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Kirkus Prize Celebrates Diverse Literary Talents in 2025
9 Oct, 2025
Summary
- $50,000 Kirkus Prize awarded in 3 categories: fiction, nonfiction, and young readers' literature
- Fiction winner is "The Slip" by Lucas Schaefer, a novel about identity and a missing youth
- Nonfiction winner is "King of Kings" by Scott Anderson, a history of the Iranian Revolution
- Young readers' winner is "Everybelly" by Thao Lam, a picture book on the underappreciated belly button
The Kirkus Prize, established in 2014, has announced its 2025 winners, each receiving a $50,000 cash award. In the fiction category, Lucas Schaefer's novel "The Slip" was recognized for its exploration of identity and a missing youth. The nonfiction prize went to Scott Anderson's "King of Kings," a comprehensive history of the overthrow of the Shah of Iran and the Iranian Revolution.
The winner in the young readers' literature category was Thao Lam's "Everybelly," a delightful picture book that celebrates the often-overlooked belly button and the stories it can tell. Kirkus Editor-in-Chief Tom Beer praised this year's winners, stating that their works convey "vital messages for our time" through "exhilarating prose and pictures."
Other finalists included Angela Flournoy's novel "The Wilderness," Nicholas Boggs' biography of James Baldwin titled "Baldwin: A Love Story," and Arundhati Roy's memoir "Mother Mary Comes to Me." The Kirkus Prize continues to recognize and honor exceptional literary achievements across diverse genres and perspectives.
