The 2020 W.O. Mitchell Book Prize was presented to Alexandra Latos (@alexandralatos) for Under Shifting Stars. This heartfelt novel follows twins Audrey and Clare as they grapple with their brother’s death and their changing relationships—with each other and themselves.
In the words of this year’s jury, “Under Shifting Stars is a book of beautifully crafted prose, finely drawn characters, and an intricate weaving of conflicts. Told in the alternating voices of twin sisters Clare and Audrey – each struggling with the complicated confusion of their world, the growing gap between them, and their profound grief at the death of their brother – the story covers the wide ground of friendships, crushes, bullying, and gender and sexual diversity with compassion, respect and clarity. The sisters are beautifully rendered, and their struggles toward self-discovery are authentic and tenderly drawn. Under Shifting Stars is catalogued as a novel for young adults, but in the hands of this skillful storyteller, it is an equally compelling, unforgettable read for adults.”
Also on the shortlist were Bertrand Bickersteth for The Response of Weeds, (NeWest Press), and Will Ferguson for The Finder, (Simon & Schuster).
Read more about this year’s City of Calgary Book Prize winner.