Judges winnow Minnesota Book Awards to shortlist

Twenty-four judges from around the state have winnowed a long list of fine books down to the shortlist of finalists for the 23rd annual Minnesota Book Awards.

All four finalists in fiction -- John Reimringer, Matt Burgess, Paul Kilgore and Peter Bognanni -- were nominated for debut books. In the "Minnesota" category, former Star Tribune writers Jay Weiner and Doug Grow are among the finalists.

Surprisingly, Minnesota's two Newbery Honor Books -- "Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night" by Joyce Sidman, and "Heart of a Samurai," by Margi Preus -- were not included.

Children's Literature, sponsored by Books for Africa:

"-1+1=5 and Other Unlikely Additions," by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Brenda Sexton; "Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty," by Linda Glaser, paintings by Claire A. Nivola; "My Heart Is Like a Zoo," by Michael Hall; "A Night on the Range," by Aaron Frisch, illustrated by Chris Sheban.

General Nonfiction, sponsored by Minnesota AFL-CIO:

"The Assassination of Hole in the Day," by Anton Treuer; "The Nature of College: How a New Understanding of Campus Life Can Change the World," by James J. Farrell; "The Opposite of Cold: The Northwoods Finnish Sauna Tradition," by Michael Nordskog and Aaron W. Hautala; "Paddle North: Canoeing the Boundary Waters-Quetico Wilderness," by Greg Breining and Layne Kennedy.

"Silencing Sam," by Julie Kramer; "The Taking of Libbie, S.D.," by David Housewright; "The Tale of Halcyon Crane," by Wendy Webb; "Vermilion Drift," by William Kent Krueger.

Memoir & Creative Nonfiction:

"Carrier: Untangling the Danger in My DNA," by Bonnie J. Rough; "Crossing the Barriers: The Autobiography of Allan H. Spear," by Allan H. Spear; "News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist," by (Star Tribune book editor) Laurie Hertzel; "She Looks Just Like You: A Memoir of (Nonbiological Lesbian) Motherhood," by Amie Klempnauer Miller.

Minnesota, sponsored by Xcel Energy:

"North Country: The Making of Minnesota," by Mary Lethert Wingerd; "Prairie, Lake, Forest: Minnesota's State Parks," by Chris Niskanen and Doug Ohman; "This Is Not Florida: How Al Franken Won the Minnesota Senate Recount," by Jay Weiner; "We're Gonna Win, Twins!: 50 Years of Minnesota's Hometown Team," by Doug Grow.

"Dogfight, A Love Story," by Matt Burgess; "The House of Tomorrow," by Peter Bognanni; "Losing Camille," by Paul Kilgore; "Vestments," by John Reimringer.

Poetry, sponsored by Wellington Management, Inc:

"Dreaming Man, Face Down," by Mark Conway; "Find the Girl," by Lightsey Darst; "On Speaking Terms," by Connie Wanek; "Sin Eater," by William Reichard.

Young People's Literature, sponsored by Sit Investment Associates:

"Blank Confession," by Pete Hautman; "Hamster Magic," by Lynne Jonell; "The Shadows: The Books of Elsewhere; Volume I," by Jacqueline West; "Split," by Swati Avasthi.

All Minnesotans are invited to vote for the Readers' Choice Award during the month of March at TwinCities.com.