An Appetite for Miracles wins the Jean Flynn Award for YA fiction

The Texas Institute of Letters has awarded An Appetite for Miracles with the Jean Flynn Award for YA fiction.

From the judges: “An Appetite for Miracles is a lyrical and moving novel in verse exploring healing and connection. As Danna and Raúl struggle to heal their families and themselves, author Laekan Zea Kemp highlights the importance of community when facing loss. Beautiful and poignant verses bring depth and joy to the characters’ journeys. While at the surface this is a tender love story, Kemp also deftly explores larger themes of generational trauma, body image, and incarceration in an accessible way for young readers. An Appetite for Miracles is an expertly crafted story filled with tenderness and hope.”

The Texas Institute of Letters is a nonprofit Honor Society founded in 1936 to celebrate Texas
literature and recognize distinctive literary achievement. For details about the winners and finalists for all twelve categories of the annual Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards (prizes total more than $27,000), please visit the TIL’s website.