When I sat down to write this acceptance speech, my heart was filled with gratitude and joy and yet profoundly moved, because moments like this remind me how deeply connected we are.

Photo: Susannah Richards.

As humans, we love to explore and seek the unknown and what lies beyond the familiar, yet at the same time amplify our greed and desires. This often makes me wonder: does all our innovation really bring us closer together, or does it sometimes drive us further apart? How can we use technology wisely for good — and what does good truly mean? This paradoxical reflection planted the seeds for my story Oasis. I hoped that this story, in its own small way, might offer one perspective.

[Read Horn Book reviews of the 2025 BGHB Fiction winners.]

Throughout our history, humanity has experienced countless ups and downs — sometimes rising, sometimes falling. But every time we stumble, we rise again a little wiser, a little kinder, and a little more hopeful. I believe now is our moment to hold hands together, to move forward toward a better, more compassionate world. Even when our path ahead is uncertain, compassion will always point us in the right direction. Today, to see Oasis recognized by the Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards Committee is more than an honor; it is a deeply emotional reminder that hope, empathy, and connection still matter. Thank you — from the bottom of my heart — for opening your hearts to Oasis and giving it a home within yours.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine. For more on the 2025 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards, click on the tag BGHB25. Read more from The Horn Book by and about Guojing.

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