Percival Everett, a celebrated author, believes that libraries have always been treasures of knowledge and exploration. They have provided countless individuals with the chance to discover new ideas, even those that might challenge the norm.
Reflecting on his youth, Everett recalls how he formed a friendship with a librarian at the University of South Carolina when he was just 13 years old. This librarian allowed him to explore the library’s vast collection, which he describes as a unique opportunity. He appreciates that in libraries, when searching for one book, you can also find others that might not be directly related—something that is often missing from online searches.
Recently, Everett received recognition from public libraries across the nation. The American Library Association announced that his book “James” has won the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, which comes with a $5,000 prize. The medal also honored Kevin Fedarko for his nonfiction work on the Grand Canyon titled “A Walk in the Park.”
Everett is already well-known for his innovative take on Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” retelling it from the perspective of Jim, Huck’s enslaved friend. This book has been recognized with several prestigious awards, and “James” has also achieved significant success, reaching the top of The New York Times fiction list—a notable accomplishment for a literary work without a major promotion.
Allison Escoto, the chair of the award selection committee, praised Everett’s work as a modern masterpiece that provides a new perspective on a classic character. She also highlighted Fedarko’s captivating narrative of exploration and the lessons it holds regarding our natural environment.
Fedarko, a former correspondent for Time magazine, has a deep appreciation for libraries, especially Carnegie libraries, which played an important role in his upbringing. He fondly remembers visiting the library in Oakmont, where he would read about historical figures. Now residing in Flagstaff, Arizona, he credits the library at Northern Arizona University as instrumental in his writing, emphasizing that both of his books about the Grand Canyon would not have been possible without library resources.
The Carnegie Medal, established in 2012 through a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, has previously honored works by notable authors like Donna Tartt and Colson Whitehead. This year, alongside Everett’s “James,” other finalists in fiction included Jiaming Tang’s “Cinema Love” and Kavin Akbar’s “Martyr!” For nonfiction, Adam Higginbotham’s “Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space” and Emily Nussbaum’s “Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV” were recognized as well.
Libraries continue to play a crucial role in shaping literary voices and providing a foundation for future authors, reinforcing the importance of access to knowledge across all communities.
