The National Book Foundation has named its annual 5 Under 35 honorees, a selection of five fiction writers under the age of 35 whose debut work promises to leave a lasting impression on the literary landscape. For the first time, all of the honorees are women of color, and the 5 Under 35 Ceremony will be presented digitally on October 20, in partnership with the Miami Book Fair.
This year’s selectors––2019 National Book Award Winner Susan Choi, 2019 National Book Award Finalist Marlon James, 2018 National Book Award Longlister Tayari Jones, 2018 National Book Award Longlister Tommy Orange, and 2012 5 Under 35 honoree Justin Torres––introduce the debut authors who read an excerpt of their work and participate in a live question-and-answer session with the audience. Moderated by Anna Dobben, Associate Director, Awards, at the National Book Foundation.
2020 5 Under 35 Honorees
K-Ming Chang | Bestiary
One World / Penguin Random House
Selected by Justin Torres, 2012 5 Under 35 Honoree
Naima Coster | Halsey Street
Little A / Amazon Publishing
Selected by Tayari Jones, 2018 National Book Award Longlist for Fiction
Raven Leilani | Luster
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan Publishers
Selected by Susan Choi, 2019 National Book Award Winner for Fiction
Fatima Farheen Mirza | A Place for Us
SJP for Hogarth / Penguin Random House
Selected by Tommy Orange, 2018 National Book Award Longlist for Fiction
C Pam Zhang | How Much of These Hills Is Gold
Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House
Selected by Marlon James, 2019 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction
Sponsored by the Amazon Literary Partnership. Presented through a partnership between Miami Book Fair and the National Book Foundation.