The Kirkus Prize is an annual literary award presented by the magazine Kirkus Reviews. Established in 2014, it honors outstanding books in three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and young readers' literature. The prize aims to recognize authors whose work has received a starred review from Kirkus, highlighting their contributions to the literary world. Each winner receives a cash award of $50,000, making it one of the most lucrative literary prizes in the United States. The selection process involves a panel of judges who evaluate the nominated books based on their originality, quality, and overall impact on readers.