National Book Foundation Unveils 5 Under 35 Honorees

The National Book Foundation announced 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,” per the organization. The prize recipients were selected by a slate of five writers previously honored by the National Book Foundation, including Kaveh Akbar, Danielle Evans, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, Sigrid Nunez, and Charles Yu.

This year’s honorees are Megan Kamalei Kakimoto, author of Every Drop Is a Man’s Nightmare (Bloomsbury); Anika Jade Levy, author of Flat Earth (Catapult); Carrie R. Moore, author of Make Your Way Home (Tin House); Maggie Su, author of Blob (Harper); and Stephanie Wambugu, author of Lonely Crowds (Little, Brown).

“For over 20 years we have delighted in honoring talented new writers whose debut work reveals their tremendous promise in the world of literary fiction,” David Steinberger, chair of the board of directors of the National Book Foundation, said. “The 5 Under 35 prize is central to the Foundation’s mission to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, connect books with readers of all ages, and champion the literary arts as a vital part of our culture.”

The 2026 honorees will be celebrated during a ceremony on June 9 at Littlefield in Brooklyn, hosted by 2023 National Book Award finalist and 2018 5 Under 35 honoree Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.