Nominated By BPL Librarians, Titles Reflect the Urgent Social and Political Issues Of Our Time
BROOKLYN—The long lists for the 2020 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize were announced today. Drawing on a broad knowledge of traditional literature and contemporary writing, the Prize is one of a few literary awards selected by a panel of librarians.
“The Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize is a testament to the essential work of librarians and writers. In the midst of extreme change and isolation, they help us fathom complex questions and articulate overwhelming feeling; help us connect to each other and our society; and help us imagine where to go from here," said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. "The 2020 longlist reflects many facets of the painful history with which we are currently grappling, and reminds us that if we want to build a better future, reading is crucial."
The longlists include memoir, history, reportage, essays, novellas, novels, and poetry by veteran and debut authors alike. The staggering breadth of the stories they tell reflect both the library’s varied collection and the diverse population it serves.
Librarians from across the borough submitted 110 titles, published after June 1, 2019, for consideration. A volunteer team of nearly two dozen librarians—specializing in fields ranging from adult literature, business and career services, and historical collections—served on the selection committee. The committee sought books that boldly transcend boundaries to tell previously overlooked stories
"This year's nominees reflect our commitment to drawing attention to authors who excel at telling powerful truths about challenging subjects, and those who add excitement to our reading with their innovative approaches," said Mark Daly, a librarian at the Business and Career Center and the coordinator for the Literary Prize. "By highlighting these worthy books from the past year, we hope to spark conversation that brings Brooklynites closer together in a challenging time.”
NONFICTION
Alphabetical by author last name
America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States
By Erika Lee
Basic Books (Hachette)
A Black Women's History of the United States
By Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross
Beacon Press
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
By Robert Kolker
Doubleday (Knopf/Penguin Random House)
Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women That A Movement Forgot
By Mikki Kendall
Viking (Penguin Random House)
How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir
By Saeed Jones
Simon & Schuster
I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl's Notes from the End of the World
By Kai Cheng Thom
Arsenal Pulp Press
The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier
By Ian Urbina
Knopf (Penguin Random House)
Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code
By Ruha Benjamin
Polity
FICTION
Alphabetical by author last name
The Deep
By Rivers Solomon (with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes)
Gallery/Saga Press (Simon & Schuster)
Gods of Jade and Shadow
By Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Del Rey (Random House)
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
By Ocean Vuong
Penguin
Patsy: A Novel
By Nicole Dennis-Benn
Liveright (W. W. Norton)
Postcolonial Love Poem
By Natalie Diaz
Graywolf Press
The Starless Sea
By Erin Morgenstern
Doubleday (Knopf)
This is How You Lose The Time War
By Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Gallery/Saga Press (Simon & Schuster)
Weather: A Novel
By Jenny Offill
Knopf (Random House)
The 2020 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize, presented by the Brooklyn Eagles, is generously supported by the Peck Stacpoole Foundation. The Brooklyn Eagles are a vibrant group of young and engaged Brooklynites who are passionate about Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and their community. They host events to connect new patrons to the Library, celebrate books through our literary prize, volunteer at branches and spread the word about BPL’s essential services for our borough.
The short list will be announced in mid-October.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.