Jury Citation

“’Bright Fish, Dead Bird’ is a poignant and unapologetic portrait of a desolate man ruminating on the choices that led to his current state of loneliness. Carolyn Chung’s graceful prose and elegant turns of phrase create a rich inner life for the protagonist and narrator, immersing the reader in the thoughts and emotions of a complex and wonderfully nuanced character. Gently haunting, yet viscerally emotional, Chung’s story clings to you long after the last word rings out in your mind.” — 2021 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award short fiction jury (J.R. McConvey, Zalika Reid-Benta, and John Elizabeth Stintzi)