The National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Prize is an annual award that recognizes the best debut book in any genre. Established in 2005, the prize honors the late John Leonard, a prominent critic and editor known for his contributions to literature and literary criticism. The award aims to highlight new voices in the literary world, encouraging readers to discover fresh talent. It is open to works published in the previous calendar year, and the winner is selected by the members of the National Book Critics Circle, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literary criticism.