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Recognizing the best in audiobook and spoken word entertainment, the Audio Publishers Association announced the 2021 Audie Award winners last night in a virtual ceremony hosted by actor and narrator John Leguizamo. Winners were announced in 25 categories total with highlights including Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, being named the 2021 Audiobook of the Year, and Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte, winning both the 2021 Young Adult Audie Award and the Multi-Voiced Performance Award.
The winners for the 26th Audie Awards were chosen from over 1,500 submissions. Submissions were pored over by judges from a wide array of backgrounds, including book sellers, librarians, educators, journalists, bloggers, and more. The Audies also invite select celebrity judges, and this year’s panel included authors Jennifer Egan, Tommy Orange, David Sedaris, Jerry Craft, V.E. Schwab, and Melissa de la Cruz.
When discussing Audiobook of the Year winner Piranesi, judges Jennifer Egan, Tommy Orange, and David Sedaris commented on the audiobook’s complexity and tone. “The reading is a triumph of tone…one of the best readings of contemporary literature that I have ever listened to,” said Egan. Sedaris noted, “I think the reading perfectly complements the author’s intent. The characterization is complex, and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s voice is appropriately naive and full of wonder. The novel is a bit confusing at first, and Ejiofor masterfully pulls us through the fog.” Orange said, “When the book got darker and more thrilling, and as the mystery at the center of the novel was revealed, Chiwetel Ejiofor moved the story along beautifully.”
2021 Young Adult Audie Award winner, Clap When You Land, was praised by judges Jerry Craft, Melissa de la Cruz, and V.E. Schwab. “The narration of this title brought the story to life in a rich and luscious manner,” noted de la Cruz. Schwab commented, “The dual narration was powerful, as was the execution of the novel-in-verse component, which could be felt in the pacing and choices made by the two narrators. It was a perfect balance of writing and narration, with the voices breathing life into the poetry on the page.” Craft added, “I had the biggest emotional attachment to this book and its characters. Obviously, no one knows the characters like the author, but fortunately Elizabeth Acevedo has the skills to say the lines exactly as she had written 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 N. K. Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley, narrated by Laurence Fishburne. All of this year’s winners of more than one Audie Award are by authors and narrators of color. And this year, the Audie Award for Spanish Language audiobook returned and was awarded to El laberinto del fauno by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, narrated by Luis Ávila.
In his opening monologue, John Leguizamo commented on the diversity of the award list. “I’m proud to host this show. The diversity that I see among our nominees: women, the LGBTQ community, my Latinx brothers and sisters, and overall, so, so many people of color. The audiobook industry has achieved a level of inclusivity and representation that other industries can only aspire to.”
2021 Audie Award Winners
Audiobook of the Year
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, published by Bloomsbury PLC
Audio Drama
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: As Told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley, narrated by Laurence Fishburne, published by Audible, Inc.
Best Female Narrator
The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles, published by Hachette Audio
Best Male Narrator
The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley, narrated by Laurence Fishburne, published by Audible, Inc.
Business/Personal Development
The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, narrated by Tovah Feldshuh, published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Faith-Based Fiction and Nonfiction
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire, written and narrated by Jen Hatmaker, published by Thomas Nelson
Fantasy
The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles, published by Hachette Audio
Fiction
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, narrated by Nicole Lewis, published by Penguin Random House Audio
History/Biography
His Truth is Marching 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 Punchable 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 Grade
The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliott, narrated by Fiona Hardingham and Gary Furlong, published by Brilliance Publishing
Multi-Voiced Performance
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte, published by HarperAudio
Mystery
Fair Warning by Michael Connelly, narrated by Peter Giles and Zach Villa, published by Hachette Audio
Narration by 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 Finish 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
El laberinto del fauno by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, narrated by Luis Ávila, published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial México
Thriller/Suspense
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole, narrated 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 complete list of finalists: