Twelve books for adults and young people were honored at the 69th Christopher Awards in New York City on Thursday, May 17. The awards, which go to authors, illustrators, filmmakers, and television creatives, recognize works that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.”
Six adult books were recognized, including The American Spirit (S&S) by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough, The Choice (Scribner) by Holocaust survivor and 2017’s winner of the National Jewish Book Award, Dr. Edith Eva Eger, and Dorothy Day (Scribner), a biography of Day, a Catholic leader and social activist, written by her granddaughter, Kate Hennessy.
Other winners in the adult category were Andrew Collins and Jameel McGee who overcame great odds to find redemption and forgiveness in Convicted (WaterBrook), and Redeeming Ruth (Hendrickson), a story about adoption by Meadow Rue Merrill, a former journalist for the Boston Globe.
Among the six winners for children’s books were Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville who tell the story of pioneering female Disney animator Mary Blair in Pocket Full of Colors (Atheneum Books for Young Readers); Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of Before She Was Harriet (Holiday House) about Harriet Tubman; and Patricia Reilly Giff, author of Genevieve's War (Holiday House) set in World War II.
Remaining winners in the children’s book category include Bibi Belford’s middle grade novel based on the Chicago race riots of 1919, Crossing the Line (Sky Pony Press), and Through Your Eyes (Aladdin) by Fox News correspondent Ainsley Earhardt.
“This year's Christopher Award-winning books highlighted the power of the human spirit in the face of struggle and hardship,” said Tony Rossi, director of communications for The Christophers. “Doing the right thing doesn't come easy, but the examples [the authors] provide of heroism, sacrifice, faith, hope, and grace serve as an example to all readers who enjoy tales that entertain as well as inspire.”
Rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity, the nonprofit Christophers organization was founded by Catholic priest Fr. James Keller in 1945. Award winners represent all faiths. Filmmaker Ken Burns received the night’s top honor—the Christophers Life Achievement—for “exploring the important people, places, and events of American history, focusing always on the power of the human spirit,” the organization said.
For a complete list of the winners, visit here.
