alt=Christine RappleyeTraci Hunter Abramson’s suspense novel “Sanctuary” is the 2019 Whitney Award winner of best novel of the year from the adult fiction categories and Julie Berry’s “Lovely War” is the youth novel of year, according to a winners list provided by the Whitney Award Committee. The awards were announced May 8 during a virtual gala.
Forty-five novels were named as finalists across nine genre categories for the awards that recognize novels written by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during 2019, through Oct. 31.
In the general fiction category, “Muddy: Where Faith and Polygamy Collide” by Dean Hughes won the award.
Abramson’s “Mistaken Reality” won in the mystery/suspense category. In the speculative category, “The First Girl Child” by Amy Harmon won.
Harmon’s “What the Wind Knows” won in the historical romance category. “Finding Jack” by Melanie Jacobson won in the romance category.
In the youth categories, Berry’s “Lovely War” won in the young adult general fiction category. “The Bone Charmer” by Breeana Shields won in young adult fantasy and in the young adult speculative fiction category, “The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe” by Ally Condie won.
In the middle grade category, “Dragonwatch, Vol. 3: Master of the Phantom Isle — A Fablehaven Adventure” by Brandon Mull won the award.
The award for best novel by a debut author is “Scars Like Wings” by Erin Stewart.
Panels of judges select five finalists in each category. Winners are then selected by an academy of industry professionals, including authors, publishers, bookstore owners, distributors, critics and others.
To nominate at novel by a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published Nov. 1, 2019, through Oct. 31, for a Whitney Award, or for more information about the awards, see whitneyawards.com.