2025 National Book Award Winners Announced
New York,NY – The National Book Foundation today revealed the recipients of the 2025 national Book Awards,recognizing outstanding literary achievement across four categories: Fiction,Poetry,Translated Literature,and Young people’s Literature. The winners were selected from a field of five finalists in each category, chosen from over 1,700 submissions.
The National Book Awards, established in 1950, are among the most prestigious literary honors in the United States. They champion extraordinary writing and elevate the cultural conversation around books, impacting readership, author careers, and the broader literary landscape. This year’s selections reflect a diverse range of voices and perspectives, highlighting both established authors and rising stars.
Fiction: Karen Russell’s The Antidote claimed the Fiction prize.
poetry: Patricia Smith was honored with the Poetry award for The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected poems. Other finalists included Gabrielle Calvocoressi (The New Economy), Cathy Linh Che (Becoming Ghost), Tiana Clark (Scorched Earth), and Richard Siken (I Do Know Some Things).
Translated Literature: Gabriela Cabezón Cámara’s We Are Green and Trembling, translated by Robin Myers, received the Translated Literature award. The category’s finalists also featured Solvej Balle (On the Calculation of Volume (Book III), translated by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell), Anjet daanje (The Remembered Soldier, translated by David McKay), Hamid Ismailov (We Computers: A Ghazal Novel, translated by shelley Fairweather-Vega), and Neige sinno (Sad Tiger, translated by Natasha teacher).
Young People’s Literature: Daniel Nayeri’s The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story was awarded the Young People’s literature prize. Kyle Lukoff (A World Worth Saving), Amber McBride (The Leaving Room), Hannah V. Sawyerr (Truth Is), and Ibi Zoboi ((S)Kin) were also finalists in this category.
