The nation's only literary prize judged exclusively by incarcerated readers honors its 2026 winner at a ceremony featuring judges' reflections and live Zoom viewing from prisons across the country.
Last night, The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa, translated from the Arabic by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain, was awarded the 2026 Inside Literary Prize, the nation's only major literary prize judged exclusively by readers sentenced to prison. About 200 people in prisons across six states voted on the Prize, which Freedom Reads launched in December 2023 with the National Book Foundation, the Center for Justice Innovation, and Interabang Books co-owner Lori Feathers.
This is the third annual Inside Literary Prize, following the inaugural 2024 Prize awarded to South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry, and the 2025 Prize awarded to Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Founder & CEO of Freedom Reads, Reginald Dwayne Betts hosted last night’s ceremony, held at The New York Public Library. The evening honored all of this year's shortlisted titles and featured Al-Essa, who traveled from Switzerland to appear in person and accept the award. Ilan Stavans, publisher and co-founder of Restless Books, the title's publisher, shared a statement from the book's translators, Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain.
On a night of wise words about why a good book matters, the words of the Inside Literary Prize’s judges, reflections on the power of books, and ultimately their decision took center stage. They shared their reflections on the books and on serving as judges through pre-recorded video captured during the Inside Literary Prize tour and in-facility book discussions. Judges from participating facilities across the country also tuned in to watch the ceremony live via Zoom.
"The universality of stories is what 'The Book Censor's Library' reminds me of most, that beneath our differences lies the deeply human impulse to tell a story, to hear one, and to recognize ourselves in the lives of others,” said Betts.
"Of all the honors this book could receive, I cannot imagine one that means more than this, because you, the judges of this prize, hundreds of readers in prisons across 6 states, chose it freely. In rooms designed for punishment, you did the freest thing a person can do. You read, you argued, you formed your own judgment, and you declared it,” said Al-Essa, author of The Book Censor's Library and winner of the 2026 Inside Literary Prize.
Also joining as a guest speaker was Love Hodge, a judge for the 2025 Inside Literary Prize, who returned home recently. Hodge spoke to the significance of serving as a judge, describing how the books she read gave voice to struggles she had long carried without the words to name them. "Thank you for allowing me to be seen and heard during a time that I didn't think that anything I said mattered,” said Hodge.
The shortlist for the 2026 Inside Literary Prize included: The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa, translated from the Arabic by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain; Ædnan by Linnea Axelsson, translated by Saskia Vogel (Knopf / Penguin Random House); All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House); Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Knopf / Penguin Random House); and My Friends by Hisham Matar (Random House / Penguin Random House). These titles were selected by a Selection Committee comprising incarcerated readers, writers, and Departments of Corrections librarians.
Judges in eleven prisons across six states – Illinois, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Maine – read, discussed, and deliberated over the shortlisted titles before casting their votes. Freedom Reads facilitated the tour, bringing its staff to each facility for book discussions and voting. Guest authors also joined each stop, including previous Inside Literary Prize winner Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and other shortlisted authors from previous years.
The Inside Literary Prize was launched in December 2023 by Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, the Center for Justice Innovation, and independent bookstore owner Lori Feathers. This initiative expands access to the world's most thought-provoking literature for incarcerated people.
A recording of the livestream is available here.