The 70th Annual Christopher Awards took place in New York City in May 23, honoring books for adults and young people that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit," the organization said. Five adult books were recognized, including Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Duke professor and cancer survivor Kate Bowler (Random House), Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom (S&S) by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David W. Blight, and One Beautiful Dream (Zondervan) by Sirius XM radio host on the Catholic Channel Jennifer Fulwiler.
Additional winners in the adult category were Dawn Raffel, author of The Strange Case of Dr. Couney (Blue Rider) about a showman’s unconventional method for saving thousands of premature babies, and Anthony Ray Hinton’s story of exoneration from Death Row in The Sun Does Shine (St. Martin’s).
Among the six winners for children’s books were Eraser (Two Lions) by Anna Kang, in which talking school supplies explore the value of individuality, The World is Awake (ZonderKidz) by ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis with Joseph Bottum, and Rescue & Jessica (Candlewick) by Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky, a double amputee who survived the Boston Marathon bombing.
Remaining winners in the young reader’s category include the story of Apollo 8 in To the Moon! (Philomel) by Jeffrey Kluger with Ruby Shamir, The Ostrich and Other Lost Things (Philomel) by Beth Hautala, and Torrey Maldonado’s Tight (Nancy Paulsen), which follows a sixth-grader in Brooklyn coming to terms with his identity.
“Stories that highlight the power of community and common purpose, and get us in touch with ‘the better angels of nature,’ those are the kinds of stories we highlight, and tonight’s winners add to that tradition,” director of communications & program manager for the Christopher Awards Tony Rossi said in a statement.
The awards ceremony opened with a videotaped message from Dolly Parton commemorating 70 years of the Christopher Awards, which are about “faith, family, loving your neighbor, and finding light in dark situations,” she said.
Founded by Catholic priest Fr. James Keller, the awards go to people of all faiths and also recognize filmmakers and television creatives. For a full list of the 2019 winners, click here.
