What is the Whippoorwill Award?

Check out the website! It’s full of interesting information. The Whippoorwill Award’s mission is “to advocate for books that portray the complexity of rural living by dispelling stereotypes and demonstrating diversity among rural people. It is awarded to middle grade and young adult literature.”

Where did the name come from?

The whippoorwill is a bird known for its distinct song that fills many remote spaces. The Whippoorwill Award shares this bird’s name to honor young adult and middle grades literature that sings the authentic stories of rural people and places.

Rural life is my life and the life of my family and friends. I love that there is an award that honours that. I’m very excited that Rachel Bird was selected as a winner of the 2023 Whippoorwill Award! Thank you to everyone who worked to make that happen!