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”).
![](https://icv2.com/images/article_thumbs/650x650_3ac5492669fddfd6f390e0cf17d0c853d6245f42c34eea72342ba792.jpg)
For Only the Second Time in the History of the Award
Posted by Johanna Draper Carlson on November 19, 2023 @ 5:44 pm CT
![](https://icv2.com/imgs/icon_print.jpg)