American Book Fest has named two titles from InterVarsity Press (IVP) as finalists of the 2024 American Fiction Awards. The honored titles include The Surface of Water by Cynthia Beach and the coauthored IVP Kids book, Zion Learns to See, written by Terence and Zion Lester and illustrated by Subi Bosa.

The IVP finalists of this year’s contest join a prestigious group of past honorees, including Pope Francis, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, George Sanders, Julie Andrews, Clive Barker, Vanessa Williams, Shark Tank’s Daymon John, Brad Thor, Kitty Kelley, and many others.

Winners and finalists for the American Fiction Awards were announced in over seventy genre specific categories. Awards were presented for titles published from 2022 to 2024.

The Surface of Water: A Novel by Cynthia Beach was a finalist in the Religious Fiction category of the American Fiction Awards. Julie Cantrell, author of Perennials, said, “A timely examination of the human heart, The Surface of Water explores the complexities of frail faith and fractured family, proving that sometimes even the truth can become watery. Readers won’t be disappointed as Beach delivers an emotional story through beautifully lyrical language, presenting characters who stick with us long after the last page is turned.”

The Surface of Water is about a megachurch pastor, a famous evangelist’s son, living in a world beyond his control. It’s also a story about a young woman trying to understand her complicated life. In the #ChurchToo era, this novel invites readers to see life’s shadowed edges—isolation, power, and abuse—illumined by the light of truth.

“The Surface of Water is an unflinchingly honest look at ‘big’ Christianity,” said Kelly Flanagan, psychologist and author of The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell. “Crafted before the recent spate of #ChurchToo scandals, it now reads as a prophetic harbinger of church abuses. It does for hypocrisy in the church what Demon Copperhead did for the opioid crisis.”

A finalist in the Children’s Religious category of the American Fiction Awards, Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness was inspired by real-life events. Zion has no idea what she’s getting into when she decides to join her dad at his work on Saturday. But she quickly discovers that a day at the community center brings new and wonderful people into her life. Zion learns about people experiencing homelessness and is moved to respond as she recognizes that all people matter to God.

Terence Lester said, “Our hope (both Zion and I) is that Zion Learns to See will inspire parents to cultivate a generation that loves without condition. Showing love to people, irrespective of their life situations or whether they have a stable place to call home, reflects our shared humanity.” 

A March 2024 Black PR Wire review says, “A heartwarming children’s book fostering empathy and awareness about homelessness. Zion Learns to See invites young readers to see the world through a lens of hope and compassion while empowering youth to take action in their communities.”

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.