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Aspen Words Literary Prize 2020

The 2020 Aspen Words Literary Prize went to The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. 5 books made the shortlist and 16 the longlist.

Winner

  1. The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefterisource (opens in a new tab)

Shortlist

  1. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luisellisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lot by Bryan Washingtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Opioid, Indiana by Brian Allen Carrsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Bennsource (opens in a new tab)

Longlist

  1. Dominicana by Angie Cruzsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuongsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstinesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Affairs of the Falcóns by Melissa Riverosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Beadworkers by Beth Piatotesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Other Americans by Laila Lalamisource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The World Doesn't Require You by Rion Amilcar Scottsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffinsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Your House Will Pay by Steph Chasource (opens in a new tab)

About the Aspen Words Literary Prize

Winner, finalists (Shortlist) and longlist for every prize year since the first in 2018. Year is the prize year Aspen Words uses, announced each spring for fiction published the year before. Each book appears once, at its highest level. Lists come from Aspen Words' own pages: archive.org snapshots of the per-year and longlist/finalist pages for 2018-2025, and the live prize page for the 2025 longlist and the 2023-2025 winners. The 2026 prize falls outside the catalog's year range.

Organization: Aspen Words (Aspen Institute). Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

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