2021 Freeman Book Award Winners

Children’s Literature

The Floating Field

By Scott Riley, Illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien (Millbrook Press)

Saving Sorya Chang and the Sun Bear

By Trang Nguyen, Illustrated by Jeet Zdung (Dial Books)

The Star Festival

By Moni Ritchie Hadley, Illustrated by Mizuho Fujisawa (Albert Whitman)

Young Adult / Middle School Literature

Temple Alley Summer

By Sachiko Kashiwaba, Translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa, Illustrated by Miho Satake (Yonder)

How Do You Live?

By Genzaburō Yoshino, Translated by Bruno Navasky (Algonquin)

Soul Lanterns

By Shaw Kuzki, Translated by Emily Balistrieri (Delacorte Press)

Young Adult / High School Literature

Tsunami Girl

By Julian Sedgwick, Illustrated by Chie Kutsuwada (Guppy Books)

The Waiting

By Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, Translated by Janet Hong (Drawn and Quarterly)

Colorful

By Eto Mori, Translated by Jocelyne Allen (Counterpoint Press)

The Minamata Story

By Sean Michael Wilson, Illustrated by Akiko Shimojima (Stone Bridge Press)

Explore Award Winners by Year

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Explore Award Winners by Age Group

Children’s Young Adult / Middle Young Adult / High Graphic Novels

About the awards

Honoring East And Southeast Asian Titles for Children and Young Adults

National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA), the Committee on Teaching about Asia (CTA) of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), and Asia for Educators (AFE) at Columbia University sponsor the annual Freeman Book Awards for new young adult and children’s literature. The awards recognize quality books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to an understanding of East and Southeast Asia. Awards are given in two categories: Children’s and Young Adult on the several countries of East and Southeast Asia.

Learn More Submission Guidelines