A Landmark Moment for Caribbean Literature
The Caribbean literary world reached a historic milestone this week with the announcement of the first-ever winners of the CARICON Prize, a new international award established to recognize and honor outstanding literary works by Caribbean authors across the globe.
Presented by CARICON – The Caribbean Literature Conference, the inaugural prize celebrates four powerful books and a lifetime achievement awardee whose work exemplifies literary excellence, cultural richness, and a bold vision for Caribbean storytelling.
“Caribbean literature has always held a vital place—especially within the diaspora,” says V. Steve Russell, Executive Director of CARICON. “We believe this award will spotlight more authors and bring greater global relevance to Caribbean storytelling. What makes this particularly special is that it’s an award by a Caribbean organization, for Caribbean authors.”
Russell also expressed hope that the prize will open doors to new opportunities for the winners, including potential film and television adaptations. “The Caribbean has powerful stories to tell, and this prize is about helping those stories reach broader audiences—across formats and borders.”
2025 CARICON Prize Winners
CARICON Prize for Children’s Literature
Angélica and la Güira – Angie Cruz
(Penguin Young Readers / Kokila)
A vibrant and moving picture book rooted in Dominican culture and rhythm, Angélica and la Güira evokes joy, memory, and cross-generational connection through music and identity.
CARICON Prize for Poetry
Makeshift Altar – Amy Alvarez
(University Press of Kentucky)
This stunning debut collection explores migration, ancestry, and resilience with lyrical intensity. Alvarez offers a fearless meditation on belonging and becoming.
CARICON Prize for Young Adult Literature
Better Must Come – Desmond Hall
(Atheneum / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)
Set in Jamaica, Hall’s gripping YA novel follows two teens navigating danger, choice, and redemption. A timely and suspenseful coming-of-age story filled with heart and urgency.
CARICON Prize for Fiction
A House for Miss Pauline – Diana McCaulay
(Dialogue Books / Hachette UK)
McCaulay delivers a deeply Caribbean narrative that explores silence, truth, and justice across generations with empathy, power, and precision.
Lifetime Achievement Award for Caribbean Literature
Dr. Earl Lovelace
Trinidadian novelist and playwright Dr. Earl Lovelace has been named the inaugural recipient of the CARICON Lifetime Achievement Award. His literary legacy—including works such as The Dragon Can’t Dance and Salt—has shaped Caribbean literature for generations with unmatched brilliance and authenticity.
The CARICON Prize marks a new era of celebration for Caribbean literature, creating space to elevate the voices shaping the region’s past, present, and future.
The formal presentation of the 2025 CARICON Prize will take place on June 7, 2026, at CARICON in Toronto, Canada.
About the CARICON Prize
The CARICON Prize is an annual literary award honoring exceptional works by Caribbean authors and storytellers across the Caribbean and the diaspora. It celebrates books that exemplify powerful storytelling, cultural relevance, and literary innovation—spotlighting voices that explore the richness, complexity, and evolution of Caribbean identity and experience.
