Culture

Oregon Book Award winners announced

By Jerad Walker (OPB)
April 26, 2022 11:16 p.m.

Held annually since 1987, the awards recognize the work of the state’s finest authors and poets.

The Oregon Book Award winners were announced on Monday at a ceremony in front of a live audience for the first time in nearly three years.

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West Linn author Omar el Akkad's latest novel is "What Strange Paradise."

West Linn author Omar el Akkad's latest novel is "What Strange Paradise."

courtesy of Omar el Akkad

Given out annually since 1987 and administered by nonprofit organization Literary Arts, the prizes recognize the work of the state’s finest authors and poets.

This year’s event was headlined by West Linn-based author Omar El Akkad, whose novel “What Strange Paradise” won the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction. Playwright and screenwriter Cynthia Whitcomb was also recognized with a Literary Legacy Award in recognition of her outstanding, long-term support of Oregon’s literary community.

The full list of winners:

KEN KESEY AWARD FOR FICTION

Omar El Akkad (West Linn), “What Strange Paradise: A Novel”

STAFFORD/HALL AWARD FOR POETRY

Dao Strom (Portland), “Instrument”

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AWARD FOR GRAPHIC LITERATURE

Breena Bard (Portland), “Trespassers: A Graphic Novel”

FRANCES FULLER VICTOR AWARD FOR GENERAL NONFICTION

Jacob Darwin Hamblin (Corvallis),The Wretched Atom: America’s Global Gamble with Peaceful Nuclear Technology”

SARAH WINNEMUCCA AWARD FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION

Allison Cobb (Portland), “Plastic: An Autobiography”

LESLIE BRADSHAW AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

Courtney Gould (Salem), “The Dead and the Dark”

ELOISE JARVIS MCGRAW AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

Jennie Englund (Ashland), “Taylor Before and After”

THE STEWART H. HOLBROOK LITERARY LEGACY AWARD

Cynthia Whitcomb (Wilsonville), playwriter and screenwriter

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THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: