Coates founded Black Classic Press to publish important works by and about people of African descent.

And here are the winners of the 75th National Book Awards in the five categories.

National Book Awards 2024 winners

Fiction

James by Percival Everett

In “James,” when the enslaved Jim discovers he is to be sold and separated from his wife and daughter, he decides to hide on Jackson Island to devise a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn, having faked his own death to escape his abusive father, embarks on a perilous journey down the Mississippi River.

The narrative retains classic elements from “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” including floods, unexpected encounters, and flawed characters like the Duke and Dauphin. However, Jim’s intelligence and compassion are portrayed in a markedly different, more empowering way.

With its sharp humor and profound insights, Everett’s work is positioned as a crucial contribution to twenty-first century American literature.

Nonfiction

Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling by Jason De León

Political instability, poverty, climate change, and demand for cheap labor drive clandestine border movement, increasing the need for smugglers. Often portrayed through stereotypes as violent figures, the true nature of smugglers is seldom understood.

Anthropologist Jason De León spent seven years with a group of smugglers in Mexico, producing SOLDIERS AND KINGS, the first in-depth, character-driven exploration of human smuggling. This intimate narrative centers on a coyote who, amid moral conflicts, seeks to leave the smuggling world.

De León provides a groundbreaking perspective on the challenges faced by those involved in this complex billion-dollar industry.

Poetry

Something About Living by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

Lena Khalaf Tuffaha’s collection masterfully captures the duality of human experience by merging the desire for joy with the urgency of protest. Through her elegant and incisive poems, Tuffaha addresses the historic suffering of Palestine while also reflecting on the violence and turmoil present in today’s world.

She highlights the delicate joys that help individuals endure such hardships, crafting a narrative that showcases the painful realities of Diaspora while scrutinizing the systemic issues of colonialism and greed.

The collection is a poignant examination of collective struggles, emphasizing unity and humanity amid chaos. Ultimately, she posits that love transcends mere sentiment, acting as a radical form of resistance for those who navigate an often hostile world with resilience and compassion.

Translated Literature

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ

In May 1938, young novelist Aoyama Chizuko sails from Nagasaki, Japan, to Taiwan, invited by the Japanese government, though she has little interest in their agenda. Chizuko seeks to immerse herself in island life and authentic cuisine, driven by her huge appetite.

A Taiwanese woman named Chizuru, who shares Chizuko’s name, is hired as her interpreter and fulfills her wishes. Chizuru organizes Chizuko’s travels and showcases her exceptional cooking skills. As they share scenic train rides and delightful meals, Chizuko becomes infatuated with Chizuru, but Chizuru maintains a distance.

Presented as a translation of a rediscovered Japanese text, this novel, published in Mandarin in 2020, won Taiwan’s Golden Tripod Award and explores lost colonial histories while examining how power dynamics influence intimate relationships.

Young People’s Literature

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

Kareem’s seventh grade isn’t off to a great start. His best friend has moved away, he flubbed his football tryout, and he’s been assigned to show a new Syrian refugee around school. Just as he thinks things can’t get worse, the star quarterback offers him another chance to try out—if he can do something he knows is wrong.

Things get even more complicated when Kareem’s mom goes back to Syria to help family and becomes stranded. Stuck between friendships, cultures, and tough choices, Kareem must find his confidence and navigate the challenges of middle school, ultimately discovering hope in the chaos.

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National Book Awards, established by the National Book Foundation, honor exceptional literary works annually across five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature.

First held in 1950, these prestigious awards recognize authors for their significant contributions to American literature and seek to promote literature in various forms. Winners receive a $10,000 prize, a bronze medal, and a statue, while finalists are awarded $1,000 and a bronze medal.

The awards not only celebrate established voices but also highlight debut authors, fostering a vibrant literary landscape that encourages diverse storytelling.

Below, you will find the list of all finalists of the 2024 edition of National Book Awards 2024.

National Book Awards 2024 finalists

Fiction

Ghostroots by ’Pemi Aguda

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

James by Percival Everett

All Fours by Miranda July

My Friends by Hisham Matar

Nonfiction

Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling by Jason De León

Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church by Eliza Griswold

Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia by Kate Manne

Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa

Poetry

Wrong Norma by Anne Carson

[…] by Fady Joudah

mother by m.s. RedCherries

Modern Poetry by Diane Seuss

Something About Living by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

Translated Literature

The Book Censor’s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa

Ædnan by Linnea Axelsson

The Villain’s Dance by Fiston Mwanza Mujila

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ

Where the Wind Calls Home by Samar Yazbek

Young People’s Literature

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan

The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky by Josh Galarza

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté

Source: National Book Foundation

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