Thélyson Orélien's novel C'était ça ou mourir (It Was This or Die) has been awarded the Fnac Novel Prize 2026. The book, published by Grasset in France, follows Jonas Dorléan, a history teacher from Port-au-Prince, who is forced to flee his neighborhood in Carrefour-Feuilles as violence escalates. With only a diploma, a notebook of poems, and a photograph of his mother, Jonas journeys through the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Mexico, and toward the United States, with Canada as his ultimate destination. The narrative transforms this migratory journey into a physical and intimate trial, maintaining a sense of humor throughout. One reviewer noted that Jonas's laughter serves as a way to "verify that he was alive." The novel was selected from over 250 entries for the prize, with a jury of 800 people, half of whom were Fnac bookstore employees and the other half Fnac members. C'était ça ou mourir faced competition from five other titles in the final round. According to Edistat data, the book sold 31,914 copies in the week ending September 13, with over 70% of sales occurring through bookstores. In the week of September 7-13 alone, 10,766 copies were sold, placing it eighth in Edistat's top 200 bestsellers. The book has already received several awards, including the Méduse Prize, the Première Plume Prize, and the Roman News Publicisdrugstore – Les Échos Week-End Prize. It is also shortlisted for five major autumn prizes: Goncourt, Renaudot, Femina, Médicis, and Décembre. Additionally, it is under consideration for the Prix du Premier Roman, the Prix André Malraux, the Prix Jean Giono, and the narrowed-down Renaudot selection for high school students, where five books will be voted on by approximately 400 students. Orélien, born in 1988 in Gonaïves, is a poet, novelist, columnist, and critic. The novel was first published in Quebec by Éditions du Boréal on March 9, 2026, and its rights have since been sold in more than twenty countries.