2018 Discover Awards

Only Killers and Thieves

by Paul Howarth

We can't stop thinking about this classic and timeless story of brothers and revenge, injustice and honor that reminded us of epic stories like Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy and The Son by Phillip Meyer. Discover alum and bestselling author Paulette Jiles (Enemy Women and News of the World) loves Paul Howarth’s debut novel as much as the Discover selection committee readers do.

A Place for Us

by Fatima Farheen Mirza

At once intimate and epic, this is an unforgettable story of family and identity, past and present, choices and consequences, home and the outside world. “A radiantly envisioned, beautifully achieved epic about nearly everything that matters: love, family, faith freedom, betrayal, contrition, absolution.” --Anthony Marra, Discover Award-winning author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

There There

by Tommy Orange

Here's everything we hope for in a debut novel: to be shocked and surprised by new terrain and new characters detailed in a powerful, poetic voice. Tommy Orange writes with force and velocity, digging deep into narratives both painful and profound. "Drops on us like a thunderclap; the big, booming, explosive sound of 21st-century literature finally announcing itself. Essential.” --Marlon James

Heavy: An American Memoir

by Kiese Laymon

A deeply personal and unforgettable book from a fearless writer. This revelatory, critically acclaimed memoir not only exposes what a lifetime of secrets, lies, and deception does to a man, it also delivers a powerful story of truth, love, and freedom. “One of the most important and intense books of the year…unyielding, profoundly original, and utterly heartbreaking...” --Los Angeles Times

Educated

by Simon Joy

A searing story of growing up off the grid, and an inspirational story of a young woman who saves her own life through her love of books and learning. More than one of us held our breath while we were reading, waiting to see what happened next in this extraordinary story. “A keen and honest guide to the difficulties of filial love, and to the enchantment of embracing a life of the mind.” --The New Yorker