For only the second time in the history of the award, a graphic novel has won the National Book Award.  A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat, published by First Second, won the 2023 Young People’s Literature category.  In addition to the award, a bronze sculpture, winners are given $10,000.

A First Time for Everything is a graphic coming-of-age memoir about a class trip to Europe (see “New Graphic Novels by Ben Hatke, Dan Santat”).  Another graphic novel, Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy, from Dial Books for Young Readers, was nominated in the same category.

Previously, March: Book Three won the category in 2016 (see “‘March’ Wins National Book Award”).