Readers > Adult & teen lists > Prize-Winning Fiction
Prize-Winning Fiction
All titles shelved in Fiction collection, except as noted: GN=graphic novel, J=juvenile fiction, M=mystery, SF=science fiction, W=western, Y=young adult fiction, YGN=young adult graphic novel.
Some titles may not be available at all locations. Please ask library staff for help if you are unable to find the item you want.
International
- Commonwealth
- Costa (formerly Whitbread)
- IMPAC Dublin
- Man Booker
- Miles Franklin
- Nobel
- Scotiabank Giller
National
Regional
International
Commonwealth Writers Prize
International in character and administration, this award is intended
to encourage the upsurge of new Commonwealth fiction and ensure that
works of merit reach a wider audience outside their country of origin.
Awarded by: The Commonwealth Foundation
Established: 1987
Best Book
- 2011 The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forma
- 2010 Solo by Rana Dasgupta
- 2009 The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
- 2008 The Book of Negroes (published in the U.S. as Someone Knows My Name) by Lawrence Hill
- 2007 Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
For more: http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/Howwedeliver/Prizes/CommonwealthWritersPrize
Costa Book Awards
(formerly known as the Whitbread Awards)
Awarded for: the most enjoyable books of the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.
Awarded by: Costa Coffee
Established: 1971
Book of the Year
- 2011 Pure by Andrew Miller
- 2010 Of Mutability by Jo Shapcott
- 2009 A Scattering by Christopher Reid
- 2008 The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
- 2007 Day by A.L. Kennedy
Novel
- 2011 Pure by Andrew Miller
- 2010 The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell
- 2009 Brooklyn by Colm Tóibin
- 2008 The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
- 2007 Day by A.L. Kennedy
First Novel
- 2011 Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson
- 2010 Witness the Night by Kishwar Desai
- 2009 Beauty by Raphael Selbourne
- 2008 The Outcast by Sadie Jones
- 2007 What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn
For more: http://www.costabookawards.com/
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
This award involves libraries from all corners of the globe and is open to books written in any language.
Awarded by: The Dublin Corporation, the Municipal Government of Dublin City, and the productivity improvement company IMPAC
Established: 1996
- 2011 Let the Great World Spin: A Novel by Colum McCann
- 2010 The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker
- 2009 Man Gone Down by Michael Thomas
- 2008 De Niro's Game by Rawi Hage
- 2007 Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
For more: www.impacdublinaward.ie/
Man Booker Prize
Awarded for: a full-length novel written in English and published for
the first time in the United Kingdom. Eligible authors are citizens of
Britain or the British Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland, South
Africa, Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Awarded by: The Book Trust
Established: 1968
- 2011 The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
- 2010 The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
- 2009 Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
- 2008 The White Tiger by Adiga, Aravind
- 2007 The Gathering by Anne Enright
For more: http://www.themanbookerprize.com/
Miles Franklin Literary Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award was established with a bequest from
the author Miles Franklin. It is awarded for the novel of the year
which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in
any of its phases.
Awarded by: Trust Company Ltd. acting as trustee for the award
Established: 1957
- 2011 That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott
- 2010 Truth by Peter Temple
- 2009 Breath by Tim Winton
- 2008 The Time We Have Taken by Steven Carroll
- 2007 Carpentaria by Alexis Wright
For more: http://www.milesfranklin.com.au/
Nobel Prize for Literature
Awarded to: an author for a distinguished body of work.
Awarded by: The Nobel Foundation
Established: 1895; first awarded in 1901
- 2011 Tomas Tranströmer (Sweden)
- 2010 Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru)
- 2009 Herta Müller (Germany)
- 2008 Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio (France and Mauritius)
- 2007 Doris Lessing (United Kingdom)
For more: www.nobel.se/literature/laureates/
Scotiabank Giller Prize
Awarded for: Canadian fiction.
