Books submitted for the 2023-2024, 36th Minnesota Book Awards. Last updated 1/3/2023.
Children’s Literature:
100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle; illustrations by Lian Cho (Penguin Random House/Dial Books for Young Readers)
A is for Aeronaut: Eve's Alphabetical Quest by Jewett and Barbara Benson (self-published)
The ABCs of Inclusion by Beth Leipholtz; illustrations by Anastasiya Kanavaliuk (Wise Ink Creative Publishing)
Baby Be by Alison McGhee; illustrations by Sean Qualls (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)
Behold! It's UniPig! by Patrick Hueller; illustrations by C.S. Jennings (River Horse Books)
Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers? by Junauda Petrus; illustrations by Kristen Uroda (Penguin Random House/Dutton Children's Books)
Can't Nobody Make A Sweet Potato Pie Like Our Mama! by Rose McGee; illustrations by Christopheraaron Deanes (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Everything a Drum by Sarah Warren; illustrations by Camila Carrossine (Amicus/Amicus Ink)
Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons by Laura Purdie Salas; illustrations by Alexandria Neonakis (Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group)
Follow the Flyway: The Marvel of Bird Migration by Sarah Nelson; illustrations by Maya Hanisch (Barefoot Books)
Goodnight, Little Man by Daniel Bernstrom; illustrations by Heidi Woodward Sheffield (HarperCollins)
The Great Get-Together by Karlyn Coleman; illustrations by Cori Doerrfeld (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Halloween in the Orchard by Phyllis Alsdurf; illustrations by Lisa Hunt (Beaming Books/1517 Media)
Hero Now Crowned by Katy Tessman (self-published)
Hoopless by Nick Healy; illustrations by Randal Jackson (River Horse Books)
The House We Sheltered In and The Masks We Wore by Freeman Ng; illustrations by Alicia Schwab, Annie Kuhn, Haley Grunloh, Jessica Chrysler, Juliana Castro, Olivia Pinney Rebecca Hoenig, Ruby Michlle, Sara Nintzel, Wendy Roble, Cheryl Ann Warren, Eshanthie Tyner & Gabriela Vega (self-published)
Looking for Happy by Ty Chapman; illustrations by Keenon Ferrell (Beaming Books/1517 Media)
I Do Declare! A Norwegian Fair! by Charissa Bates and Nadja Bullis; illustrated by Nadja Bullis (self-published)
I'm So Glad There's Someone by Ruth Anfinson Bures; illustrations by Amy Kleinhans (Orange Hat Publishing)
Nana and Abuela by Monica Rojas; illustrations by Emiko Rainbow (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Nature's Yucky in the Sea by Lee Ann Landstrom & Karen I. Shragg; illustrations by Rachel Rogge (Mountain Press Publishing Company)
NOT a Book About Bunnies by Amanda Henke; illustrations by Anna Daviscourt (Starry Forest Books)
Opposites Are Natural by Kate Riggs; illustrations by Maria Cristina Pritelli (The Creative Company/Creative Editions)
Puddle Song by Laura Purdie Salas; illustrations by Monique Felix (The Creative Company/Creative Editions)
Push-Pull Morning: Dog-Powered Poems About Matter and Energy by Lisa Westberg Peters; illustrations by Serge Bloch (Astra Books for Young Readers/Wordsong)
Rise to the Sky: How the World's Tallest Trees Grow Up by Rebecca Hirsch; illustrations by Mia Posada (Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group)
Ronni Raccoon and the Foster Bunnies by Luci Hollenkamp; illustrations by Sherri Marteney (self-published)
Sasquatch and Squirrel by Chris Monroe (Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group)
Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight by Shannon Gibney; illustrations by Charly Palmer (University of Minnesota Press)
See the Ghost by David LaRochelle; illustrations by Mike Wohnoutka (Candlewick Press)
Star Party by Polly Carlson-Voiles; illustrations by Consie Powell (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by Caren Stelson; illustrations by Selina Alko (Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group)
Tangle-Knot by Loretta Ellsworth; illustrations by Annabel Tempest (Page Street Kids)
Thundermouse by Caroline "Blaze" Jensen; illustrations by Donna Eicher (self-published)
Too Many Hugs: A Book About Consent by Yvonne Pearson; illustrations by Maria Burobkina (Bushel and Peck Books)
