Finalists for the 2023 Toronto Book Awards have been announced, and two Black authors top the list of five.

Dionne Brand, who authored “Nomenclature”, published by Penguin Random House, made the Top 5 list, while Sheila Murray was recognized for her book, “Finding Edward.”

The annual awards offer $15,000 in prize money, with shortlisted authors receiving $1,000 each and the winner taking home $10,000. There are no separate categories: novels, short story collections, books of poetry, books on history, politics, and social issues, biographies, books about sports, children’s and young adult books, graphic novels, and photographic collections are judged together.

Established in 1974, the awards honour books of literary merit inspired by Toronto. See the full list of authors here.

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The book “Nomenclature: Collected Poems” by Dionne Brand spans the author’s career, showcasing her poetic exploration of various themes. These poems delve into identity, love, race, migration, politics, and the complexities of human experience.

Through her evocative and thought-provoking verse, Brand explores the intricacies of language and naming, drawing attention to how these elements shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Her poems are known for their lyrical and often experimental style, which invites readers to engage deeply with the nuances of her words and the emotions they convey.

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Meanwhile, Murray, in “Finding Edward”, tells the story of Cyril Rowntree, who emigrated from Jamaica to Toronto in 2012 on a challenging journey of work and education while grappling with the complexities of racial identity in his new homeland.

A serendipitous encounter with a panhandler named Patricia sets Cyril on an unexpected path. Patricia’s connection leads him to a treasure trove of photographs and letters dating back to the 1920s. This correspondence unfolds the poignant tale of a white mother’s heart-wrenching decision to part with her mixed-race child, Edward. Cyril, who experienced abandonment by his white father as a young child, feels an immediate and profound connection to Edward’s story, igniting his determination to unearth the missing pieces.

As Cyril embarks on this quest, he journeys through the fragments of Edward’s nomadic life, spanning the country. He uncovers concealed chapters of Canada’s Black history along the way, enriching his understanding and granting him the confidence to embrace his newfound world.

“Finding Edward” was recognized as a finalist for the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction and was listed among the best works of Canadian fiction in 2022 by CBC Books. Additionally, it has been included on the Canada Reads 2023 longlist, with the final selection to be revealed in January 2023.