Every year, the National Book Awards honor the best books published in the current year throughout a variety of genres. On Sept. 12 the contenders for the Young People’s Literature prize were announced, including two writers from Minnesota.
Kate DiCamillo is well known for her novels “The Tale of Desperaux” and “Because of Winn-Dixie.”
These were staples in classrooms around America and were later adapted into children’s films.
Previously, DiCamillo’s “Flora & Ulysses: The Illustrated Adventures,” was long-listed for the National Book Awards in 2013, and she was a finalist in 2001 for “The Tiger Rising.”
DiCamillo currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and writes various children’s books.
This year, her novel “Raymie Nightingale” made the short-list.
“Raymie Nightingale” follows 10-year-old Raymie after her father leaves to be with a dental hygienist. The book centers around Raymie’s belief that if she wins the Little Miss Central Florida competition, her father will come home.
The second Minnesotan writer, Caren Stelson, writes the true story of a boy who survives the Nagasaki bombing in 1945.
“Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story” chronicles 6-year-old Sachiko Yasui’s life from 1945 to 2015, the 70th anniversary of the bombing.
Stelson met Yasui when he visited Minneapolis in 2005, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
The other eight finalists for the National Book Award hail from all over the country, making up a very interesting list of award winning authors.
“Booked” by Kwame Alexander focuses on an eighth grade boy who would rather play soccer than read books. After a horrible accident, the boy turns to the books he’s avoided.
“March: Book Three” by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell is the highly anticipated conclusion to the best-selling March trilogy.
“When the Sea Turned to Silver” by Grace Lin takes its inspiration from Chinese folklore. When the emperor’s soldiers take young Pinmei’s grandmother, she searches for the Luminous Stone as a trade for her grandmother’s freedom.
“When the Moon was Ours” by Anna-Marie McLemore follows Miel and Samir. Samir is rumored to paint moons all over the city while Miel grows roses out of his wrists. Four beautiful witches will do anything to get Miel’s roses.
“Burn Baby Burn” by Meg Medina takes us back New York City in 1977. Nora Lopez is 17-year-old just trying to survive the summer as an arsonist is setting fires, the Son of Sam serial killer is on the loose and a massive blackout plagues the city.
“Pax” by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Jon Klassen. Three hundred miles away from home at his grandfather’s house, Peter embarks on a journey to find his fox, Pax, after releasing him on the bidding of his father.
“Ghost” by Jason Reynolds focuses on Ghost, Lu, Patina and Sunny who were picked for an elite middle school track team. The team could lead them to the junior Olympics if they can get their acts together.
“The Sun is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon tells the ill-fated story of young lovers Natasha and Daniel. A modern “Romeo and Juliet,” this love story hangs on the precipice of tragedy and happily ever after.
The National Book Awards will announce the finalists on Oct. 13 and the winners will be named Nov. 16.