Percival Everett's 'James', a retelling of 'Huckleberry Finn' from the perspective of Jim, has won the National Book Award for fiction. This award highlights Everett's exploration of racism and the human experience through Jim's voice. The National Book Awards featured a variety of notable speeches addressing issues like peace in the Middle East and the importance of empathy in literature. Other winners included Jason De León and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, with critiques regarding awards naming controversy surrounding W. Paul Coates, showing a complex literary landscape.