Congratulations to Benjamin Hertwig, shortlisted for the 2025 Amazon Canada First Novel Award for his debut novel Juiceboxers!
“Juiceboxers is a fiercely honest portrait of young soldiers fighting a war Canada would rather forget and then discovering that it has followed them home. Benjamin Hertwig’s debut novel is an unflinching act of remembrance, a tale of brotherhood and prejudice, and a moving portrait of lives and friendships forged and torn apart.” — Thomas Wharton, author of The Book of Rain and Icefields
2025 marks the 49th annual Amazon Canada First Novel Award, celebrating the achievements of Canadian authors and their debut novels. The winner will receive $60,000, and each shortlisted author will receive $6000.
The finalists for the 2025 Amazon Canada First Novel Award are:
- Subterrane, Valérie Bah (Esplanade Books/Véhicule Press)
- When We Were Ashes, Andrew Boden (Goose Lane Editions)
- Juiceboxers, Benjamin Hertwig (Freehand Books)
- Oil People, David Huebert (McClelland & Stewart)
- How It Works Out, Myriam Lacroix (Doubleday Canada)
- I Hope This Finds You Well, Natalie Sue (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 5. For more information on the shortlist, please visit www.thewalrus.ca/afna.