Percival Everett, Rufi Thorpe and Louise Erdrich Among 2024 Kirkus Prize Nominees — See the Full List!

Mar. 15, 2025

James, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, The Mighty Red.Photo:Doubleday; Morrow/HarperCollins; Harper/HarperCollins

Doubleday; Morrow/HarperCollins; Harper/HarperCollins

The finalists for the 2024 Kirkus Prize have been announced.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28,Kirkus Reviewsannounced the 18 finalists for this year’s award, which is given to one author each in the categories of fiction, nonfiction and young readers. Among the finalists areAmerican Fictionwriter Percival Everett,Rufi Thorpe, Louise Erdrich andJason Reynolds.

Each winner will receive $50,000 — one of the largest literary awards in the world.

To be considered for the award, the authors' book must have received a starred review from the Kirkus team for a book published between Nov. 1, 2023 and Oct. 31, 2024. According to a press release, the star is only awarded to about 10% of the titles reviewed annually.

Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum; Candlewick; MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Doubleday

“Our fiction finalists reimagine the art of storytelling while addressing the vital concerns of our day. The nonfiction finalists cast new light on misunderstood historical events and offer affecting personal narratives. Our young readers’ finalists present powerful narratives for children and teens through a combination of prose, verse and art.”

Beer added: “They’re all books that speak to our time, and we know they’ll be read for years to come.”

Each category has its own selection of jurors with bookstore owner Christine Bollow, Kirkus reviewer Jeffrey Burke and Kirkus fiction editor Laurie Muchnick judging the 2024 Kirkus Prize in Fiction. Nonfiction jurors include author Hannah Bae, Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Ann Gwinn and Bee, and those judging the young readers literature category are Kirkus reviewer Christopher A. Biss-Brown, professor Michelle H. Martin and Kirkus young readers editors Mahnaz Dar and Laura Simeon.

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The three winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET at the TriBeca Rooftop in New York City. The event will be livestreamed onKirkus’ YouTube channel.

See all the finalists and a quote from their Kirkus review below.

2024 Kirkus Prize in Fiction

MacMillan

2024 Kirkus Prize in Nonfiction

MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Doubleday

2024 Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature

Picture Books:

Middle Grade:

Young Adult:

source: people.com