On April 11, PEN America revealed the finalists for the 2025 Literary Awards, recognizing a vibrant and diverse array of writers, translators, and editors across multiple genres. With nearly $350,000 in prize money to be awarded, these honors celebrate works that are, in PEN America’s words, “dynamic and thought-provoking works of literary excellence.”
The ceremony is scheduled for May 8 in New York City, hosted by acclaimed television personality Tamron Hall and featuring a performance by Broadway star J. Harrison Ghee. Hall expressed deep admiration for the writers being recognized: “Brilliant writing guides and inspires us and must be our north star… I am honored to join PEN America… to stand with and praise the writers of these beautiful and important prize-winning books.”
This year, three individuals will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to literature and editing. Mozambican author Mia Couto will receive the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. Playwright Mona Monsaur is the recipient of the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award, and Charles H. Rowell will be honored with the PEN/Nora Magid Award for Magazine Editing.
Reshaping the Literary Landscape
At the forefront is the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, one of the most prestigious honors with a $75,000 prize. It recognizes a book-length work for its originality and impact. The 2025 finalists include:
- Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn
- With My Back to the World: Poems by Victoria Chang
- On Freedom by Timothy Snyder
Blackburn’s novel, also nominated for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, demonstrates her exceptional storytelling prowess and literary innovation.
Ppotlighting Voices of Color
The PEN Open Book Award, offering $10,000, is dedicated to recognizing outstanding literary works by authors of color. This year’s finalists include:
- Vengeance Feminism: The Power of Black Women’s Fury in Lawless Times by Kali Nicole Gross
- The Dark Delight of Being Strange: Black Stories of Freedom by James B. Haile, III
- Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism by Jenn M. Jackson, PhD
- The Blueprint by Rae Giana Rashad
These works boldly examine identity, resistance, history, and empowerment through rich and compelling narratives.
Recognizing Emerging Talent
The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection ($25,000) celebrates authors whose debut collections suggest tremendous future promise. Finalists include:
- Softie by Megan Howell
- I’ll Give You a Reason by Annell López
- Japa and Other Stories by Iheoma Nwachukwu
- The Man in the Banana Trees by Marguerite Sheffer
- Sad Grownups by Amy Stuber
Each of these collections brings fresh perspectives to storytelling and showcases innovative voices.
Powerful Debuts in Fiction
The PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel ($10,000) highlights emerging American novelists. Alongside Venita Blackburn, the finalists are:
- Early Sobrieties by Michael Deagler
- Controlled Conversations by Karol Lagodzki
- The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kọ́láwọlé
- Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
These novels explore themes ranging from identity and addiction to migration and memory, adding vitality to the American literary canon.
Poetry and Translation at the Forefront
Poetry remains central in PEN America’s mission. The PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection ($5,000) finalists are:
- After Image by Jenny George
- Yard Show by Janice N. Harrington
- Load in Nine Times by Frank X Walker
In addition, the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation ($3,000) honors poetic works translated into English. The finalists include:
- No One Will Know You Tomorrow by Najwan Darwish, translated from Arabic by Kareem James Abu-Zeid
- Homeland of Swarms by Oriette D’Angelo, translated from Spanish by Lupita Eyde-Tucker
- Lost in Living by Halyna Kruk, translated from Ukrainian by Dzvinia Orlowsky and Ali Kinsella
- To the Letter by Tomasz Różycki, translated from Polish by Mira Rosenthal
- Chimera by Phoebe Giannisi, translated from Greek by Brian Sneeden
The PEN Translation Prize, also at $3,000, rewards excellence in translated prose. Finalists include:
- The Book Against Death by Elias Canetti, translated from German by Peter Filkins
- Great Fear on the Mountain by Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, translated from French by Bill Johnston
- The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk, translated from Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
- Planes Flying Over a Monster by Daniel Saldaña, translated from Spanish by Christina MacSweeney and Philip K. Zimmerman
- Verdigris by Michele Mari, translated from Italian by Brian Robert Moore
Essays, Biography, and Science Writing
The PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay ($15,000) highlights the richness of essay writing. This year’s shortlisted titles are:
- Sing by the Burying Ground by Marianne Boruch
- A Passing West by Dagoberto Gilb
- The Salt of the Universe by Amy Leach
- My Affair with Art House Cinema by Phillip Lopate
- Magically Black and Other Essays by Jerald Walker
Meanwhile, the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography ($5,000) honors works of exceptional narrative and scholarly achievement. Finalists include:
- Reagan: His Life and Legend by Max Boot
- Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar by Cynthia Carr
- Charlie Hustle by Keith O’Brien
- We Are Free to Change the World by Lyndsey Stonebridge
- The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby
For nonfiction that tackles urgent contemporary issues, the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction ($10,000) features:
- The Lucky Ones by Zara Chowdhary
- The Achilles Trap by Steve Coll
- The Rent Collectors by Jesse Katz
- In the Shadow of Liberty by Ana Raquel Minian
Finally, the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award ($10,000) celebrates outstanding works that bring science to a broad audience. Finalists include:
- The Burning Earth by Sunil Amrith
- Playing with Reality by Kelly Clancy
- All in Her Head by Elizabeth Comen
- The Age of Deer by Erika Howsare
- Every Living Thing by Jason Roberts
An Evening of Recognition and Resolve
The 2025 PEN America Literary Awards ceremony will highlight the crucial role of free expression. As Tamron Hall passionately noted, “The freedom to write without fear must be protected.” This event, and the movement it represents, is a testament to the enduring power of the written word.
