Best National Book Award Winners (2026): 5 Picks for Readers

A reader hunting for the best national book award winners wants proven fiction and memoir, not famous titles at random. This list compares award-winning books by author, length, edition and subject, for a book club or a solo reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Good Lord Bird by McBride	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Just Kids by Smith	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
3	All the Pretty Horses by McCarthy	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
4	One Day by El Akkad	9.8/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The Nickel Boys by Whitehead	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Good Lord Bird by McBride

James McBride·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A historical novel for a reader who wants American history via a young narrator.

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Pros

• The listing states it won the National Book Award for Fiction
• 480 pages set in the Kansas Territory in 1856
• A young narrator reaches the Harpers Ferry raid in 1859

Cons

• Slavery and violence are mentioned in the description
• 480 pages suits a committed reader
• No reading age or grade level stated

2

Just Kids by Smith

Patti Smith·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A memoir for a reader curious about young artists in New York.

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Pros

• The listing states it won the National Book Award
• 320 pages tracing Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe
• Covers the Hotel Chelsea years from 1969

Cons

• A memoir, not a novel, for a reader wanting fiction
• No reading age or grade level stated
• Centers on an adult art world

3

All the Pretty Horses by McCarthy

Cormac McCarthy·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A western novel for a reader who wants a trilogy opener about a young rancher riding to Mexico.

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Pros

• The listing states it won the National Book Award
• Book 1 of 3 opens the Border Trilogy
• 320 pages following a sixteen year old rider to Mexico

Cons

• Book 1 of 3, so a fan wants the next books
• No reading age or grade level stated
• Published June 29, 1993, an older printing

4

One Day by El Akkad

Omar El Akkad·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A memoir and manifesto for a reader who wants a reckoning with the West.

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Pros

• The listing states it won the National Book Award
• Published February 25, 2025, the newest listing here
• 208 pages, a compact read for a busy reader

Cons

• War and bombardment are mentioned in the description
• Nonfiction reckoning, not a novel
• No reading age or grade level stated

5

The Nickel Boys by Whitehead

Colson Whitehead·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A novel for a reader who wants a serious story from a Jim Crow era reform school.

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Pros

• The listing states it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2020
• 224 pages set in 1960s Tallahassee
• Based on a reform school that operated for 111 years

Cons

• The listing states a Pulitzer win, not a National Book Award win
• A harsh reform school is described in the listing
• No reading age or grade level stated

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More picks to compare

• The Rabbit Hutch by GuntyFor a reader who wants a debut novel about teenagers in a fading town.Check on Amazon
• Flights by TokarczukFor a reader who wants a translated novel about travel and the body.Check on Amazon
• Seven Empty Houses by SchweblinFor a reader who wants seven tense stories about houses and belonging.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 25 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents and edition, value, and listed reading age or level where given. None list a reading age or grade level, so that part does not apply. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best national book award winners

Match the length to the reader

Page counts here run from 208 pages to 480 pages. A reader short on evenings can try One Day at 208 pages, while The Good Lord Bird at 480 pages suits a longer commitment. For more winners in nonfiction, see nonfiction book awards.

Check the edition and publication date

Publication dates here run from June 29, 1993 to February 25, 2025. An older listing may use an older printing, so check the edition before buying. See award winning books for young adults for more choices.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date on the listing before buying.
• For a series, buy Book 1 first: All the Pretty Horses.
• Read the description for mature themes first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which best national book award winners book should a book club pick first?

Pick The Good Lord Bird: the listing states it won the National Book Award for Fiction.

Do any of these books state a reading age or grade level?

No. None of the listings state one.

Which pick has the fewest pages?

One Day, at 208 pages.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Good Lord Bird by McBride

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Related lists

See every fiction list and all book club lists.

More lists: nonfiction book awards, award winning young adult books, spy novels.