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National Book Awards 2016

The 2016 National Book Awards went to The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (Fiction), Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (Nonfiction) and The Performance of Becoming Human by Daniel Borzutzky (Poetry), with winners in 1 more category. 20 books were finalists and 40 books made the longlist across 4 categories.

Winners

Fiction

  1. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendisource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. The Performance of Becoming Human by Daniel Borzutzkysource (opens in a new tab)

Young People's Literature

  1. March: Book Three by Nate Powell, Andrew Aydin and John Lewissource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Fiction

  1. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. News of the World by Paulette Jilessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Throwback Special by Chris Bacheldersource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War by Viet Thanh Nguyensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschildsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America by Andrés Reséndezsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Archeophonics by Peter Gizzisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Collected Poems 1974 – 2004 by Rita Dovesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Look by Solmaz Sharifsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Abridged History of Rainfall by Jay Hoplersource (opens in a new tab)

Young People's Literature

  1. Ghost by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Linsource (opens in a new tab)

Longlist

Fiction

  1. Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslettsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Miss Jane by Brad Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Milletsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth McKenziesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwellsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. America’s War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History by Andrew J. Bacevichsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American Eugenics, and the Sterilization of Carrie Buck by Adam Cohensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Firebrand and the First Lady: Portrait of a Friendship: Pauli Murray, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Struggle for Social Justice by Patricia Bell-Scottsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Slave’s Cause: A History of Abolition by Manisha Sinhasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O’Neilsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Bestiary by Donika Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Blackacre by Monica Younsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Blue Laws by Kevin Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Selected Poems of Donald Hall by Donald Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. World of Made and Unmade by Jane Meadsource (opens in a new tab)

Young People's Literature

  1. Booked by Kwame Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medinasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Pax by Sara Pennypackersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story by Caren B. Stelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemoresource (opens in a new tab)

About the National Book Awards

From nationalbook.org year pages. Each book appears once, at its highest tier, as the Foundation lists it: longlisted books that became finalists or winners are listed only at that tier. Longlists began in 2013; Translated Literature began in 2018. Translated Literature entries name the original author as author and the translator(s) as translator.

Organization: National Book Foundation. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

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