For immediate release | January 26, 2025

“James,” “A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon” receive 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) selects “James,” by Percival Everett, published by Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, as the winner of the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and "A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon," by Kevin Fedarko, published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster LLC, as the winner of the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. The selections were announced at the Reference and User Services Association's Book and Media Awards (BMAs) event on Sunday, January 26th, during LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience in Phoenix.

The Carnegie 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.

In an astounding riposte, Everett rewritesAdventures of Huckleberry Finn” as a liberation narrative, told from James’s point of view. When he is accused of robbery and murder, James flees with an initially gleeful Huck, who only gradually understands the terrifying reality of being a Black man with a price on his head. Determined to return and 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.

Centering Fedarko’s lifelong relationship with the Grand Canyon, from reading about it as a child through working as a clumsy canoe guide, “A Walk in the Park” follows the author on a canyon-spanning group hike and all the 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.

"On behalf of this year's Carnegie committee, I'm thrilled to honor these exceptional books and to highlight their contributions to American fiction and nonfiction,” said Allison Escoto, chair of the selection committee for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence. "Percival Everett has written a modern masterpiece, a beautiful and important work that offers a fresh perspective from the eyes of a classic character. Kevin Fedarko's unforgettable journey through the otherworldly depths of the Grand Canyon shows us the triumphs and pitfalls of exploration and illuminates the many vital lessons we can all learn from our precious natural world. I am so grateful to have been a part of this process with this incredible committee!"

The 2025 fiction finalists include “Cinema Love,” by Jiaming Tang, published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC; “James,” by Percival Everett, published by Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and “Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar, published by Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

2025 nonfiction finalists include “Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space,” by Adam Higginbotham, published by Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster LLC; “Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV,” by Emily Nussbaum, published by Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC; and “A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon,” by Kevin Fedarko, published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster LLC.

Carnegie Medal winners will each receive $5,000. All the finalists will be honored and the winners will be presented with their medalsduring a celebratory event at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts during ALA's 2025 Annual Conference in Philadelphia in June.

The awards were established with a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and are cosponsored and administered by Booklist and RUSA.

More information and digital resources for the finalists and the awards can be found at https://www.ala.org/carnegie-medals/2025-winners.

Contact for Percival Everett:

Michael Goldsmith (he/him)

Senior Publicity Director

Doubleday, 1745 Broadway, 13th floor, New York NY 10019

212-782-8412

mgoldsmith@penguinrandomhouse.com

Contact for Kevin Fedarko:

Brian Belfiglio

Brian.Belfiglio@simonandschuster.com

212.632.4945

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 120 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 three magazines, including Booklist Reader, a new publication dedicated to 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

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special 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.

Contact:

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cmomedia@ala.org