The 94th Annual California Book Awards Honors Outstanding Books by California Authors
Not a member yet? Now is the time to join. Members get ticket discounts, free events, pecial programs, early notice of big events, travel opportunities, and more; plus, your membership helps sustain our work as a nonprofit. Please join! You can become a monthly sustaining member for just $13 a month.
Now in its 94th year, the California Book Awards have celebrated the state's vibrant literary culture since 1931, recognizing the most distinguished writing by California authors and publishers. Presented by Commonwealth Club World Affairs, the awards honor books that reflect the diversity, intellect and creativity of the Golden State—across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more.
This year’s medalists include Percival Everett, Sasha Vasilyuk, Nicola Twilley, Rachel Kushner, Randy Ribay, Maysa Odeh & Aliaa Betawi, Sarah Ghazal Ali, and Cindy Juyoung Ok. From bold literary reimaginings to global environmental investigations to tender multigenerational stories and emotionally resonant poetry, the 94th annual awards reflect the strength and variety of California’s literary landscape.
Celebrate the state’s most powerful storytellers and discover your next unforgettable read.
94th Annual California Book Awards Medalists
FICTION
Gold Medal: James by Percival Everett (Doubleday)
Silver Medal: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (The Song Cave)
FIRST FICTION
Gold Medal: Your Presence Is Mandatory by Sasha Vasilyuk (Bloomsbury)
NONFICTION
Gold Medal: Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Planet and Ourselves by Nicola Twilley (Penguin Press)
Silver Medal: Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future by Daniel Lewis (Random House)
YOUNG ADULT
Gold Medal: Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray)
JUVENILE
Gold Medal: A Map for Falasteen by Maysa Odeh, illustrated by Aliaa Betawi (Scholastic)
POETRY
Gold Medal: Theophanies by Sarah Ghazal Ali (Alice James Books)
Silver Medal: Ward Toward by Cindy Juyoung Ok (Yale University Press)
CALIFORNIANA
Medal: A Machine to Move Heaven and Earth by James Tejani (University of Chicago Press)
CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLISHING
Terminal Island by the Los Angeles Public Library and Angel City Press
This program is online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.
All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
United States
Speakers TBA
6–7 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)
COST
Members receive 30–50 percent discounts (not a member? Join)
Online:
$5
