National Book Award winners announced

[image]

Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe: their friendship is the basis for her memoir "Just Kids"

Last night marked the 2010 National Book Award ceremonies

Young People's Literature in Manhatten. No local winners, but I thought you'd be interested in the results.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

In the non-fiction category, punk rocker Patti Smith won for her memoir "Just Kids," which recounts her friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The book is published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Writer Jaimy Gordon delved the seedy underwold of cheap horse-racing for her book

Lord of Misrule, published by McPherson & Co.

An eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's is the main character of Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine, which took home the award for Young People's Literature. It's published by Philomel Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.

Poet Terrance Hayes received a unanimous endorsement from the NBA judges for his collection of poetry titled Lighthead, published by Penguin Books. On the NBA website the book is described this way:

This innovative collection presents the light- headedness of a mind trying to pull against gravity and time. Fueled by an imagination that enlightens, delights, and ignites, Lighthead leaves us illuminated and scorched.

Click on the titles of the books to find out more about them, their authors, and to read excerpts.