The Prix Première Plume 2026 has been awarded to Thélyson Orélien for his novel C'était ça ou mourir, published by Grasset on August 19, 2026. This marks the tenth edition of the award, which was created in 2017 by the Furet du Nord and is currently organized by the Furet du Nord-Decitre group, in partnership with Crédit Agricole Nord de France and La Voix du Nord. The novel follows Jonas Dorléon, a history-geography teacher from Haiti who flees his neighborhood after it is burned down, embarking on a journey through the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Mexico, with the hope of reaching Canada. The narrative includes themes of survival, black humor, and poetry, enriched by testimonies from migrants collected by the author. Thélyson Orélien, a Quebec writer of Haitian origin born in 1988, is also a poet and critic. His work explores issues of memory, exile, and belonging. C'était ça ou mourir was first published in Quebec by Boréal editions and has already had its rights acquired in more than twenty countries. It was among the five first novels shortlisted for the award, alongside L'Âge de déplaire by Abibou Diouf (Albin Michel), Le Dernier Présage de Victoria Woodhull by Maxim Schwartz (Philippe Rey), Le Nénuphar by Alexandrine Descotes (Le Bruit du Monde), and Un ange passe by Camille Pelletier (Le Nouvel Attila). The Prix Première Plume aims to highlight first-time novelists chosen for the strength of their narrative, the uniqueness of their voice, and the emotions evoked by their text. The selection process involves booksellers from Furet du Nord and Decitre, as well as representatives from Crédit Agricole Nord de France and literary columnist Marianne Payot. Public votes from customers of Furet du Nord and Decitre also play a role in the selection. The jury reached a consensus on Orélien's work, noting the power of Jonas's journey, the narrative's documentation, and the use of humor in difficult situations. The official award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Lille, as part of a day dedicated to the literary season. Events will include meetings with several writers, including Franck Thilliez, Agnès Martin-Lugand, and Émilie de Turckheim. Orélien succeeds Ramsès Kefi, the winner of the Prix Première Plume 2025 for Quatre jours sans ma mère (Philippe Rey), which told the story of the sudden disappearance of Amani, a retired housekeeper and the upheaval it caused in her family. This edition of the Prix Première Plume takes place amid a delicate context for the Nosoli group, which owns Furet du Nord and Decitre. The group has been in judicial recovery since June 1, 2026, and has proposed a restructuring plan that includes the closure of 11 bookstores and up to 163 job cuts.