The finalists for the 2024 Kirkus Prize have been announced.

On Wednesday, August 28, Kirkus Reviews announced the 18 finalists for this year’s award, which is given to one author each in the fiction, nonfiction, and young adult literature categories. The finalists include American fiction Writers Percival Everett, Rufi Thorpe, Louise Erdrich and Jason Reynolds.

Each winner receives $50,000 – one of the most highly endowed literary prizes in the world.

To be considered for the award, the authors’ book must have received a starred review from the Kirkus team for a book published between November 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024. According to a press release, the star will only be awarded to about 10% of the titles reviewed annually.

“The finalists for the 2024 Kirkus Prize represent the very best of an outstanding selection of fiction, nonfiction, and young adult titles published in the United States this year,” said Tom Beer, editor in chief of Kirkus Reviews, in a statement provided to PEOPLE.

“Our fiction finalists reinterpret the art of storytelling to address the central concerns of our time. Our nonfiction finalists shed new light on misunderstood historical events and offer moving personal narratives. Our young readers finalists present powerful narratives for children and young adults through a combination of prose, verse and art.”

Beer added: “These are all books that speak to our times and we know they will be read for many years to come.”

Each category has its own selection of judges. Bookseller Christine Bollow, Kirkus reviewer Jeffrey Burke, and Kirkus novel editor Laurie Muchnick will judge the 2024 Kirkus Prize in Fiction. Nonfiction judges include author Hannah Bae, Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Ann Gwinn, and Bee. Judging in the Young Adult category will be Kirkus reviewer Christopher A. Biss-Brown, Professor Michelle H. Martin, and Kirkus young adult novel editors Mahnaz Dar and Laura Simeon.

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The three winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony on October 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on the rooftop of TriBeca in New York City. The event will be live-streamed on Kirkus’ YouTube channel.

See all the finalists and a quote from their Kirkus review below.

Kirkus Prize for Fiction 2024

Say hello to my little friend by Jennine Capó Crucet
“The author of Feel at home among strangers (2015) delivers a stunning second novel…unclassifiable and unforgettable.”

The mighty red by Louise Erdrich
“The Red River of the North weaves its way through the hard-pressed lives of the people who form the core of Erdrich’s outstanding North Dakota literature… In this tender and sprawling story, love and tragedy mingle along the river and in the world.”

James by Percival Everett
“Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of a Jim who was more imaginative and thoughtful than you remember… One of the noblest characters in American literature gets a novel worthy of him.”

playground by Richard Powers
“A story about friendship, technology, oceans and a small island… A captivating, eloquent message for this fragile planet.”

Margo has money problems by Rufi Thorpe
“A freshman college student finds out that everyone was right: her decision to have her English professor’s baby really does ruin her life. Until it doesn’t… Great characters, rich world-building, deep thoughts on fiction and morality, a love story, and a happy ending.”

Song of the Prophet by Paul Lynch
“As Ireland descends into a brutal police state, one woman tries to save her family in this dark fable… Gripping, terrifying and a singular achievement.”

2024 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction

The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA and the Origins of the American Invasion of Iraq by Steve Coll
“The Pulitzer Prize-winning author returns with a masterful examination of the events leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq… required reading for all conscientious citizens.”

Challenger: A true story of heroism and disaster on the edge of space by Adam Higginbotham
“The profound story of the disastrous effort to build and launch a space shuttle… A thoroughly researched, fluently written study of misunderstanding, hubris, and technological overwhelm.”

Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Biography by Tessa Hulls
“A comic book writer grapples with the complicated history of her maternal family… A work brimming with insight, acumen, and an unwillingness to settle for easy answers.”

The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise by Olivia Laing
“The award-winning author describes a fascinating and personal journey to paradise… An intellectually rich and emotionally rich narrative journey.”

Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America by Shefali Luthra
“The human consequences of the Dobbs decision… Vivid accounts of lives destroyed and freedom denied.”

Another word for love: A memory by Carvell Wallace
“The story of a poet and podcaster’s journey as he tries to fully embrace his identity and power as a queer Black American… An exquisite, soulful book that is a must-read.”

2024 Kirkus Prize for Young Adult Literature

Picture books:

We who produce pearls by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
“Eyes that kiss in the corners (2021) Author Ho reflects on the history of Asian Americans… Striking and defiant: an unabashed declaration of hope.”

There was a party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
“Reynolds and the Pumphrey brothers take readers on a breathtaking journey through the legacy of Langston Hughes… A bar that is stratospherically high and still leaves plenty of room to grow.”

Intermediate level:

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
“In this novel, inspired by a true account of the French Resistance during World War II, a brave 11-year-old Muslim girl joins the effort to save lives… A must-read for any book lover, it boasts a powerful plot and poignant writing.”

Shark teeth by Sherri Winston
“A Florida middle school student tries to hide her problems at home while trying to have a normal school life… A deeply satisfying story with a compelling protagonist.”

Young adults:

Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow
“Family is important; friends, both two-legged and four-legged, help too… A heartfelt novel about the challenges of adolescence and the value of community.”

Bright red fruits by Safia Elhillo
“A teenage poet in Washington, DC, becomes involved with an older man while trying to break free from her mother’s expectations… A stunning work that delves deeply into poetry, the complexities of identity, and the longing for love.”