The 2nd edition of the Amazon Young Literature Award, an initiative by Amazon Brazil in partnership with HarperCollins Brazil and with the support of Audible, crowned the work "Caixa de Silêncios" by author Marcella Rossetti as the grand winner. The announcement was made last Friday (13th), during the first day of the 21st Book Fair in Rio de Janeiro, at the Ziraldo auditorium. Finalists, journalists, judges, and around 300 readers celebrated the award during the largest literature event in Latin America, which highlights Brazilian culture and literature in the current World Book Capital.
The Amazon Young Literature Award aims to promote the democratization of literature, encourage access to reading in Brazil, and support independent authors in the Young Adult segment, with works made available through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon's free self-publishing tool. In addition to Marcella's work, the finalists for the award included: "What You See in the Dark" by Bárbara Regina Souza, "Chaotically Clear" by Fernanda Campos, "What I Like Most About Myself" by Marcela Millan, and "Before You End" by Samuel Cardeal. All finalists and the winner will have their works converted into audiobooks by Audible Brazil, in addition to the digital version, which has been available since the publication.
Marcella will receive R$ 35,000, including R$ 10,000 as an advance on royalties from HarperCollins Brazil. The work "Box of Silences" will be published in the country in print version by the literary label Pitaya of the publisher, aimed at the Young Adult audience. Additionally, the winner will have the opportunity to participate in a special meeting with other Young Adult genre authors from the publisher.
 Ricardo Perez, leader of Amazon's book business in Brazil, Marcella Rossetti, winner of the 2nd edition of the Amazon Young Literature Award, and Leonora Monnerat, executive director of HarperCollins Brazil. |
We are very happy to announce "Silence Box" as the winning work of the second edition of the Amazon Youth Literature Award in Brazil, a moment made even more special by taking place during the Rio de Janeiro Book Fair. With more than 1,600 works registered in this edition, it is always inspiring to see the interest and dedication of independent authors who use KDP to self-publish their works. By democratizing this process, Amazon becomes part of this journey, contributing to the Brazilian literary scene and reinforcing our commitment to promoting reading in the country," says Ricardo Perez, head of Amazon's book business in Brazil.
"Almost a year after the debut of our young imprint, Pitaya – whose first book was the winner of last year's Amazon Young Literature Award – we are even more convinced that we are forging a relevant and necessary path. With Pitaya, we had the opportunity to establish a much more direct contact with YA readers and to get to know them deeply. Being able to bring books to such special readers is not just a responsibility, but a privilege," says Leonora Monnerat, executive director of HarperCollins Brazil.
"Our readers are curious, lively, and excited. They value diversity of voices and genres, as well as community building. When we talk about national literature, the potential is immense, as we can connect an engaged audience with accessible authors. Our partnership with Amazon for the Amazon Youth Literature Award is valuable because the award not only reveals new talents but also helps build a bridge between authors and readers," he concludes.
"'Box of Silences' surprised me by sensitively addressing a fundamental theme: sexual abuse. The author, Marcella Rossetti, offers an important reflection on the vulnerability of boys, often neglected in debates. She invites us to pay attention to the fear and silence that prevent male victims from reporting, making them easy targets for abusers," says Thalita Rebouças, writer and judge of the 2nd edition of the Amazon Youth Literature Award.
In "Box of Silences," Ana moves to a new city and must face her own world collapsing. She never imagined meeting Vitor and Cris, youth players of a famous football team, and even less that this encounter would completely change her life. Facing their fears and silences together, will they be able to find hope, the will to live, and happiness once more?