Awarded by: Scotiabank and Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife
Doris Giller, a former literary editor at the Toronto Star
Established: 1994
- 2011 Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan
- 2010 The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud
- 2009 The Bishop’s Man by Linden MacIntyre
- 2008 Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden
- 2007 Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay
For more: http://www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca/
top of pageNational
BCALA Literary Award
Awarded for: works of fiction that offer outstanding depictions of the cultural, historical or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora and embody the highest quality of writing style by African American authors. Awarded by: Black Caucus of the American Library Association
- 2012 Silver Sparrow: A Novel by Tayari Jones
and The Taste of Salt: A Novel by Martha Southgate - 2011 Glorious: A Novel by Bernice L. McFadden
- 2010 Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young
- 2009 Trading Dreams At Midnight by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
- 2008 New England White by Stephen L. Carter
For more (including additional award categories): http://www.bcala.org/awards/literary.htm
Ernest Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award
Founded by the late Mary Hemingway, this award honors the memory of
her husband and recognizes distinguished first books of fiction.
Awarded by: PEN New England
Established: 1976
- 2011 The Madonnas of Echo Park: A Novel by Brando Skyhorse
- 2010 A Long Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
- 2009 A Gentleman's Guide To Graceful Living by Michael Dahlie
- 2008 Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
- 2007 Brief Encounters With Che Guevara by Ben Fountain
For more: http://www.pen-ne.org/news-noteworthy/penhemingway-award
National Book Award
Awarded for: an American book of high literary merit.
Awarded by: National Book Foundation
Established: 1950
- 2011 Salvage the Bones: A Novel by Jesmyn Ward
- 2010 Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon
- 2009 Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
- 2008 Shadow Country: A New Rendering of the Watson Legend by Peter Matthiessen
- 2007 Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
For more: http://www.nationalbook.org/index.html#
National Book Critics Circle Award
Awarded for: a book written in the English language by an American author and published for the first time in the United States.
Awarded by: National Book Critics Circle
Established: 1974
- 2010 A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
- 2009 Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
- 2008 2666 by Roberto Bolano
- 2007 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
- 2006 The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
For more: http://www.bookcritics.org/?go=awards
PEN/Faulkner Award
Founded by writers to honor their peers, this is now the largest juried award for fiction in the United States.
Awarded by: PEN/Faulkner Foundation
Established: 1980
- 2011 The Collected Stories of Deborah Eisenberg by Deborah Eisenberg
- 2010 War Dances by Sherman Alexie
- 2009 Netherland by Joseph O'Neill
- 2008 Everyman by Philip Roth
- 2007 The Great Man by Kate Christensen
For more: http://www.penfaulkner.org/award_for_fiction
Pulitzer Prize in Letters: Fiction
Awarded to: an American author in recognition of an outstanding
accomplishment in fiction, preferably dealing with the American
experience.
Awarded by: Pulitzer Prize Board, Columbia University
Established: 1917
- 2011 A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
- 2010 Tinkers by Paul Harding
- 2009 Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
- 2008 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
- 2007 The Road by Cormac McCarthy
For more: www.pulitzer.org
top of pageRegional
Oregon Book Award: Ken Kesey Award for the Novel
Awarded for: a work of literary merit written by an author who is a resident of Oregon.
Awarded by: Literary Arts, Inc.
Established: 2003
- 2010 Lean on Pete: A Novel by Willy Vlautin
- 2009 Livability: Stories by Jon Raymond
- 2008 Bearing the Body by Ehud Havazelet
- 2007 Twenty Questions by Alison Clement
- 2006 The Best People in the World by Justin Tussing
For more: www.literary-arts.org/awards/
Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association Book Award
Awarded for: a book published within the current calendar year,
written or illustrated by a resident of Washington, Oregon, Alaska,
Montana, and Idaho.
Awarded by: the Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association
Established 1965
- 2012
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
West of Here: A Novel by Jonathan Evison
Shards by Ismet Prcic
Habibi by Craig Thompson GN - 2011
The Lonely Polygamist: A Novel by Brady Udall
Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes
Memory Wall: Stories by Anthony Doerr - 2010
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest SF
The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha - 2009
Guernica: A Novel by Dave Boling
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein - 2008
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Y
Returning to Earth by Jim Harrison
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle
Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
For more (including nonfiction winners): http://www.pnba.org/awards.htm
Washington State Book Award (formerly the Governor's Writers Award)
Awarded for: outstanding books published by Washington authors the previous year.
