Connecticut Book Awards Tell State's Story in Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Illustration
/History - real and imagined - dominated the 2019 Connecticut Book Awards, announced Sunday by the Connecticut Center for the Book, in multiple categories. Winners included some well-known literary names, and others not (yet) instantly recognizable.
The awards honor books with specific ties to Connecticut. The author or illustrator must be native-born and have been a resident of Connecticut for at least three years, or the book must have a Connecticut setting to be considered.
More than 100 submissions were accepted for review in the categories of Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Young readers, and a first-time category, the Bruce Fraser Spirit of Connecticut Awards. The submissions were reviewed by 23 judges (five in each category and three for the Spirit award) according to organizers.
The winners were: Fiction - Amy Bloom, White Houses (Random House); Nonfiction - Andrew Kahrl, Free the Beaches (Yale University Press); Poetry - Cortney Davis, Taking Care of Time (Wheelbarrow Books); Bruce Fraser Spirit of Connecticut Award - Christopher Wigren, Connecticut Architecture, Stories of 100 Places (Wesleyan University Press).
In the Young Readers categories, the winners were Fiction - Susan Hood, Lifeboat 12 (Simon & Schuster); Nonfiction - Karen Romano Young, Shark Quest: Protrecting the Ocean’s top Predators (Lerner Publishing Group); Picture Books, Wendell Minor (Illustrator) Night Train, Night Train (Charlesbridge Publishing).
Connecticut writer Amy Bloom’s novel about the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok has been described as an “example of the great American novel.” Bloom discussed the writing of the book earlier this month at Connecticut’’s first Literary Festival, held at Real Art Ways.
Christopher Wigren’s book, Connecticut Architecture, showcases more than 200 illustrations and highlights key architectural features and trends and relates buildings to the local and regional histories they represent. The book was a project of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, where Wigren is Deputy Director.
The Nonfiction winner, Free the Beaches, recounts the story of Ned Coll, outspoken crusader in Connecticut in the 1970’s calling for greater access to Connecticut’s beaches, then enclaves for the wealthy - almost exclusively white - and preventing people of color from access to the Connecticut shoreline beaches. Written by Andrew Kahrl, a University of Virginia history professor, it describes the Hartford activist and the cause that brought attention in Connecticut and beyond, and led to greater awareness and a degree of change.
The Spirit of Connecticut Award was named to honor the memory of Bruce Fraser, who led Connecticut Humanities for 30 years as its executive director before his untimely passing in 2010. He believed passionately that the humanities hold the key to productive and meaningful lives, and dedicated his professional life to creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the reflection, informed debate, and critical thinking at the heart of the humanities.
The keynote address was delivered by Philip Caputo, co-winner of a Pulitzer Prize, author of A Rumor of War and of many works of fiction and nonfiction, including his latest collection of short stories called Hunter’s Moon. Ann Nyberg, veteran news anchor at WTNH, served as emcee. Books consider for the awards were published in 2018.
FINALISTS for 2019 CONNECTICUT BOOK AWARDS
[Winner in each category is in BOLD] * Indicates a Spirit of Connecticut Nominee as well.
NONFICTION
The Long Journeys Home - Nick Bellantoni, Newington - Wesleyan University Press
Mark Twain Among the Indians - Kerry Driscoll, West Hartford - University of California Press
Walls: A History of Civilization - David Frye, Hebron - Scribner
Free the Beaches - Andrew Kahrl, Charlottesville, VA - Yale University Press
FICTION
White Houses – Amy Bloom, Branford - Random House
The General’s Cook – Ramin Ganeshram, Westport - Skyhorse/Arcade
The Astronaut’s Son – Tom Seigel, Weston - Woodhall Press
Tiffany Blues – M. J. Rose, Greenwich - Simon & Schuster
*Still Life with Monkey - Katharine Weber, Bethany - Paul Dry Books
POETRY
Taking Care of Time – Cortney Davis, Bethel - Wheelbarrow Books
Somerset – Daniel Donaghy, Willington - NYQ Books
Augur – Jonathan Andersen, Storrs - Red Dragonfly Press
YOUNG READERS
Fiction
*The History of Jane Doe – Michael Belanger, Storrs - Penguin Random House
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle – Leslie Connor, Madison - HarperCollins Children's Books
The Rhino in Right Field – Stacy DeKeyser, Barkhampsted - Simon & Schuster
Lifeboat 12 – Susan Hood, Southport - Simon & Schuster
Nonfiction
Shark Quest: Protecting the Ocean’s Top Predators – Karen Romano Young, Bethel - Lerner Publishing Group
Picture Book
I’m Sad – Michael Black, Author, Redding - Simon & Schuster
Night Train, Night Train – Wendell Minor, Illustrator, Washington - Charlesbridge Publishing
BRUCE FRASER SPIRIT OF CONNECTICUT AWARD
Nonfiction
Venture Smith – Chandler B. Saint, Torrington - Beecher House Center for the Study of Equal Rights
Connecticut Architecture, Stories of 100 Places – Christopher Wigren, Hamden - Wesleyan University Press
Still Life with Monkey - Katharine Weber, Bethany - Paul Dry Books
The History of Jane Doe – Michael Belanger, Storrs - Penguin Random House
