The National Book Foundation and the NYU Creative Writing Program present readings by each of the 2022 National Book Award Finalists.
Each year, the Finalists in Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature gather the evening before the National Book Awards Ceremony to read excerpts from their honored works.
The 2022 National Book Awards Finalist Reading will be hosted by Saraciea J. Fennell, writer and founder of The Bronx is Reading. Doors will open at 6:30pm, and the program will begin at 7:00pm EST. Tickets required; please click here for the Eventbrite page.
The event will be livestreamed and in-person at the NYU Kimmel Center, Eisner & Lubin Auditorium. Presented in partnership with the National Book Foundation and the NYU Creative Writing Program, with assistance from the NYU Office of the Provost.
In-person audience members will need to provide proof of vaccination at check in; eligible vaccinations and exemption information is detailed below. Only guests who have registered in advance will be admitted. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the program to ensure a smooth check in process.
Fiction Finalists:
- Tess Gunty, The Rabbit Hutch
- Gayl Jones, The Birdcatcher
- Jamil Jan Kochai, The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories
- Sarah Thankam Mathews, All This Could Be Different
- Alejandro Varela, The Town of Babylon
Nonfiction Finalists:
- Meghan O’Rourke, The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness
- Imani Perry, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation
- David Quammen, Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus
- Ingrid Rojas Contreras, The Man Who Could Move Clouds: A Memoir
- Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice
Poetry Finalists:
- Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, Look at This Blue
- John Keene, Punks: New & Selected Poems
- Sharon Olds, Balladz
- Roger Reeves, Best Barbarian
- Jenny Xie, The Rupture Tense
Translated Literature Finalists:
- Jon Fosse and Damion Searls, A New Name: Septology VI-VII
- Scholastique Mukasonga and Mark Polizzotti, Kibogo
- Mónica Ojeda and Sarah Booker, Jawbone
- Samanta Schweblin and Megan McDowell, Seven Empty Houses
- Yoko Tawada and Margaret Mitsutani, Scattered All Over the Earth
Young People's Literature Finalists:
- Kelly Barnhill, The Ogress and the Orphans
- Sonora Reyes, The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
- Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, and Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice
- Sabaa Tahir, All My Rage
- Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance
(Finalists will not appear in this order)
Host:
Saraciea J. Fennell is a Brooklyn born Black Honduran American writer, publicist. and social entrepreneur. She is the author and editor of the YA nonfiction anthology Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora, founder and CEO of The Bronx is Reading, Executive Director of the Bronx Book Festival, Board Chair for Latinx in Publishing Inc., and the creator of Honduran Garifuna Writers. Her writing has appeared in Popsugar, Remezcla, Mitú, Hypebae, Refinery29, Culturess, and more. She lives in the Bronx with her family and Black poodle Oreo. Visit her online at www.saracieafennell.com and follow her on social @sj_fennell.
COVID-19 Protocol:
Masks are optional but strongly encouraged. All NYU attendees will be required to show an NYU Violet Go pass at check-in. Visitors (i.e., anyone who is not an NYU student, faculty member, or staff member) must show a valid government-issued photo ID should be prepared to show proof of being fully vaccinated (i.e., with all available doses and eligible boosters). Documentation must be in English and include: name and birthdate (which match ID), dates of doses, and vaccine manufacturer for each dose. Examples of acceptable forms of documentation include: CDC Vaccination Card(s), Excelsior Pass Plus (Excelsior Pass is not accepted), official documentation from a city or government registry, public health authority, healthcare provider, or online patient chart. Visitors may request an exemption from the vaccination requirements for medical or religious reasons; please email Madeleine Shelton at mshelton@nationalbook.org. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please email Madeleine Shelton at mshelton@nationalbook.org with any questions and accessibility requests.