Awarded by: Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library
Established: 1987
Fiction Award
- 2011 Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes
- 2010 Border Songs by Jim Lynch
- 2009 All About Lulu by Jonathan Evison
- 2008 Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
- 2007 The Dead Fish Museum by Charles D'Ambrosio
For more: http://www.spl.org/audiences/adults/washington-state-book-awards
top of pageChristian
The Christy Award: Contemporary Standalone
The Christy Award, named in honor of Catherine Marshall's novel, was
established to recognize excellence in Christian fiction by contemporary
authors.
Awarded by: The Christy Advisory Board
Established: 2000
- 2011 Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry
- 2010 The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson
- 2009 Dogwood by Chris Fabry
- 2008 Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery by Charles Martin
- 2007 Winter Birds by Jamie Langston Turner
For more: http://www.christyawards.com/
top of pageGay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (GLBTQ)
Lambda Award
Awarded for: the finest lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans literature available in the United States.
Awarded by: The Lambda Foundation
Established: 1989
Lesbian Fiction
- 2011 Inferno: A Poet's Novel by Eileen Myles
- 2010 A Field Guide to Deception by Jill Malone
- 2009 The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue
and All the Pretty Girls by Chandra Mayor - 2008 The IHOP Papers by Ali Liebegott
- 2007 The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
Gay Fiction
- 2011 Union Atlantic: A Novel by Adam Haslett
- 2010 Lake Overturn by Vestal McIntyre
- 2009 We Disappear by Scott Heim
- 2008 Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
- 2007 Suspension by Robert Westfield
For more (including additional award categories): http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/
Stonewall Book Award
Awarded for: English language works of exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered experience.
Awarded by: American Library Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table
Established: 1971
Barbara Gittings Literature Award
- 2011 More of This World or Maybe Another by Barb Johnson
- 2010 Stray Dog Winter: A Novel by David Francis
- 2009 Light Fell by Evan Fallenberg
- 2008 The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery
- 2007 Grief by Andrew Holleran
For more: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/glbtrt/stonewall/index.cfm
top of pageGraphic Novel
Eisner Award: Best Graphic Album - New
Awarded for: the best works in the comics artform.
Awarded by: the finalists on the ballot are selected by a blue-ribbon
committee that considers thousands of entries submitted by publishers
and creators. The nominees are then voted on by all parts of the comic
book industry: writers, artists, and other creators; publishers;
editors; and retailers and distributors.
Established: 1987
- 2011 The Return of the Dapper Men by Jim McCann and Janet Lee GN
and Wilson by Daniel Clowes GN - 2010 Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli GN
- 2009 Swallow Me Whole by Nate Powell GN
- 2008 Exit Wounds by Rutu Moran GN
- 2007 American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang YGN
For more: http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.php
top of pageHorror
Bram Stoker Award: Best Novel
Awarded for: superior achievement of any work of horror first published in the English language.
Awarded by: Horror Writers of America
Established: 1988
- 2010 A Dark Matter by Peter Straub
- 2009 Audrey's Door by Sarah Langan
- 2008 Duma Key by Stephen King
- 2007 The Missing by Sarah Langan
- 2006 Lisey's Story by Stephen King
For more: www.horror.org
top of pageMilitary
W. Y. Boyd Literary Award
Awarded for: excellence in military fiction.
Awarded by: History Roundtable of the American Library Association
Established: 1997
- 2011 Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes
- 2010 Seen the Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Gettysburg by John Hough, Jr.
- 2009 Peace by Richard Bausch
- 2008 A Different Kind of Honor: Lt. Cmdr. Peter Wake, U.S.N. in the War of the Pacific, 1879 by Robert N. Macomber
- 2007 The Deadly Embrace: A Novel of World War II by Robert J. Mrazek
For more: http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/awardsrecords/wyboydaward/wyboydaward.cfm
top of pageMystery
Agatha Award
Awarded to: mystery novels in the traditional method exemplified by Agatha Christie.
