Books Honored by the National Book Foundation

National Book Award Medals

The mission of the National Book Foundation is to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of great writing in America. National Book Awards are given five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature.

Here we highlight the winners of African descent. The first African-American writer to win a National Book Award was Ralph Ellison, in 1953, for Invisible Man.

Check Out AALBC’s Coverage of the National Book Awards:  20172016201520142013


9 Books Honored by the National Book Foundation in 2017

Winner - Fiction

Finalist - Nonfiction

Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge
by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

    Publication Date: Feb 07, 2017
    List Price: $26.00
    Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
    Classification: Nonfiction
    ISBN13: 9781501126390
    Imprint: Atria / 37 Ink
    Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
    Parent Company: KKR & Co. Inc.

    Read a Description of Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge


    Finalist - Poetry

    Don’t Call Us Dead: Poems
    by Danez Smith

    Publication Date: Sep 05, 2017
    List Price: $16.00
    Format: Paperback, 96 pages
    Classification: Poetry
    ISBN13: 9781555977856
    Imprint: Graywolf Press
    Publisher: Graywolf Press
    Parent Company: Graywolf Press

    Read a Description of Don’t Call Us Dead: Poems


    Finalist - Young People’s Literature

    Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
    by Rita Williams-Garcia, Illustrated by Frank Morrison

    Publication Date: May 09, 2017
    List Price: $16.99
    Format: Hardcover, 176 pages
    Classification: Fiction
    Target Age Group: Middle Grade
    ISBN13: 9780062215918
    Imprint: Amistad
    Publisher: HarperCollins
    Parent Company: News Corp

    Read a Description of Clayton Byrd Goes Underground


    Finalist - Young People’s Literature

    American Street
    by Ibi Zoboi

    Publication Date: Feb 14, 2017
    List Price: $17.99
    Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
    Classification: Fiction
    Target Age Group: Young Adult
    ISBN13: 9780062473042
    Imprint: Balzer + Bray
    Publisher: HarperCollins
    Parent Company: News Corp

    Read a Description of American Street


    Longlist - Fiction

    Longlist - Nonfiction

    Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News
    by Kevin Young

    Publication Date: Nov 14, 2017
    List Price: $30.00
    Format: Hardcover, 480 pages
    Classification: Nonfiction
    ISBN13: 9781555977917
    Imprint: Graywolf Press
    Publisher: Graywolf Press
    Parent Company: Graywolf Press

    Read a Description of Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News


    Longlist - Young People’s Literature

    The Hate U Give
    by Angie Thomas

    Publication Date: Feb 28, 2017
    List Price: $18.99
    Format: Hardcover, 464 pages
    Classification: Fiction
    Target Age Group: Young Adult
    ISBN13: 9780062498533
    Imprint: Balzer + Bray
    Publisher: HarperCollins
    Parent Company: News Corp

    Read a Description of The Hate U Give


    Longlist - Young People’s Literature

    Long Way Down
    by Jason Reynolds

    Publication Date: Oct 17, 2017
    List Price: $17.99
    Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
    Classification: Fiction
    Target Age Group: Young Adult
    ISBN13: 9781481438254
    Imprint: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
    Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
    Parent Company: KKR & Co. Inc.

    Read a Description of Long Way Down