Carol Shields Prize Announces 2026 Shortlist

The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction announced its 2026 shortlist on April 21, featuring five works by women and nonbinary authors that span novels, a graphic novel and a short story collection. The prestigious award, which recognizes excellence in English-language fiction published in Canada and the United States, highlights diverse voices addressing themes from family bonds and personal identity to climate catastrophe and queer experiences.

The shortlisted titles include "A Guardian and a Thief" by Megha Majumdar, an Indian-origin writer's novel set in a near-future Kolkata ravaged by flooding, famine and severe climate change. The story follows two families driven by fierce love and hope as they navigate poverty and disaster to protect their children, blurring lines between protection and desperation. The jury described the book as a "harrowing yet captivating novel" that "fills us simultaneously with horror and compassion," noting how it "drags readers from complacency and forces them to face what can happen to our values when our dearest ones are stalked by disaster." Through vivid imagery, nuanced characters and unexpected plot developments, Majumdar immerses readers in...