The Unbelievable Topsy-Turvy Day! by Leanne M. Benson (self-published)
Ups and Downs by Mike Wohnoutka (Candlewick Press)
We, the Curious Ones by Marion Dane Bauer; illustrations by Hari & Deepti (Candlewick Press)
When Fall Comes by Aimée Bissonette; illustrated by Erin Hourigan (Sasquatch Books/Little Bigfoot)
When Summer Comes by Aimée Bissonette; illustrated by Erin Hourigan (Sasquatch Books/Little Bigfoot)
Zap! Clap! Boom! The Story of a Thunderstorm by Laura Purdie Salas; illustrations by Elly MacKay (Bloomsbury Children's)
General Nonfiction:
100 Morning Treats by Sarah Kieffer (Chronicle Books)
Big-Hearted Entrepreneur: Own Your Worth and Amplify a Mission That Matters by Suzi Hunn (Page Two Books)
Colonel Hans Christian Heg by Odd Lovell (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others by Amy Thielan (W.W. Norton & Company)
The French Art of Living Well: Finding Joie de Vivre in the Everyday World by Cathy Yandell (St. Martins Press)
The Great Clivette by Michael MacBride (Salty Book Publishing Company, LLC)
The Greatest Summer in Baseball History by John Rosengren (Sourcebooks)
How to Talk to Porcupines: a Youth-Worker's Communication Field Guide by Allegra Birdseye-Hannula (Beaver's Pond Press)
The Language of Trust: Communicate to Build Meaningful Relationships in Business and Life by Ingrid Christensen (New Degree Press)
Iron Horse Cowgirls: Louise Scherbyn and the Women Motorcyclists of the 1930s and 1940s by Linda Back McKay & Kate St. Vincent Vogl (McFarland)
Lessons on the Road to Peace by John Noltner (self-published)
The Lost Art of Wisdom in the Balance of Sacrifice by N. Daniel (self-published)
The Needle and the Lens: Pop Goes to the Movies from Rock 'n' Roll to Synthwave by Nate Patrin (University of Minnesota Press)
Park Place Out West by David Heberlein (George F. Thompson Publishing)
Racism Untaught: Revealing and Unlearning Racialized Design by Terresa Moses and Lisa E. Mercer (The MIT Press)
The Seven Generations and The Seven Grandfather Teachings by James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw (self-published)
Smoke on the Waterfront: The Northern Waters Smokehaus Cookbook by Greg Conley (University of Minnesota Press)
The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself: Racial Myths and Our American Narratives by David Mura (University of Minnesota Press)
The Subtle Art of Suffering in the Balance of Love by N. Daniel (self-published)
Threading a Kayak Down the Mississippi by Dennis Van Norman (Lyons Press/Globe Pequot)
Vanished in Vermillion by Lou Raguse (Post Hill Press)
We Will Be Free: The Life and Faith of Sojourner Truth by Nancy Koester (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
When Winter Came: A Country Doctor's Journey to Fight the Flu Pandemic of 1918 by Mary Beth Sartor Obermeyer (Mayo Clinic Press)
Genre Fiction:
Always a Groomsman by Michel Prince (Satin Romance)
An October's Journey: Poe's Final Gift by James McKenna (self-published)
Becoming Birch: Timeless Tales in the Wheel of the Year by Elizabeth Rowan Keith (self-published)
Big Sugar: A Bridgid Reardon Mystery by Mary Logue (University of Minnesota Press)
Blazing China by R. F. Whong (Vidasym Publishing)
Breaking In by Tyler Schwanke (Blackstone Publishing)
Caravans in the Dark by B.K. Oldre (She Writes Press)
To Catch a Storm by Mindy Mejia (Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press)
Citadel by C.M. Alongi (Blackstone Publishing)
Claw Heart Mountain by David Oppegaard (CamCat Books)
Courting Fire by Tamara Hughes (self-published)
Crashing Through the Windshield by Kathryn Kaidet (self-published)
Crushed by James Troe (self-published)
Curves for Days by Laura Moher (Sourcebooks/Casablanca)
Design Flaws: A Grayson Dyle Mystery by Joe Golemo (Level Best Books)
The Devil You Know by P.J. Tracy (Macmillan Publishers/Minotaur Books)
Diamonds, Diesel & Doom by Mary Seifert (Secret Staircase/Columbine Publishing Group)
Fail Deadly by John Rogers (Gotuit Publishing, LLC)
The First Bright Thing by JR Dawson (Tor Publishing Group/Tor Books)
Fishing, Festivities & Fatalities by Mary Seifert (Secret Staircase/Columbine Publishing Group)
Fool's Lake by Cynthia Moe (Cindric Press)
