The nonprofit group We Need Diverse Books announced the winners of the 2023 Walter Dean Myers Awards, given annually to books for young readers that “feature diverse main characters and address diversity in a meaningful way.”
The winner of the Walter in the teen category was Man Made Monsters, written by Andrea L. Rogers and illustrated by Jeff Edwards. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the paranormal short story collection “a creepy and artful exploration of a haunting heritage.”
Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, written by Angela Joy and illustrated by Janelle Washington, took home the prize in the young readers category. That book also received a starred review from Kirkus, with a critic calling it “a devastating, uniquely told story that will resonate.”
We Need Diverse Books also named two honor books in each category. For teens, All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir and The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes received honors, while the young readers honors went to Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi and The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat.
The Walter Dean Myers Awards, named after the late author of young adult books, were first given out in 2016. Previous winners have included Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
