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The Audio Publishers Association recognized the best audiobook and spoken entertainment programming and announced the 2021 Audie Award winners in a virtual ceremony hosted by actor and narrator John Leguizamo last night. The winners were announced in a total of 25 categories, including Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who was named Audiobook of the Year 2021, and Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte, who both won the 2021 Young Adult Audie Award and the Multi-Voiced Performance Award.
The winners of the 26th Audie Awards were selected from over 1,500 submissions. Entries were reviewed by judges from a wide variety of backgrounds, including booksellers, librarians, educators, journalists, bloggers and others. The audies also invite selected prominent judges. This year’s jury consisted of the authors Jennifer Egan, Tommy Orange, David Sedaris, Jerry Craft, VE Schwab and Melissa de la Cruz.
Discussing the Audiobook of the Year winner, Piranesi, Judges Jennifer Egan, Tommy Orange and David Sedaris commented on the complexity and tone of the audiobook. “The reading is a triumph of sound … one of the best readings in contemporary literature I have ever heard,” said Egan. Commented Sedaris, “I think the reading complements the author’s intent perfectly. The characterization is complex and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s voice is suitably naive and full of wonder. The novel is a bit confusing at first and Ejiofor masterfully pulls us through the fog. “Orange said,” As the book got darker and more exciting and the secret at the center of the novel was revealed, Chiwetel Ejiofor advanced the story wonderfully. ”
The winner of the Young Adult Audie Award 2021, Clap When You Land, was commended by judges Jerry Craft, Melissa de la Cruz and VE Schwab. “The narration of this title brought history to life in a rich and exuberant way,” noted de la Cruz. Schwab commented, “The double narration was powerful, as was the execution of the novel-in-verse component, which was evident in the speed and decisions of the two narrators. It was a perfect balance between writing and storytelling, with the voices breathing life into the poetry on the side. “Craft added,” I had the greatest emotional attachment to this book and its characters. Of course, nobody knows the characters as well as the writer, but luckily Elizabeth Acevedo has the ability to say the lines exactly as she wrote them. I would definitely recommend this title. It flows so well. “
In addition to Clap When You Land, two other audiobooks won audio awards in more than one category: The City We Became by NK Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, narrated by Alex Haley, narrated by Laurence Fishburne. All of this year’s winners of more than one Audie Award come from writers and storytellers of color. This year the Audie Award for the audio book in Spanish returned and was presented to El laberinto del fauno by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, narrated by Luis Ávila.
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In his opening monologue, John Leguizamo commented on the variety of the price list. “I am proud to host this show. The diversity I see among our nominees: women, the LGBTQ community, my Latinx brothers and sisters, and so many people of color overall. The audio book industry has achieved a level of inclusiveness and representation that other industries can only strive for. “
2021 Audie Prize Winner
Audiobook of the year
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, published by Bloomsbury PLC
radio play
Doctor Who – Stranded 1 by Matt Fitton, David K. Barnes, Lisa McMullin and John Dorney, performed by Paul McGann, Nicola Walker, Hattie Morahan, Rebecca Root, Tom Price and Tom Baker, published by Big Finish Productions
Autobiography / memoir
The Autobiography of Malcolm X: How Alex Haley Was Told by Malcolm X, How It Was Told to Alex Haley, Narrated by Laurence Fishburne, published by Audible, Inc.
Best narrator
The City We Were Made To by NK Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles, published by Hachette Audio
Best male narrator
The Autobiography of Malcolm X: How Alex Haley Was Told by Malcolm X, How It Was Told to Alex Haley, Narrated by Laurence Fishburne, published by Audible, Inc.
Business / personality development
The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, told by Tovah Feldshuh, published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Faith-based fiction and non-fiction
Fierce, free and full of fire, written and narrated by Jen Hatmaker, published by Thomas Nelson
fantasy
The City We Were Made To by NK Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles, published by Hachette Audio
fiction
Such a Fun Age from Kiley Reid, narrated by Nicole Lewis, published by Penguin Random House Audio
History / biography
His Truth Marches On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham, with an afterword by John Lewis, narrated by JD Jackson, published by Penguin Random House Audio
humor
A very beatable face, written and narrated by Colin Jost, published by Penguin Random House Audio
Literary fiction & classics
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi, narrated by Yetide Badaki and Chukwudi Iwuji, published by Penguin Random House Audio
Middle class
The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliott, narrated by Fiona Hardingham and Gary Furlong, published by Brilliance Publishing
Polyphonic performance
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte, published by HarperAudio
secret
Fair Warning by Michael Connelly, told by Peter Giles and Zach Villa, published by Hachette Audio
Narration by the author or authors
More Myself, written and narrated by Alicia Keys, published by Macmillan Audio
Non-fiction
Fire in Paradise by Alastair Gee and Dani Anguiano, narrated by T. Ryder Smith, published by Recorded Books
Original work
When You’re Done Saving the World by Jesse Eisenberg, narrated by Finn Wolfhard, Kaitlyn Dever, and Jesse Eisenberg, published by Audible Originals
romance
Dirty Letters by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, narrated by Andi Arndt and Jacob Morgan, published by Brilliance Publishing
Science fiction
The Deep by Rivers Solomon with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes, narrated by Daveed Diggs, published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Short stories / collections
The Chekhov Collection of Short Stories by Anton Chekhov, Narrated by Richard Armitage, published by Audible Studios
Spanish language
Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, narrated by Luis Ávila, published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial México
Thriller / suspense
When Nobody’s Watching by Alyssa Cole, told by Susan Dalian and Jay Aaseng, published by HarperAudio
Young adult
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte, published by HarperAudio
Young listeners
The Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome, narrated by Shayna Small and Dion Graham, published by Live Oak Media
Want even more recommendations for incredible audiobooks? Check out the full list of finalists:
Meet the finalists of the Audie Award 2021