Awarded by: Malice Domestic Ltd
Established: 1988
Best Novel
- 2010 Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny M
- 2009 The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny M
- 2008 The Cruelest Month: A Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny M
- 2007 A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny M
- 2006 The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard M
Best First Novel
- 2010 The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames M
- 2009 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley M
- 2008 Death of a Cozy Writer: A St. Just Mystery by G.M. Malliet M
- 2007 Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
- 2006 The Heat of the Moon by Sandra Parshall M
For more: http://www.malicedomestic.org/agathaawards.html
Edgar Allan Poe Award
Awarded for: an outstanding contribution in mystery, crime and
suspense writing. Beginning in 1991, the Edgar was awarded to a book
published in the previous year.
Awarded by: Mystery Writers of America
Established: 1945
- 2011 The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton M
- 2010 The Last Child by John Hart M
- 2009 Blue Heaven by C.J. Box M
- 2008 Down River by John Hart
- 2007 The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin M
For more: http://theedgars.com/
Spotted Owl Award
Awarded to: a book published in the previous calendar year, written
by an author whose primary residence is in Alaska, Washington, Oregon,
Idaho or British Columbia.
Awarded by: Friends of Mystery
Established: 1996
- 2011 Crashers by Dana Haynes
- 2010 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley M
- 2009 Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin
- 2008 A Wrongful Death: A Barbara Holloway Novel by Kate Wilhelm M
- 2007 Days of Rage by Kris Nelscott M
and Lost Angel: A Nik Kane Alaska Mystery by Mike Doogan M (First Mystery Novel award)
For more: http://www.friendsofmystery.org/award.htm
top of pageScience Fiction
The Endeavour Award
Awarded for: a distinguished science fiction or fantasy book written
by a Pacific Northwest author or authors and published in the previous
year.
Awarded by: Oregon Science Fiction Conventions, Inc.
- 2011 Dreadnought by Cherie Priest SF
- 2010 Mind Over Ship by David Marusek SF
- 2009 Space Magic: Stories by David D. Levine SF
- 2008 The Silver Ship and the Sea by Brenda Cooper SF
- 2007 Forest Mage by Robin Hobb SF
For more: http://www.osfci.org/endeavour/index.php
Hugo Award
Awarded for: outstanding achievement in science fiction or fantasy.
Awarded by: World Science Fiction Society
Established: 1953
- 2011 Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis SF
- 2010 The City & The City by China Miéville SF
and The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi SF - 2009 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman J
- 2008 The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
- 2007 Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge SF
For more: www.thehugoawards.org/
James Tiptree, Jr. Award
Awarded for: gender-exploring science fiction.
Awarded by: James Tiptree, Jr. Literary Award Council
Established: 1991
- 2010 Baba Yaga Laid an Egg by Dubravka Ugresic
- 2009 Cloud and Ashes: Three Winter's Tales by Greer Gilman
and Ooku: The Inner Chambers Volumes 1 & 2 by Fumi Yoshinaga GN - 2008 The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness Y
and Filter House: Short Fiction by Nisi Shawl SF - 2007 The Carhullan Army (published in the U.S. as Daughters of the North) by Sarah Hall
- 2006 Half Life by Shelley Jackson
For more: http://tiptree.org/
John W. Campbell Award
Awarded for the best science-fiction novel of the year, the John W.
Campbell Award was created to honor the late editor of Astounding
Science Fiction magazine, now named Analog. Campbell edited the magazine
from 1937 until his death in 1971, and is considered the father of
modern science fiction by many writers and scholars.
Awarded by: Campbell Award Jury
Established: 1973
- 2011 The Dervish House by Ian McDonald SF
- 2010 The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi SF
- 2009 Song of Time by Ian MacLeod
and Little Brother by Cory Doctorow Y - 2008 In War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonan SF
- 2007 Titan by Ben Bova SF
For more: http://www2.ku.edu/~sfcenter/campbell.htm
Nebula Award
Awarded for: excellence in science fiction writing.
