March 19, 2024, 10:46am

Ah, 35, that mystical line between emerging writers and… old ones. Though I move ever further in the wrong direction from said line I am nonetheless happy to celebrate this latest crop of “young” writers, announced today by the National Book Foundation, as they contemplate the imminence of their late thirties. Congratulations, and may you never stop emerging! (And may your 5 Under 35 party be as good as the one that was hosted by Natasha Lyonne—IYKYK)

Antonia Angress, Sirens & Muses
Selected by Charles Baxter, 2000 National Book Award Finalist

Maya Binyam, Hangman
Selected by Alejandro Varela, 2022 National Book Award Finalist

Zain Khalid, Brother Alive
Selected by Laila Lalami, 2019 National Book Award Finalist

Tyriek White, We Are a Haunting
Selected by Tiphanie Yanique, 2010 5 Under 35 Honoree

Jenny Tinghui Zhang, Four Treasures of the Sky
Selected by Adam Johnson, 2015 National Book Award Winner