The 2024 Vermont Book Award finalists were announced on April 5, unveiling a stunning list of exceptional writers and their multifaceted works. This undoubtedly diverse group includes National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalists and winners, a former poet laureate of Vermont, bestselling authors, and some newcomers.

Through a recent collaboration among the Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and the Vermont Humanities, this esteemed accolade celebrates exceptional literature penned by Vermont authors on an annual basis.

Finalists

The award recognizes outstanding works in the following four categories:

Creative Nonfiction

Brad Kessler's "Deep North: Stories of Somali Resettlement in Vermont" stands out in this category. Kessler, renowned for his highly praised novels "Lick Creek" and "Birds in Fall," undertook a project in 2019 to capture the stories of Somali Vermonters. This endeavor aimed to preserve their narratives, raise awareness among Americans, and promote understanding of the struggles experienced by individuals residing in refugee camps today.

Another contender, "The Book" by Mary Ruefle, offers a collection of prose poems covering various topics. Ruefle, a Pulitzer finalist for "Dunce," is praised for her versatile and insightful writing style. Jeff Sharlet's "The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War" makes it to the list. The book documents the rise of fascism in America.

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Fiction

The fiction category finalists for the Vermont Book Award include "In the Lobby of the Dream Hotel" by Genevieve Plunkett, a nonlinear narrative exploring protagonist Portia Elby's struggles with bipolar disorder and uncertainty. Sandra Simonds' debut novel, "Assia," is loosely based on the life of Assia Wevill, known for her affair with Ted Hughes. Finally, "Lush Lives" by J. Vanessa Lyon follows a narrative that began during the pandemic, exploring themes of art and uncertainty.

Poetry

The poetry category features notable works such as Michael Dumanis' "Creature," Vievee Francis' "The Shared World," and Leslie Sainz's "Have You Been Long Enough at Table," which explores the Cuban American experience through a feminist lens.

Completing the list is Ellen Bryant Voigt's "Collected Poems." Voigt, now 80 years old, has authored nine poetry collections throughout her career. Among them are "Messenger: New and Selected Poems 1976-2006" (2007), which was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, and "Kyrie: Poems" (1995), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her entire body of work, including poems from previous volumes, has been compiled into "Collected Poems," published in the spring.

Children Literature

For children's literature, finalists include M.T. Anderson's "Elf Dog and Owl Head," Kenneth Cadow's "Gather," and Kekla Magoon's "The Minus-One Club." Dan Nott's "Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day" completes the list. Nott uses drawings to make complex systems easy to understand. Nott found that many of today's systems, like the internet, follow the paths of older ones, such as the telegraph.

Eligibility and Past Winners

The Vermont Book Awards recognize books by Vermont writers published the previous year. Eligible books must have been written by a Vermont resident for at least half the year and published between January 1 and December 31. Self-published books and anthologies with multiple authors are not eligible.

A committee of librarians and booksellers nominates books. Publishers can also submit nominations. Judges, including Vermont writers, teachers, and librarians, select finalists and winners in the four categories.

Previous recipients include notable figures like former Vermont Cartoonist Laureate Alison Bechdel, poet Major Jackson, and visual artist and author Shanta Lee Gander.

The winners will be announced on May 4 at an awards ceremony at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 prize.

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