Massachusetts Center for the Book is pleased to announce the Award and Honors titles in the 24th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards program, representing significant achievements in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature published during 2023.

“Every year, judges from the writing, publishing, bookselling, and library communities come together to select the best of the best—books that haunt and inspire, books that motivate us to think, feel, and learn,” observed executive director Courtney Andree. “This year’s awards recognize both established and debut authors from across Massachusetts, showcasing a depth of creativity and insight.”

FICTION

The Fiction Award winner is Kantika (Henry Holt/Metropolitan Books) by Elizabeth Graver of Lincoln.

Fiction Honors are awarded to The Light of Seven Days (Delphinium Books) by River Adams of Marlborough and Shark Heart (Simon & Schuster/Marysue Rucci Books) by Emily Habeck of Cambridge.

NONFICTION

The Nonfiction Award winner is Winter Solstice (Black Sparrow Press) by Nina MacLaughlin of Cambridge.

The Nonfiction Honors titles are Everyday Something Has Tried to Kill Me and Has Failed (ig Publishing) by Kim McLarin of Milton and Into the Amazon (W.W. Norton) by Larry Rohter of Fall River.

POETRY

The Poetry Award winner is Fierce Elegy (Wesleyan University Press) by Peter Gizzi of Holyoke.

Honors Poetry collections are Navigating the Reach (Salmon Poetry) by Mary Buchinger of Cambridge and Ordinary Entanglement (Cleveland State University Poetry Center) by Melissa Dickey of Deerfield.

TRANSLATED LITERATURE

The Translated Literature Award winner is My Language is a Jealous Lover by Adrián N. Bravi, translated by Victoria Offredi Poletto and Giovanna Bellesia-Conntuzzi (Rutgers University Press), both of Northampton.

MIDDLE GRADE / YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

The Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature Award winner is The Fall of Whit Rivera (Holiday House) by Crystal Maldonado of Springfield.

Honors titles are The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow (Charlesbridge Publishing) by Elaine Dimopoulos of Belmont and I Am Not Alone (Scholastic) by Francisco X. Stork of Sherborn.

PICTURE BOOK / EARLY READER

The Award winner in the Picture Book/Early Reader category is Once Upon a Book (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) by Grace Lin of Northampton and Kate Messner.

Honors titles are Night Owl Night (Candlewick Press) by Susan Edwards Richmond of Stow and Mole Is Not Alone (Henry Holt and Company) by Maya Tatsukawa of Arlington.

THANKS TO THE JUDGES IN THE 24TH ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM

Chris Boucher (Boston College); Keri Bradeen (Somerville Public Library); Hannah Brooks-Motl (Amherst College Press); James Fraser (Grolier Poetry Bookstore, Cambridge); Regina Galasso (UMass Amherst Translation Center); Natane Halasz (Harold F. Johnson Library, Hampshire College); Jill Kenny (Chelmsford Public Library); Marita Klements (Lynnfield Public Library); Sarah Klock (Andover Bookstore); Francie Lin (Boston Globe); Izzy Malvezzi (Agawam Public Library); Kate Martineau (Montague Central Library); Maria Rios (Du Bois Library, UMass Amherst); Debra Rivera (Little Bee Bookshop, Ayer); Sarah Smith (author, Brookline); and staff and consultants of Massachusetts Center for the Book.

SUBMIT TO THE 25TH ANNUAL MASS BOOK AWARDS

Now accepting submissions to the fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novel/memoir, picture book/early reader, YA/middle grade literature, and notable contribution to publishing categories.

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