The book "The Sunflower Boys" by American writer of Ukrainian descent Sam Wachman became the laureate of the 2026 Dayton Literary Peace Prize in fiction. The work, which tells the tragic coming-of-age story of two brothers against the backdrop of the Russian invasion, received recognition for its profound exploration of themes of loss, identity, and hope.
This was said by the prize organizers.
Published in 2025, the coming-of-age novel "The Sunflower Boys" became a resounding literary debut for Sam Wachman.
The events of the book revolve around 12-year-old Artem from Chernihiv. His ordinary teenage life, filled with first feelings for his best friend, is abruptly cut short by the full-scale war. Fleeing the brutal siege of the city in 2022, Artem, along with his mother and younger brother Yurii, finds refuge with their grandfather in the village of Vasiukivka, a name that is a symbolic reference to the classic Ukrainian work by Vsevolod Nestayko, "Toreadors from Vasyukivka".
However, the war catches up with them there as well. After their mother and grandfather are killed as a result of hostilities, the brothers are forced to embark on an extremely dangerous journey on their own to the west of Ukraine, where their father, who is just returning from the United States, awaits them. In addition to the piercing story of survival, literary critics particularly note the realistic recreation of the atmosphere of the Chernihiv siege and the representation of the LGBTQ+ community in Ukrainian realities.
The author of the novel, Sam Wachman, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to a family of Ukrainian descent. He was educated at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and Brandeis University. His connection to Ukraine is not limited only to his family roots: before writing the novel, Wachman taught English to elementary school students in the central regions of Ukraine, and also actively helped refugee families in Europe and the US. Previously, his short prose was published in such publications as Sonora Review, Berkeley Fiction Review, and New England Review, and he also has experience working as a film critic. The release of the writer's next novel is scheduled for 2028.
It is worth noting that this year's Dayton Prize is not the first award for the novel. In 2026, the American Library Association included "The Sunflower Boys" on the RUSA Notable Books list. In addition, the work became a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award in the Gay Fiction category and has already been translated into Estonian.
In the nonfiction category, the prize was won by Kevin Sack for his documentary work "Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Racial Conflict, Resistance, and Forgiveness in a Charleston Church". The book explores the complex history of the South Carolina parish through the prism of the slavery era, the civil rights struggle, and the tragic shooting carried out by an armed attacker in 2015.
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The Dayton Literary Peace Prize was founded in 2006. It is a unique award whose main goal is to recognize authors whose works use the power of the word to promote peace, social justice, and global understanding. The prize is awarded for adult fiction and nonfiction books that help readers gain a deeper understanding of other cultures, religions, and political views. Winners in both categories receive a cash prize of 10,000 dollars, while finalists receive 5,000 dollars.
Photo: Suspilne
Author: Danylo Pievchev