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This Former Librarian Was Just Named Target’s ‘Author of the Year’
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Target has unveiled its pick for the best books of 2024, while also honoring a former librarian as its first-ever “Author of the Year.”
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Kristin Hannah’s “The Women” was named Target’s “Book of the Year,” with the retailer now selling an exclusive hardcover edition of the novel online.
BOOK OF THE YEAR
The Women (Hardcover)
The story of nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath, who enlists in the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War, Hannah’s book earned rave reviews for its poignant storytelling and sharp takes on family, female empowerment, and patriotism, as seen during an era of political turmoil and change.
While it wasn’t inspired by a true story (like many readers have assumed), publisher St. Martin’s Press says “The Women” may be about “one woman gone to war,” but it also “shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten.”
AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
Long After We Are Gone (Paperback)
Author Terah Shelton Harris, meantime, was named Target’s 2024 “Author of the Year.” The Alabama resident’s Southern tale, “Long After We Are Gone” was released in May to critical acclaim, with one reviewer calling it a “big, beautiful, devastating, and ultimately hopeful novel.”
A story about four siblings who come together to save their childhood home after their father’s death, the publisher notes say the book is a “searing portrait on the power of family and letting go of things that no longer serve you, exploring the burden of familial expectations, the detriment of miscommunication, and the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children.”
This is Harris’ second book, following her debut novel, “One Summer in Savannah” (Target is selling a signed copy of that book here). Prior to becoming a published author, Harris worked as a librarian for more than 15 years. In an Instagram post, the author calls the honor “an emotional one,” adding that “it’s pretty hard to fathom something like this. Probably because it’s an honor I never dreamed of achieving.”
Nothing that a new edition of the book is now available at Target (with bonus material), Harris adds that “Books change lives, but readers need to find those books and their authors. Thank you Target for putting books in the hands of readers.”
YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR
The Glass Girl
Kathleen Glasgow’s “The Glass Girl” was named Target’s “Young Adult Book of the Year” for 2024. Just released in October, the novel follows 15-year-old Bella, as she turns to alcohol to cope with her increasingly frustrating family relationships and expectations. The weight of everything eventually comes to a crashing halt, with Bella ending up in rehab. She must learn to pick herself back up, while navigating themes of recovery, redemption and self-love.
Per Delacorte Press, “‘The Glass Girl’ is a candid exploration of the forces pushing young women toward addiction–and what it really takes to help them get better.”
You can pick up a Target-exclusive edition of “The Glass Girl” on sale for $17 here. This special edition features an alternate ombre-style cover and new end pages.
This is a great week to pick up a book (or three) at Target. The retailer is offering a “buy two, get one free” deal on select books and movies as part of its Circle Week deals.
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