A Good Family by Matt Goldman (Tor Publishing Group/Forge Books)
Graveyard of Lost Children by Katrina Monroe (Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press)
In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer (Bethany House Fiction)
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs (HarperCollins/William Morrow)
Judgement Day by Rob Jung (Hawk Hill Literary, LLC)
Killing Monarchs by Cary Griffith (Adventure Publications)
Leaf Runner by John Stroebel (Newman Springs Publishing)
Leif's Legacy by Newell Searle (Calumet Editions)
The Levitation Game by Sharon Wagner (Ten16 Press)
Lewis Sinclair and the Gentleman Cowboys by D.M.S Fick (CamCat Books)
Liberty's Daughter by Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood Press)
Marble Grove by R.C. Ducantlin (Ruairi Cinead Ducantlin, LLC)
My True North by Barbara Longley (Genre Fiction)
My Page by Jessica Hare (Atmosphere Books)
Pre-Approved for Haunting by Patrick Barb (Turner Publishing Company/Keylight Books)
Native Love Jams by Tashia Hart (self-published)
On Nowhere St. Jennie's Journey by Ron Handberg (Hawk Hill Literary, LLC)
the patient routine by luna rey hall (Brigid's Gate Press)
Payne Avenue by M.T. Bartone (Modern Prose Press)
A Reluctant Madonna by Alan Miller (Calumet Editions)
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger (Simon & Schuster/Atria Books)
Saving Emma by Allen Eskens (Mulholland Books)
Secrets of the Sorcerers by Joan Marie Verba (FTL Publications)
Shadowland by P.L. Hampton (Running Wild, LLC/RIZE)
The Shadow Regent by Chad Corrie (Dark Horse Books)
A Sleight of Shadows by Kat Howard (Saga Press/Simon & Schuster)
Sons of Ashgard: Ill Met in Elmgard by Chad Corrie; illustrated by Matt Wendt; lettering by Taylor Esposito; colored by Hi-Fi (Dark Horse Books)
Valley of Refuge by John Teschner (Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books)
Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling (Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press)
Xolo by Peter Hurd (Dorrance Publishing)
Memoir & Creative Nonfiction:
An Outcome as Perfect as Morning by N. Daniel (self-published)
An Unlikely Village of Eden: A Memoir by Emma Nadler (Central Recovery Press)
Art in the Middle Ages: a Memoir of Midlife Renaissance by Arthur Berman (Beaver's Pond Press)
Beyond the Light: The Stories Behind the Photographs by Layne Kennedy (Brilliant Graphics)
Cataloguing Pain by Allison Blevins (YesYes Books)
The Cello Still Sings: A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of Music by Janet Horvath (Amsterdam Publishers)
Crossing Fifty-One: Not Quite a Memoir by Debbie Russell (Koehler Books)
The Crystal Gavel: How I Put My Heart into the Body of Law by Sue Cochrane (Wise Ink Creative Publishing)
Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope by Patty Wetterling with Joy Baker (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Do You Believe in Me: A Memoir of Addiction, Hope, and Family Bonds by Colleen Schaeffell (self-published)
Driving Dad Home by John Halter (Nodin Press)
Gifts of the Superior Hiking Trail by Mikkel Beckmen (Ramshackle Press)
Half-Life of a Secret: Reckoning with a Hidden History by Emily Strasser (University Press of Kentucky)
Higgledy-Piggledy Stones: Family Stories from Ireland and Minnesota by Jannet L. Walsh (Shanti Arts Publishing)
The Last Supper-Club: a Waiter's Requiem by Matthew Batt (University of Minnesota Press)
Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope by Jennifer Cramer-Miller (She Writes Press)
In the Company of Grace: A Veterinarian's Memoir of Trauma and Healing by Jody Lulich (University Minnesota Press)
Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man's World by Shannon Eastin with Kate St. Vincent Vogl (Rowman & Littlefield)
Lost and Found: A Journey of Self Mastery by Daniel Blackburn (River Place Books)
Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Remaining Lesbian Bars in America by Krista Burton (Simon & Schuster)
My Song, Unleashed by Marnie Marmet (Publish Her)
Postcards from Within: Random Ramblings of an Ordinary Human by Savita Harjani (Beaver's Pond Press)
Recovering Out Loud by Kristy Henderson (New Degree Press)
Running Uphill: A Minnesota Theater Memoir by Sally Childs (Afton Press)
