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Kirkus Prize 2020

The 2020 Kirkus Prize went to Luster by Raven Leilani (Fiction), Stakes Is High by Mychal Denzel Smith (Nonfiction) and I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James (Young Readers' Literature). 18 books were finalists across 3 categories.

Winners

Fiction

  1. Luster by Raven Leilanisource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Stakes Is High by Mychal Denzel Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Young Readers' Literature

  1. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. Jamessource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Fiction

  1. Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abrahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Deacon King Kong by James McBridesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fiebre Tropical by Juliana Delgado Loperasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuartsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldsteinsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. A Furious Sky by Eric Jay Dolinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Caste by Isabel Wilkersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fathoms by Rebecca Giggssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Address Book by Deirdre Masksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Fumi Mini Nakamurasource (opens in a new tab)

Young Readers' Literature

  1. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkafsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goadesource (opens in a new tab)

About the Kirkus Prize

The Kirkus Prize began in 2014. Each year has six finalists in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Young Readers' Literature, one of which wins; source is kirkusreviews.com/prize/<year>/. Young Readers' Literature author is writer plus illustrator; translators are separate. Titles are main titles, title-cased from Kirkus's all-caps listing.

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

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