Kirkus Prize finalists announced: Everett, Erdrich, Reynolds compete for $50,000
- Finalists for the Kirkus Prize have been announced in fiction, nonfiction, and young reader's literature categories.
- Notable nominees include Percival Everett's 'James,' Louise Erdrich's 'The Mighty Red,' and Jason Reynolds' 'There Was a Party.'
- Winners will be revealed on October 16, highlighting significant contributions to literature.
The 11th annual Kirkus Prize has announced its finalists in three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and young reader's literature. Among the fiction nominees is Percival Everett's 'James,' which offers a new perspective on Mark Twain's classic 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' through the eyes of Jim, an enslaved character. Other notable fiction contenders include Louise Erdrich's 'The Mighty Red' and Richard Powers' 'Playground.' In the nonfiction category, works addressing significant topics such as abortion rights and the Iraq War are highlighted, including Steve Coll's 'The Achilles Trap' and Adam Higginbotham's 'Challenger: A True Story of Heroism And Disaster on the Edge of Space.' These selections reflect a diverse range of contemporary issues and historical events. Young reader's literature features a mix of picture books and middle-grade novels, with Jason Reynolds' tribute to Langston Hughes, 'There Was a Party,' among the finalists. Other nominees include Joanna Ho's illustrated book 'We Who Produce Pearls' and middle-grade titles like Hiba Noor Khan's 'Safiyyah’s War.' The winners in each category will be awarded $50,000, with the announcement set for October 16 during a ceremony in Manhattan. This prestigious recognition aims to celebrate outstanding literary achievements and encourage authors across various genres.