This is a courageous series. Sugg looks closely, with compassion and detachment, at a subject that is doubly difficult: death among children. We admired her unflinching yet sensitive examination of one child’s particular death and also her exploration of the … Read more
Okay, so this series isn’t strictly narrative. It’s an exploration, via deep-thinking scientists, of some of the big questions of human existence. But it uses an important element of narrative—a knowing, amiable voice—to lead us on a fascinating tour—not from … Read more
This piece goes to show that in skilled hands, a “how I got the story” narrative can beguile readers, making them willing to encounter difficult, and in this case obscure, material. A science narrative is almost always, as here, … Read more
Seniesa Estrada and her father live in a gang-ridden, poor area of LA. When she’s eight, Seniesa decides she wants to box. It turns out she’s good at it—and that succeeding at it may save both her father and herself. Read more
This is a moving story about guilt, responsibility, powerlessness—and caring. That this is a first-person account is not only unusual; it is essential to the story’s effectiveness. It makes for emotional material and also allows Bock to write in a … Read more
We like the lead in this piece: It’s got nice detail and foreshadows death. Gurnett then reconstructs her main character’s suicide attempt. We’d like to propose that the piece would be even better if it were even more purely narrative, … Read more
This piece is the work of a fine storyteller. We admire Fisher’s purposeful movement from one development to another while covering a slew of characters—often probingly, always with sensitivity and attention. She captures and isolates pivotal moments, creating a sequential … Read more
This is a thorough portrait of a man on trial for strange crimes. We like James’ blunt, unsentimental writing, with its telling, concrete detail. Read “Philip Schuth: The man behind French Island’s ‘Freezer Mom’ case speaks out,” … Read more
This piece was among several for which Barry was a finalist for a 2006 Pulitzer Prize.We appreciated Barry’s reporting for irony and detail, a sort of writing that is hard to find in journalism. It seemed to us that Barry … Read more
We appreciate the respectful, compassionate and detached stance of this piece. Streeter writes about Arnie Koslow, a lonely man who is looking back on his life as the timekeeper for some of boxing’s greatest matches. The piece’s stance is achieved … Read more
