The National
Book Award
This is a literary award given by an independent foundation. It is given to books in various categories, including books for "young people," which in practice means young adult or older middle grade.
The links in the book titles take you to the book's page on Amazon or on Bookshop.org, a bookselling website that supports independent booksellers. I have also set up a page of recent Young People's National Book Award winners on Bookshop. These are affiliate links; purchases made through them earn me a commission.
- 2020: King and the Dragonflies, by Kacen Callender. Or King and the Dragonflies (on Bookshop).
- 2019: 1919: The Year that Changed America, by Martin Sandler. Or 1919: The Year that Changed America (on Bookshop). Nonfiction -- interesting surprise winner, IMO. The other 4 titles on the shortlist were all fiction, including books by Jason Reynolds and Laura Ruby.
- 2018: The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo. Or The Poet X (on Amazon)
- 2017: Far from the Tree, by Robin Benway. Or Far from the Tree (on Amazon)
- 2016: March: Book Three, by John Lewis.
- 2015: Challenger Deep, by Neal Shusterman.
- 2014: Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson.
- 2013: The Thing About Luck, by Cynthia Kadohata.
- 2012: Goblin Secrets, by William Alexander.
- 2011: Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai. This was the year of the "6th nominee." Here are 2 articles about that, and a list of the other books nominated:
- Lauren Myracle and the National Book Award Fiasco: a concise explanation of what happened.
- The National Book Awards: A Judge's View: what happened from the POV of one of the judges.
- The other books:
- Chime, by Franny Billingsley.
- My Name Is Not Easy, by Debby Dahl Edwardson.
- Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy, by Albert Marrin.
- Shine, by Lauren Myracle.
- Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidit.
- 2010: Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine.
- 2009: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose.
- 2008: What I Saw and How I Lied, by Judy Blundell.
- 2007:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
- 2006: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party, by M.T. Anderson.
- 2005: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, by Jeanne Birdsall.
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2004: Godless, by Pete Hautman.
- 2003: The Canning Season, by Polly Horvath.
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2002: The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer. From the judges' citation: "A futuristic adventure story about young Matteo Alacrán and his struggle to understand his own existence." (Also a Newbery
Honor winner)
- Lauren Myracle and the National Book Award Fiasco: a concise explanation of what happened.
- The National Book Awards: A Judge's View: what happened from the POV of one of the judges.
- The other books:
- Chime, by Franny Billingsley.
- My Name Is Not Easy, by Debby Dahl Edwardson.
- Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy, by Albert Marrin.
- Shine, by Lauren Myracle.
- Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidit.
2004 Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Medal: Judy Blume. This was the first time this award, essentially a lifetime achievement award, was given to a children's or YA book author. The National Book Foundation cited her impact on American culture and her fight against censorship.
More information about the National Book Award: this links leads to the National Book Foundation site.
This page was compiled by Harold Underdown ( Google + Profile ) from information available on public websites.