Teaching Fools: Masters & Mentors by William Dyer (Salty Books Publishing Company, LLC)
Then Eat My Love by Ann Iverson (Southern Arizona Press)
Time for Awakening: A Memoir by Constance Casey (Constant Expressions LLC)
Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival by Amy Hallberg (self-published)
Trauma Sponges: Dispatches from the Scarred Heart of Emergency Response by Jeremy Norton (University of Minnesota Press)
The Warmth of Ashes by N. Daniel (self-published)
A Widow's Guide to Becoming a Handyman by Susan Huehn (Ice Cube Press, LLC)
A Wild Path by Douglas Wood (University of Minnesota Press)
Wild Things: A Trans-Glam-Punk-Rock Love Story by Lynette Reini Grandell (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Wise Heart: The Storied Life of Gert Klugherz Meyer by Richard Meyer (self-published)
Middle Grade Literature:
The Adventures of Annie McCallum by Susan Hawkinson (Bluewaters Press)
Brushfire: Wave 2 by Dennis Vogen (self-published)
Chronicles of the Unicorn Kingdom: Destiny by Kyle Rawleigh (Clay Bridges Press)
Chronicles of the Unicorn Kingdom: Werewolf Brother by Kyle Rawleigh (Clay Bridges Press)
Controlled Burn by Erin Soderberg Downing (Scholastic Press)
The Dark Lord's Daughter by Patricia C. Wrede (Penguin Random House/Random House Children's)
Dear Brother by Alison McGhee; illustrations by Tuan Nini (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)
Demon Scout by Charleigh Frederick (Bow's Bookshelf)
First Day of School by Charissa Bates; illusrations by Jairalin Repalbor (self-published)
Gossamer Summer by H.M. Bouwman (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)
How to Draw Dinosaurs and Dragons by Gary Harbo (Kutie Kari Books, Inc.)
The Kitchen Pantry Scientist: Ecology for Kids by Liz Lee Heinecke (Quarry Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group)
The Lost Galumpus by Joseph Helgerson (HarperCollins Publishers/Clarion Books)
Mercy Watson is Missing! by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)
The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)
Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller (Penguin Random House/Delacorte Press)
Waffles and Pancake Best Friends Fur-ever by Drew Brockington (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Waffles and Pancake Failure to Lunch by Drew Brockington (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Worldwide Crush by Kristin Nilsen (Spark Press)
Minnesota Nonfiction:
Blood in the Tracks: The Minnesota Musicians Behind Dylan's Masterpiece by Paul Metsa and Rick Shefchik (University of Minnesota Press)
Break the Wheel by Keith Ellison (Hachette Book Group/Twelve Books)
Brunch at the Duluth Grill by Jesse Sawyer; photographs by Rolf Hagberg (Duluth Grill Publishing)
The Far Northland by Dave Kenney (Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, Inc)
Gaa-Ishi-Miinigoowizid-A'aw-Anishinaabe: What We Were Given As Anishinaabe by Lee Obizaan Staples and Chato Ombishkebines Gonzalez (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Hidden History of Twin Cities Sports by Joel Rippel (Arcadia Publishing/The History Press)
Historic Bridges of Southeast Minnesota by Steve Gardiner (Arcadia Publishing/The History Press)
In One Room by Elizabeth M. Doherty (self-published)
Making the Carry: The Lives of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater by Timothy Cochrane (University of Minnesota Press)
Minescapes: Reclaiming Minnesota's Mined Lands by Pete Kero (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge & Living Connections to the Cosmos photographs by Travis Novitsky; text by Annette S. Lee
Standing at the Grave: A Family's Journey from the Grand Duchy of Posen to the Prairies of North Dakota by Gary Heyn (Wisdom Editions)
Winter's Song: A Hymn to the North by TD Mischke (Skywater Publishing Collective)
Novel & Short Story:
Boundless Deep, and Other Stories by Gen Del Raye (University of Nebraska Press)
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan (Random House)
Circus Rex by Loren Niemi (Calumet Editions)
Clouded Waters by Dianna Hunter (Holy Cow! Press)
A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power (Mariner Books/HarperCollins Publishers)
