Penguin Random House: Forché, Hong, Kelley Win American Book Awards

The winners of the forty-second annual American Book Awards have been announced by the Before Columbus Foundation and include three authors and one illustrator published by Penguin Random House imprints: Carolyn Forché, Cathy Park Hong, William Melvin Kelley, and Aiki Kelley.

The American Book Awards were created to provide recognition for outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America’s diverse literary community. The purpose of the awards is to honor literary excellence without limitations or restrictions. The award winners range from well-known and established writers to under-recognized authors and first works. There are no quotas for diversity, the winners list simply reflects it as a natural process. The Before Columbus Foundation views American culture as inclusive and has always considered the term “multicultural” to be not a description of various categories, groups, or “special interests,” but rather as the definition of all American literature.

The 2021 American Book Award winners will be formally recognized during an online ceremony on Sunday, September 19.