We sat down with debut author Adina King to discuss the magic of libraries, writing about the opioid crisis, the process of being a debut author with a legendary YA lit mentor, and her debut novel in verse, The House No One Sees.
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Patty didn’t become a Congressional page to make any kind of political statement about women’s rights – she just wanted to prove she’s a good daughter, and a future wife to her boyfriend Scott. But Washington is a whole different world from her home in Illinois, full of passionate people fighting for different causes. As she grows closer with her new friends, and witnesses important political events and the hypocrisy of politicians, Patty begins to question everything she’s ever been taught by her conservative parents.
Full of historical facts and inspiration, but also written in a way that highlights how many of the issues in 1973 are still relevant today, this book is a powerful look at what it means to come into your own. Patty’s struggles between her own growing beliefs and those she knows her family, particularly her father, hold are both engaging and relatable for teen readers. The inclusion of real historical photos and articles at the beginning of each chapter grounds this book for readers and offers insight into the time period. Elliot’s writing style is engaging, and readers will feel issues and experiences are being considered with respect.
This story will appeal to teen readers who are interested in both current events and the history of modern social justice movements, as well as those who enjoy political dramas. Teen readers who enjoyed feeling transported in time, and learning about the sociopolitical environment in history, during Last Night at the Telegraph Club will appreciate Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between. This book would also be good for readers who enjoyed Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams and how the main character began questioning and building her own beliefs.
– Erica Schimmel
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
In a mix of prose (present day) and verse (past), Penny is forced to reckon with her past when a night out at the fair with her friends is interrupted by a text from her mother asking for help. Penny is compelled to go to the house no one sees – the house she grew up in with her opioid-addicted mother. When she enters the now-abandoned house, she is taken aback by the flood of memories, good and bad.
This gut-punch of a novel will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. Teens who have grown up with an adult that struggles with addiction will find many points of resonance in Penny’s story. The myriad ways in which addiction has shaped Penny’s life are presented in razor-sharp verse, a format that suits the tumbling thoughts running through Penny’s head as she enters the house of her youth. The narrative is unconventional and while not focused on plot per se, Penny’s reckoning with her past and her feelings about her mother ring true. A stable life in Penny’s present reassures readers that there’s hope on the other side.
Fans of grittier realistic fiction and novels in verse will find much to appreciate here. The unusual structure and writing style will appeal to fans of A.S. King’s work. Fans of challenging, yet honest verse novels like those of Olivia Cole will also be drawn in. For those seeking another title about a parent struggling with addiction, Hey Kiddo by Jarret Krosckza, would be a solid recommendation in spite of the difference in format.
– Courtney Waters
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