Discernment by Roy M. Close (Beaver's Pond Press)
The English Experience by Julie Schumacher (Penguin Random House/Doubleday)
The Gravity of Love by Brian Duren (Between the Lines Publishing/Willow River Press)
Ivory Black by Brian Duren (Guernica Editions/Guernica World Editions)
The Leopard's Furies by Steven Miles (Amazon)
Lost Woman Lake - The Middle of Nowhere by Greg Suhonen (self-published)
A Low Diving Bird by Libby Copa (self-published)
Power and Light by Will Weaver (Calumet Editions)
The Sky Vault by Benjamin Percy (HarperCollins Publishers/William Morrow)
A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids: A Novel by Linda LeGarde Grover (University of Minnesota Press)
Toby's Last Resort by Pamela Carter Joern (University of Nebraska Press)
Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alam (Penguin Random House/G.P. Putnam's Sons)
The United States of America: My Country of Destiny by T.J. Nsoyuni (Page Publishing)
Up There by Sherry Roberts (Osmyrrah Publishing)
The War Ends at Four by Rosanna Staffa (Regal House Publishing)
Water Music: a Cape Cod Story by Marcia Peck (Sea Crow Press)
Widower, 48, Seeks Husband: A Novel by Raymond Luczak (Rattling Good Yarns Press)
Poetry:
Ablation by Danika Stegman LeMay (11:11 Press)
Anthem Speed by Christopher Bolin (University of Iowa Press)
Boy by Tracy Youngblom (CavanKerry Press)
Breathing in Minneapolis by Patrick Cabello Hansel (Finishing Line Press)
Catastrophizing in Catastrophe by D.E. Green (self-published)
Complicated Warding by Michelle Matthees (self-published)
Disease of Kings by Anders Carlson-Wee (W.W. Norton & Company)
Duet in the Little Blue Church by Sharon Chmielarz (Nodin Press)
Empire by James Armstrong (Up On Big Rock/Shipwreckt)
Far From Atlantis: Poems by Raymond Luczak (Gallaudet University Press)
The Fight by Jennifer Manthey (Trio House Press)
Future Rounds the Curve by Patricia Barone (Blue Light Press)
Goddess of the Whole Self by Sherrie Fernandez-Williams (Finishing Line Press)
I Think I Know You by Julie Gard (FutureCycle Press)
Mamina by Sangita Kalarickal (Adisakrit)
Meltwater by Claire Wahmanholm (Milkweed Editions)
The Mercy of Stone by Florence Chard Dacey (Midwest Villages & Voices)
A Northern Spring by Matt Mauch (Trio House Press)
The O in the Air by Maryann Corbett (Franciscan University Press/Colosseum Books)
One by Haley Lasche (Beauty School Editions, LLC)
Panning Gold by Patrick Stevens (Finns Way Books)
Petrichor by Nancy Hengeveld (NFSPS Press)
Pressing Matters: Haiku, Senryu, and Haibun Poems by Caroline Giles Banks (Wellington-Giles Press)
The Saint of Everything by Deborah Keenan (Lynx House Press)
Songs, Blood Deep by Gwen Nell Westerman (Holy Cow! Press)
Suggest Paradise by Ray Gonzalez (University of New Mexico Press)
That Other Life by Joyce Sutphen (Carnegi Mellon University Press)
This Too Flowed Through: A Memoir in Verse by Pat Nyman (Beaver's Pond Press)
Thoughts from the Oak by Audrey Colasanti (Black Spring Press Group)
A Tree Becomes a Room by Jay White (White Pine Press)
Wail Song: or wading in the water at the end of the world by Chaun Webster (Black Ocean)
When I Was Young and Old by Freya Manfred (Nodin Press)
Where I Came Here From by Christopher Burawa (Finishing Line Press)
World Enough and Time by Norita Dittberner-Jax (Nodin Press)
Young Adult Literature:
Born of an Eclipse by Katharine Johnson (self-published)
Cassandra's Fate by Patrick Jones (self-published)
The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be by Shannon Gibney (Penguin Random House/Dutton Books)
Just Do This One Thing for Me by Laura Zimmermann (Penguin Random House/Dutton Books)
Out of Character by Jenna Miller (HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books)
Reimagining Police: The Future of Public Safety by Artika Tyner (Lerner Publishing Group/Twenty-First Century Books)
The Roof Over Our Heads by Nicole Kronzer (Abrams Amulet)
Rule 25: Don't Fall for the Target by Charleigh Frederick (Winding Roads Stories)
Spare Hearts and Broken Parts by Patrick Jones (self-published)
Those Who Can't by Wade Laughlin (Calumet Editions)
Walls and Welcome Mats by Lars Ortiz (Twenty-First Century Books/Lerner Publishing Group)