Each year at the State Library, we look forward to receiving the Massachusetts Book Awards winning books from the Massachusetts Center for the Book. This long-standing awards program recognizes exceptional books written by Massachusetts authors each year, and the State Library is proud to serve as the depository library for all of the award-winning, honors, and must-read books.
The most recent award winners, from the 21st Annual Book Awards, are as follows:
- Fiction: The Bear by Andrew Krivak
- Nonfiction: How to Make a Slave and Other Essays by Jerald Walker
- Poetry: When My Body Was a Clinched Fist by Enzo Silon Surin
- Middle Grade/Young Adult: Flamer by Mike Curato
- Picture Book/Early Reader: Wherever I Go by Mary Wagley Copp
If you’d like to read one of these award-winning books, they’re available to check out from the State Library via interlibrary loan. Simply make a request through your local library, and we will send the book your way!
In addition to retaining these special books within our collections, the State Library has also been honored to co-host virtual conversations with several Massachusetts Book Awards winners over the years as part of our Author Talk series. Most recently, we were excited to join several Massachusetts public libraries in co-hosting award-winner Jerald Walker, author of How to Make a Slave and Other Essays. If you missed it, you can view the recording of this author talk on the Ashland Public Library’s YouTube channel.
For more information about the Massachusetts Book Awards, please visit the website for the Massachusetts Center for the Book, and you can also explore all of the award-winning books in the State Library’s online catalog.
Laura Schaub
Cataloging Librarian