Hell of a Book
First edition cover
AuthorJason Mott
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherDutton
Publication date
2021
Pages323 pp
ISBN978-0593330999

Hell of a Book[a] is a 2021 book by Jason Mott. It won the 2021 National Book Award for Fiction.

Plot summary

In alternating chapters, the novel tells the stories of two different characters: a nameless novelist on tour for a book also titled Hell of a Book, and an African-American child named Soot. Soot, who lives near Whiteville, North Carolina, is being bullied on the school bus, while the novelist is troubled by visions of a child he calls "The Kid", who speaks to him in riddles.

Reception

The Star-News said that with the novel, Mott earned "a place on the shelf beside such African-American writers as Colson Whitehead and Octavia Butler".[1]

On November 17, 2021, the novel was awarded the 2021 National Book Award for Fiction.[2] It was also longlisted for the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction,[3] the 2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize,[4] and the 2022 Joyce Carol Oates Prize.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ The full title of the novel is Hell of a Book: Or the Altogether Factual, Wholly Bona Fide Story of a Big Dreams, Hard Luck, American-Made Mad Kid.

References

  1. ^ Steelman, Ben (July 17, 2021). "Wilmington-area author uses Black experience to pen 'Hell of a Book'". Star-News. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "National Book Awards 2021". National Book Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "2022 Winners". American Library Association. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  4. ^ "Announcing the Longlist for the 2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize". Aspen Institute. November 10, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "2022 Joyce Carol Oates Prize Longlist". The New Literary Project. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
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