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

"They’re all books that speak to our time, and we know they’ll be read for years to come," Kirkus Reviews editor-in-chief Tom Beer said of the nominees

The finalists for the 2024 Kirkus Prize have been announced.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, Kirkus Reviews announced 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 are American Fiction writer Percival Everett, Rufi Thorpe, Louise Erdrich and Jason 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.

"The finalists for the 2024 Kirkus Prize represent the very best of an outstanding crop of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ titles published in the U.S. this year," said Kirkus Reviews editor-in-chief Tom Beer in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

"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."

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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 on Kirkus’ YouTube channel.

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

2024 Kirkus Prize in Fiction

Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet
"The author of Make Your Home Among Strangers (2015) delivers a stunning second novel…Unclassifiable and unforgettable."

The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
"The Red River of the North cuts a vivid track through the hardscrabble lives that anchor Erdrich’s surpassing North Dakota fiction … In this tender and capacious story, love and tragedy mingle along the river and into the world."

 James by Percival Everett 
"Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as told from the perspective of a more resourceful and contemplative Jim than the one you remember … One of the noblest characters in American literature gets a novel worthy of him."

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Playground by Richard Powers
"A story of friendship, technology, oceans and a small island … An engaging, eloquent message for this fragile planet."

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
"A college freshman finds out that everyone was right: Her decision to have her English professor’s baby really does ruin her life. Until it doesn’t ... Terrific characters, rich worldbuilding, deep thoughts about fiction and morality, a love story and a happy ending."

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 Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
"As Ireland devolves into a brutal police state, one woman tries to preserve her family in this stark fable .. .Captivating, frightening and a singular achievement."

2024 Kirkus Prize in Nonfiction

The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq by Steve Coll
"The Pulitzer Prize–winning author returns with a tour de force examination of the events leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq … Required reading for all conscientious citizens."

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism And Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham 
"A searching history of a disaster-laden effort to build and launch a space shuttle … A deeply researched, fluently written study in miscommunication, hubris and technological overreach."

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 Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls
"A graphic novelist contends with her maternal family’s complicated history … A work that glimmers with insight, acumen and an unwillingness to settle for simple answers."

The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise by Olivia Laing
"The award-winning author pens a fascinating and personal journey of paradise … An intellectually verdant and emotionally rich narrative journey."

Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America by Shefali Luthra 
"The human consequences of the Dobbs decision … Vivid portrayals of lives disrupted and freedom denied."

Another Word for Love: A Memoir by Carvell Wallace
"The story of a poet and podcaster’s journey to claim the fullness of his identity and power as a queer Black American … An exquisite, soulful must-read."

 2024 Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature

Picture Books:

We Who Produce Pearls by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
"Eyes That Kiss in the Corners (2021) author Ho reflects on Asian American history … Striking and defiant: an unabashed declaration of hope."

There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
"Reynolds and the Pumphrey brothers take readers on a dazzling journey through Langston Hughes’ legacy … A bar set stratospherically high and cleared with room to spare."

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 Middle Grade:

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
"In this novel inspired by a true account of French Resistance during World War II, a courageous 11-year-old Muslim girl joins the effort to save lives … A must-read distinguished by its powerful plot and poignant writing."

Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston
"A Florida middle schooler tries to hide her problems at home as she attempts to have a normal school experience … A deeply satisfying tale with an irresistible protagonist."

 Young Adult:

Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow
"Family matters; friends, both two- and four-legged, help too … A heartfelt novel about the challenges of youth and the value of community."

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo 
"A teen poet in Washington, D.C., becomes entangled with an older man as she tries to break free from her mother’s expectations … A stunning work that deeply explores poetry, the complexities of identity, and the longing for love."

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