American Library Association unveils shortlist for 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

CHICAGO –Today, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the six books shortlisted for the esteemed Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, awarded for the previous year’s best fiction and nonfiction books written for adult readers and published in the United States.

The 2025 Selection Committee Chair Allison Escoto will announce the two medal winners at the Reference and User Services Association’s Book and Media Awards (BMAs) livestreaming event, premiered during LibLearnX in Phoenix on Sunday, January 26th at 10:30am Mountain Standard Time.

2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction shortlist titles include:

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction 2025 Shortlist

“Cinema Love,” by Jiaming Tang. Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

The growing complexity of Tang’s fully realized characters is as fascinating as the interrelationships among them, a group of friends, lovers, and immigrants to America connected by the Worker’s Cinema in the Chinese town of Mawei. Rich in simile and metaphor, Tang’s first novel is beautifully written and a captivating reading experience.

“James,” by Percival Everett. Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

In an astounding riposte, Everett rewrites Huckleberry Finn as the liberation narrative of the enslaved man Huck befriends. Determined to rescue his wife and daughter, James takes the story in a completely different direction than the original, exemplifying the relentless courage and moral clarity of an honorable man with nothing to lose.

“Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

The bedazzling and profound story of anxious, outspoken Iranian American poet Cyrus Shams, obsessed with the idea of “meaningful” death, unfolds from different points of view and darts back and forth in time. First-time novelist Akbar creates scenes of psychedelic opulence and mystery, emotional precision, edgy hilarity, and heart-ringing poignancy as his characters endure war, grief, addiction, and sacrifice, and find refuge in art and love. 

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction 2025 Shortlist

“Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space,” by Adam Higginbotham. Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

In this precise account of the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster, in which all seven crew members perished, Higginbotham (winner of the 2020 Carnegie Medal for Midnight in Chernobyl) delves into the definition of acceptable risk and assesses accountability. Human error combined with technical failure caused the explosion--but hubris also contributed. Higginbotham’s comprehensive and affecting recounting illuminates a tragedy that was entirely preventable.

“Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV,” by Emily Nussbaum. Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Reality television may be ubiquitous, but it’s not new, as Nussbaum illustrates in this fine book. She traces its roots to radio, then to TV shows that capitalized on people’s willingness to look silly in front of a camera, through the creation of juggernauts like Survivor and Big Brother. An enjoyable deep dive into a format that, for better or worse, is here to stay.

“A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon,” by Kevin Fedarko. Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

Centering his own lifelong relationship with the Grand Canyon, from reading about it as a child through his time as a clumsy canoe guide, Fedarko shares his canyon-spanning hike, replete with steps, missteps, and arguments along the way. He particularly inspires in detailing the ancestral history of the land and some of the Indigenous individuals who continue to fight against overdevelopment and ever-booming tourism.

Carnegie Medal winners will each receive $5,000. All the finalists will be honored during a celebratory event in June 2025 during the 2025 ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia.

The awards, established in 2012, serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals and booksellers who work closely with adult readers.

The awards were established through a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and are cosponsored and administered by Booklist and RUSA. Booklist also sponsors the Michael L. Printz Award, Odyssey Award, and Alex Awards. RUSA’s CODES administers the Notable Books List, The Reading List, The Listen List, and the Sophie Brody Medal.

More information on the finalists and the awards can be found at http://www.ala.org/carnegieadult. Also, book cover artwork is available for download at https://www.ala.org/carnegie-medals/resources.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy. 

About Booklist
Booklist is a book-review magazine that has been published by the American Library Association for more than 100 years, and is widely viewed as offering the most reliable reviews to help libraries decide what to buy and to help library patrons and students decide what to read, view or listen to. It comprises two print magazines, a digital magazine for library patrons, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, and other resources that support librarians in collection development and readers' advisory.

About Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a member community engaged in advancing the practices of connecting people to resources, information services and collections, building relationships among members from all types of libraries, encouraging openness, innovation and idea sharing, and promoting excellence in library services and resources.

About the American Library Association

American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

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Awards (Books & Media), Public Awareness, Reference and User Services Association, Booklist, Public Awareness Office