The Brooklyn Public Library announced the shortlist for the 2025 Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize , highlighting writers whose work reflects the borough’s spirit of cultural exchange, resilience and creativity.

Launched in 2015 by the Brooklyn Eagles, a group of young and engaged Brooklynites who are passionate about BPL and work to engage new patrons and build a vibrant community around the resources the library offers. The prize celebrates writing that resonates with Brooklyn readers and connects local culture to global conversations. Past winners have included Kaveh Akbar, Blair L.M. Kelley, Catherine Lacey, Ocean Vuong, Carmen Maria Machado and Miriam Toews.

“The 2025 Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize celebrates writers, poets and journalists who capture the culture and ethos

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