Every new year brings with it an opportunity for a fresh start, and that includes your reading goals. Whether you plan to take on an ambitious new reading challenge or simply plan to curl up with your favorite comfort reads (James Patterson, anyone?), there is no better time to begin than the new year.
2026 also brings with it an extra sprinkle of excitement: the Winter Olympics return in Milano Cortina, Italy. As we prepare to cheer on our favorite athletes and nations, let’s explore some award-winning reads right here on our library shelves.
Drop in to reading and join our Winter Reading Challenge today. Learn More
Named after Joseph Pulitzer and began in 1917 as an incentive for excellence in written form. This award is selected by a panel of judges, chosen by the Pulitzer Board, that changes each year.
James by Percival Everett (2025)
Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips (2024)
Established in 1950 to celebrate the best literature published in the United States. This award is selected by a panel of judges, that consists of 25 writers, translators, critics, librarians, and booksellers.
The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine (2025)
James by Percival Everett (2024)
Established in 2009 to honor the contributions of Hoosier authors to the literary landscape of the state and the nations. Awarded every two years, the titles are selected by a jury of scholars, librarians, and writers.
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty (2024 Winner – Fiction)
To Sleep in the Horse’s Belly: My Greek Poets and the Aegean Inside Me by George Kalamaras (2024 Winner – Poetry)
Don’t Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna (2024 Winner – Genre)
Hell if We Don’t Change Our Ways by Brittany Means (2024 Winner – Debut)
Vanished Indianapolis by Edward Fujawa (2024 Winner – Nonfiction)
Established in 1969 to encourage the reading of contemporary fiction, written in English and published in the UK and Ireland and is awarded by a judging panel chosen by the Booker Prize Foundation.
Established in 1980 and named for Nobel laureate William Faulkner, this award celebrates diverse titles that embody the highest achievement in writing and is judged each year by a rotating panel of writers appointed by the PEN/Faulkner Board.
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell (2025)
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez (2024)