The whippoorwill is a bird known for its distinct song that fills many remote spaces. The Whippoorwill Award takes on this bird’s name as a way to honor young adult literature that sings the authentic stories of rural people and places.

​The Whippoorwill Award's mission is to advocate for books that portray the complexity of rural living by dispelling stereotypes and demonstrating diversity among rural people.  

Whippoorwill co-founder Jenn Sanders speaks with Literacy in Place's Chea Parton on this episode of the Reading Rural YAL Podcast