David Chariandy wins $10K Toronto Book Award for novel Brother

David Chariandyhas won the $10,000 Toronto Book Award forBrother,a novel about two brothers of Trinidadian descent raised by their hardworking single mother inScarborough, Ont.

The 2018 edition of the annual literary prize, which celebrates literaturethat is evocative of Ontario's capital city, was presented at the Toronto Reference Library on Oct. 10, 2018.

• How David Chariandy brought his novel Brother to life

The book also wonthe2017 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.

The film and television rights forBrotherhave been picked up by Toronto production companies Conquering Lion andHawkeyePictures, with Clement Virgo attached to adapt the screenplay and direct the film.

"I'm so honoured to have won this prize among all these talented finalists. I have to thank my family, including my parents and my own brother. I couldn't have written Brotherwithout their support," said Chariandyupon receiving the award.

"It's such a rich and moving portrait of a young family trying to survive in a changing city and all ofTorontohas been talking about it! We are incredibly proud of David for this beautiful novel and for this award," said city librarianVickery Bowles.

This year's jury is comprised of Nathan Adler, Susan G. Cole, Kevin Hardcastle, Soraya Peerbaye and Itah Sadu.

"In a near flawless piece of writing,DavidChariandybrings readers to a story that may very well feel both foreign and familiar," the judges said in a statement.

The other 2018 nominated books were the nonfiction collectionThe Unpublished Cityedited byDionne Brand, the linked story collectionThat Time I Loved Youby Carrianne Leung, the nonfiction bookMy Conversations With CanadiansbyLee MaracleandFloating Cityby Kerri Sakamoto.

The 2017 winner was author, activist and entrepreneurB. Denham Jollyfor his memoirIn the Black.