World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Randy Ribay

ランディ・リベイ

Randy Ribay

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Philippines
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Midwestern United States → San Francisco, California (residence/work)

Career

Occupations
Writer, High school English teacher
Active Years
2015-

Education

University of Colorado Boulder
English Literature
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Country: United States
Originally studied aerospace engineering before switching to English literature
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Language and Literacy
Degree: Master's degree
Country: United States
Earned a master's degree in language and literacy

Awards

Freeman Book Award
2019
Work: Patron Saints of Nothing
Organization: National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA)
Result: winner
National Book Award for Young People's Literature
2019
Work: Patron Saints of Nothing
Category: Young People's Literature
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: finalist
Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Young Adult Novel
2020
Work: Patron Saints of Nothing
Category: Best Young Adult Novel
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: nominee
Michael L. Printz Award
2024
Work: The Collectors: Stories (anthology, contributor)
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: winner
National Book Award for Young People's Literature (Longlist)
2024
Work: Everything We Never Had
Category: Young People's Literature
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: longlisted
Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature
2025
Work: Everything We Never Had
Category: Young Adult Literature
Organization: Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes

2015 Young adult / short fiction

An early collection of short fiction exploring experimental perspectives and stories centered on young protagonists.

coming-of-ageself-discovery

After the Shot Drops

2018 Young adult fiction

A YA novel about friendship, violence, and the weight of choices, portraying the realities and dilemmas faced by young people.

friendshipviolence and responsibility

Patron Saints of Nothing

2019 Young adult / contemporary fiction

A coming-of-age story about Filipino-American high schooler Jay Reguero, who travels to the Philippines to uncover the truth about a cousin killed in the drug war and must reevaluate his heritage and identity.

identityimmigrant experiencefamilypolitics and violence

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Reckoning of Roku

2024 Tie-in / young adult

A tie-in novel set in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe that expands on Roku's story and the franchise's worldbuilding.

responsibilitylegacy

Everything We Never Had

2024 Young adult fiction

A novel that deals with family relationships, past regrets, and reconciliation, portraying emotional nuance and growth.

familyregretreconciliation

Bibliography

  • An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes
  • After the Shot Drops
  • Patron Saints of Nothing
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Reckoning of Roku
  • Everything We Never Had

Style & Themes

Literary Style
contemporary, accessible proseYA-focused emotional realism and naturalistic dialogue
Recurring Motifs
the 'hyphenated' identityfamily secretsexploration of cultural roots

Legacy

Randy Ribay has brought Filipino-American perspectives to YA literature, addressing identity and political themes for young readers. His awards and nominations have established him as a notable contemporary YA author.

Trivia

  • Born in the Philippines and raised in the American Midwest.
  • Began writing poetry before breaking into prose.
  • Teaches high school English in San Francisco; teaching experience influences his writing.