Massachusetts Book Awards

Ozeki, Ruth. The book of form and emptiness.
The Fiction Award winner is The Book of Form and Emptiness (Viking Press) by Ruth Ozeki of Northampton. After the tragic death of his father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. At first, Benny tries to ignore them, but soon the voices follow him outside the house, driving him at last to seek refuge in the silence of a large public library, where objects are well-behaved and know to speak in whispers. There, Benny discovers a strange new world.

Papillon, Buki. An ordinary wonder
Fiction Honor is awarded to An Ordinary Wonder (Pegasus Books) by Buki Papillon of Boston.

Sherbrooke, Katherine A. Leaving Coy’s Hill: a novel
Fiction Honor is awarded to Leaving Coy’s Hill (Pegasus Books) by Katherine A. Sherbrooke of Boston.

Miles, Tiya. All that she carried: The journey of Ashley’s sack, a Black family keepsake
The Nonfiction Award is All That She Carried (Random House) by Tiya Miles of Cambridge. A renowned historian traces the life of a single object handed down through three generations of Black women– a simple sack filled with only a few objects– to craft a testament to those left out of the archives.

Philbrick, Nathaniel. Travels with George: In search of Washington and his legacy
The Nonfiction Honor is awarded to Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy (Viking Press) by Nathaniel Philbrick of Nantucket.

Kolbert, Elizabeth Under a white sky: The nature of the future
The Nonfiction Honor is awarded to Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future (Crown/Random House) by Elizabeth Kolbert of Williamstown.

Espada, Martín. Floaters: poems
The Poetry Award winner is Floaters: Poems (W. W. Norton) by Martín Espada of Shelburne Falls. From the winner of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize come masterfully crafted narratives of protest, grief and love.

Newman, Lesléa. I wish my father: poems
Poetry Honor is awarded to I Wish My Father: Poems (Headmistress Press) by Lesléa Newman of Holyoke.

Thomas, Cammy. Tremors: poems
Poetry Honor is awarded to Tremors: Poems (Four Way Books) by Cammy Thomas of Bolton.

Walker, Tricia Elam. Dream street
The Award winner in the Picture Book/Early Reader category is Dream Street (Anne Schwartz Books/ Random House Children’s Books) by Tricia Elam Walker with illustrations by Ekua Holmes of Roxbury. Visit a truly special street bursting with joy, hope, and dreams, inspired by the neighborhood where Tricia Elam Walker and Ekua Holmes grew up as cousins.

Davies, Jacqueline Bubbles . . . up!
Picture Books and Early Readers Honor is awarded to Bubbles . . . UP! (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins) by Jacqueline Davies of Northampton, with illustrations by Sonia Sánchez.

Gianferrari, Maria. Be a tree!
Picture Books and Early Readers Honor is awarded to Be a Tree! (Abrams Books for Young Readers) by Maria Gianferrari with illustrations by Felicita Sala.

LaRocca, Rajani. Red, white, and whole
The Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature Award winner is Red, White, and Whole (Quill Tree Books/Harper Collins) by Rajani LaRocca of Concord. A heartbreakingly hopeful novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia.

Lo, Malinda. Last night at the telegraph club
Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature Honor is awarded to Last Night at the Telegraph Club (Dutton/PYR) by Malinda Lo.

Sandler, Martin W. Picturing a nation: The Great Depression’s finest photographers introduce America to itself
Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature Honor is awarded to Picturing a Nation: The Great Depression’s Finest Photographers Introduce America to Itself (Candlewick Press) by Martin W. Sandler.