Jason Mott facts for kids

Jason Mott is an American writer who creates novels and poems. His book, Hell of a Book, won a big award called the National Book Award for Fiction in 2021.

Growing Up and School

Jason Mott was born in a town called Bolton, North Carolina. He went to Cape Fear Community College. Later, he studied at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. There, he earned two special degrees: one for writing stories (Fiction) and another for writing poems (Poetry).

His Books and Stories

Jason Mott's first novel, The Returned, came out in 2013. This book was about people who had passed away coming back to life. It explored how this would change the lives of everyone around them. This story was so interesting that it was made into a TV show called Resurrection in 2014.

His second novel, The Wonder of All Things, was published in 2014. This book tells a magical story about a child with a special healing gift. It looks at the challenge of protecting this gift versus using it to help many people.

Mott's third novel, The Crossing, was released in 2018. It is an exciting thriller set in a difficult future world. The story follows two siblings who must run and do whatever it takes to survive.

Hell of a Book

Jason Mott's fourth and most famous novel is Hell of a Book. It was published on June 29, 2021. This book is a unique and sometimes funny look at the experiences of African Americans. On November 17, 2021, it won the important National Book Award for Fiction. It also received other awards, like the Sir Walter Raleigh Prize for Fiction in 2021.

Awards and Honors

Jason Mott has received several important awards for his writing.

Literary Prizes

His novel Hell of a Book has won or been recognized for many awards:

• In 2021, it won the National Book Award for Fiction.
• Also in 2021, it won the North Carolina Book Award for Fiction.
• In 2022, it was a finalist for the Chautauqua Prize.
• It was also a finalist for the Maya Angelou Book Award in 2022.

Other Honors

• In 2024, Jason Mott received a special award called the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for Creative Writing. This honor helps writers continue their important work.

His Published Works

Novels

• The Returned (2013)
• The Wonder of All Things (2014)
• The Crossing (2018)
• Hell of a Book (2021)

Short Stories

• "Best of Luck" (2023)