- This is the Year
- by Gloria Munoz
- Publisher: Holiday House
- Release date: January 7th, 2025
- ISBN: 9780823458363
In a not-so-distant future, Juli loses her twin sister to a hit-and-run accident caused by a self-driving car in south Florida. Now, starting her senior year of high school she is trying to figure out how to exist without her sister. In addition, a new privately funded space program, Cometa, is seeking applicants of “new Americans” to be on the first-ever team to colonize the moon.
While the elite competition to find the best-of-the-best has been done before, this cli-fi book discusses realistic alterations of the setting like the dissolving (extinction) of animals, unpredictable weather patterns, and significant class differences. This idea of only seeking applicants who are “new Americans” for this voyage presents two ideas; one of being disposable people in a high-risk journey and two, creating a unique purpose for those individuals who are naturalized citizens.
The writing is interspersed with Spanish that is not defined within the text, but can be inferred by the reader, in most cases. Readers who are interested in science fiction and dystopian novels will enjoy this potential future outlook of earth. Readers who enjoyed Dare Mighty Things by Heather Kaczynski and Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston should pick this up next.
– Jessica Lorentz Smith
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: tinyurl.com/bfya2026