Book List

20 Books Getting Major Awards Buzz

  • FICTION

    IF I SURVIVE YOU

    SEPT. 6, 2022

FICTION

IF I SURVIVE YOU

by Jonathan Escoffery

A fine debut that looks at the complexities of cultural identity with humor, savvy, and a rich sense of place. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THIS OTHER EDEN

    JAN. 24, 2023

  • FICTION

    WESTERN LANE

    FEB. 7, 2023

  • FICTION

    TEMPLE FOLK

    JULY 4, 2023

FICTION

TEMPLE FOLK

by Aaliyah Bilal

A beautifully thorough, well-balanced collection. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE BEE STING

    AUG. 15, 2023

FICTION

THE BEE STING

by Paul Murray

A grim and demanding and irresistible anatomy of misfortune. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS

    MAY 2, 2023

FICTION

CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS

by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Imagine "The Hunger Games" refashioned into a rowdy, profane, and indignant blues shout at full blast. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE END OF DRUM-TIME

    JAN. 24, 2023

FICTION

THE END OF DRUM-TIME

by Hanna Pylväinen

Ambitious and resonant, a vivid, fascinating, and moving novel. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    BLACKOUTS

    OCT. 10, 2023

FICTION

BLACKOUTS

by Justin Torres

An inventive novel that displays the scope of its author’s ambitions. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    CURSED BUNNY

    DEC. 6, 2022

FICTION

CURSED BUNNY

by Bora Chung ; translated by Anton Hur

Don't read this book while eating—but don’t skip these unflinching, intelligent stories, either. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    THE REDISCOVERY OF AMERICA

    APRIL 25, 2023

HISTORY

THE REDISCOVERY OF AMERICA

by Ned Blackhawk

A well-reasoned challenge for future American historians to keep Native peoples on center stage. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    LILIANA'S INVINCIBLE SUMMER

    FEB. 28, 2023

NONFICTION

LILIANA'S INVINCIBLE SUMMER

by Cristina Rivera Garza

A moving, heart-wrenching memoir as well as an unflinching appraisal of the widespread violence against women in Mexico. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    ORDINARY NOTES

    APRIL 25, 2023

  • NONFICTION

    WE COULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS, MY FATHER AND I

    FEB. 28, 2023

NONFICTION

WE COULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS, MY FATHER AND I

by Raja Shehadeh

A well-established Palestinian voice fashions a loving portrayal of the unsung achievements of his activist father. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    FIRE WEATHER

    JUNE 6, 2023

NONFICTION

FIRE WEATHER

by John Vaillant

A timely, well-written work of climate change reportage. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    NUTS AND BOLTS

    NOV. 7, 2023

NONFICTION

NUTS AND BOLTS

by Roma Agrawal

A quirky, entertaining riff on the building blocks of engineering. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    BREATHLESS

    OCT. 4, 2022

NONFICTION

BREATHLESS

by David Quammen

Unsettling global health news brilliantly delivered by an expert. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    THE EXCEPTIONS

    FEB. 28, 2023

NONFICTION

THE EXCEPTIONS

by Kate Zernike

A fascinating, heartening account of successful advocacy in the scientific and academic communities. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    RED MEMORY

    MAY 9, 2023

HISTORY

RED MEMORY

by Tania Branigan

A heartbreaking, revelatory evocation of “the decade that cleaved modern China in two.” Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • NONFICTION

    COURTING INDIA

    APRIL 4, 2023

HISTORY

COURTING INDIA

by Nandini Das

Ornately detailed study of an early ambassador, with an emphasis on fruitful trade in India. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

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  • The Kirkus Star

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  • The Kirkus Prize

    The Kirkus Prize is among the richest literary awards in America, awarding $50,000 in three categories annually.

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