Awarded by: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Established: 1965
- 2010 Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis SF
- 2009 The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi SF
- 2008 Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin Y
- 2007 The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
- 2006 Seeker by Jack McDevitt SF
For more: http://www.nebulaawards.com/
Philip K. Dick Award
Awarded to the best original science fiction paperback published in the United States.
Awarded by: Philadelphia Science Fiction Society
Established: 1982
- 2010 The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder SF
- 2009 Bitter Angels by C. L. Anderson
- 2008 Emissaries from the Dead by Adam-Troy Castro SF
and Terminal Mind by David Walton - 2007 Nova Swing by M. John Harrison SF
- 2006 Spin Control by Chris Moriarty SF
For more: http://www.philipkdickaward.org/
top of pageShort Story
Story Prize
The Story Prize is an annual book award honoring the author of an
outstanding collection of short fiction with a $20,000 cash award.
Eligible books must be written in English and first published in the
United States during a calendar year.
Awarded by: The Story Prize
Established: 2004
- 2010 Memory Wall: Stories by Anthony Doerr
- 2009 In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
- 2008 Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories by Tobias Wolff
- 2007 Like You'd Understand, Anyway: Stories by Jim Shepard
- 2006 The Stories of Mary Gordon by Mary Gordon
For more: http://www.thestoryprize.org
top of pageWestern
Spur Award
Awarded for: excellence in Western literature.
Awarded by: Western Writers of America
Established: 1953
Best Western Long Novel
- 2011 Last Train From Cuernavaca by Lucia St. Clair Robson
- 2010 Echoes of Glory by Robert Flynn
- 2009 Shavetail by Thomas Cobb
- 2008 Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
- 2007 The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook
Best Western Short Novel
- 2011 Snowbound by Richard S. Wheeler
- 2010 Far Bright Star by Robert Olmstead
- 2009 Another Man's Moccasins: A Walt Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson M
- 2008 The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle
- 2007 The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman M
For more: www.westernwriters.org/spur_award_history.htm
top of pageWomen
Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize
Awarded for: an outstanding book-length work of prose fiction by an American woman.
Awarded by: the University English department and Susan B. Anthony
Institute for Gender and Women's Studies, in conjunction with Writers
and Books
Established: 1975
- 2010 The Dance Boots by Linda LeGarde Grover
- 2009 Come Sunday by Isla Morley
- 2008 The Groom to Have Been by Saher Alam
- 2007 Set Me Free: A Novel in Five Acts by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
- 2006 The Dissident by Nell Freudenberger
For more: http://www.rochester.edu/College/WST/SBAI/kafka
Orange Broadband Prize
Awarded for: full length novel, written in English by a woman of any
nationality, published for the first time in the United Kingdom between 1
April of the year before the prize is awarded and 31 March of the year
in which the prize is awarded.
Awarded by: Writers' Committee of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction and the Orange Broadband Award for New Writers
Established: 1995
Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction
- 2011 The Tiger's Wife: A Novel by Tea Obreht
- 2010 The Lacuna: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver
- 2009 Home by Marilynne Robinson
- 2008 The Road Home by Rose Tremain
- 2007 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
For more: http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/
Willa Literary Award
Awarded to outstanding literature featuring women's stories set in the West.
Awarded by: Panel of 21 librarians on behalf of Women Writing the West, a
non-profit association of writers and other professionals writing and
promoting the Women's West
Established: 1999
Contemporary Fiction
- 2011 Unbroken by Jamie Lisa Forbes
- 2010 Wild Sorrow by Sandi Ault M
- 2009 The Last Cowgirl by Jana Richman
- 2008 What the Thunder Said by Janet Peery
- 2007 The Girl from Charnelle by K. L. Cook
Historical Fiction
- 2011 Take Me Home: A Novel by Brian Leung
- 2010 My Name Is Falon: One Woman's Saga from Scotland to the Texas Frontier by Kim Wiese
- 2009 Charley's Choice: The Life and Times of Charley Parkhurst by Fern J. Hill
- 2008 Harpsong by Rilla Askew
- 2007 The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook
For more: http://www.womenwritingthewest.org/index.html
top of page
