There are four categories in the National Book awards: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry and young people’s literature. The ceremony also awarded Richard Robinson,the chief executive of the publisher Scholastic who bought Harry Potter to America, the Literarian Award for outstanding service to the literary community. Annie Proulx, author of several short stories including”Brokeback Mountain” was awarded the medal for distinguished contribution to American letters.
Fiction
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Nonfiction
The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia by Masha Gessen
Poetry
HALF-LIGHT: Collected Poems by Frank Bidart
Young People’s Literature
Far From The Tree by Robin Benway