Tag: Cathy DeCampli

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Ruin Road by Lamar Giles

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  • Ruin Road
  • by Lamar Giles
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press
  • Release date: September 17th, 2024
  • ISBN: 9781338894134

Cade Webster lives for family and football. A star athlete at an elite prep school he attends on scholarship, Cade’s mission is to stay focused, land an NFL contract, and support his struggling family, especially his terminally ill father. But after a terrifying encounter with the police, Cade stumbles into a shady pawn shop and makes a desperate wish: for people to stop being afraid of him. To his shock, the wish comes true, with terrifying consequences.

With an intensifying tone of dread, Giles delivers a thought-provoking and emotional narrative. The story’s complex protagonist grapples with morality, grief, and racial bias, offering a character-driven exploration of identity and consequence. The blending of supernatural horror with social commentary gives the novel a compelling style that will appeal to teens who appreciate issue-oriented fiction and suspense.

Teens drawn to fast-paced, atmospheric stories with social commentary will find this novel gripping and thought-provoking. Perfect for fans of Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado and The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

–Cathy DeCampli

Be sure to check out The Hub’s interview with Lamar Giles!

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

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

A new pandemic is sweeping across the world. But this virus is different. People who recover from Crown Royale find themselves content and happy. The new mindset rattles economies and the traditional power structure. Three teens find themselves involved in an international power struggle between forces that want to use the virus to enlighten the human race and those determined to maintain the status quo.

The book balances a fast-paced storyline with thoughtful character development. Schusterman once again uses dystopian themes to explore the human condition, just as he did in the Arc of the Scythe trilogy. Readers will be drawn into the moral complexities, left questioning whether either side truly has humanity’s best interests at heart.

Readers who enjoy a mix of inner turmoil and high-stakes plots will enjoy this book. Fans of Shusterman’s previous works, specifically Dry and Arc of the Scythe, won’t be disappointed. Consider recommending this to readers who would enjoy Plagueland by Alex Scarrow without the gore.

– Cathy DeCampli

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

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto

After Emily takes her own life on prom night, her journal exposes a pattern of bullying by a group of students known as the Thrashers. Now, Jodi and her friends, Zach, Lucy, Paige, and Julian, find themselves under police investigation, as their reputations unravel under the intensifying scrutiny. Unlike the others, Jodi doesn’t come from money, which has always left her feeling like an outsider in her circle of friends. As detectives dig deeper, secrets begin to surface that force Jodi to question whether their bond was ever real. And while the investigation unfolds, something else seems to be stalking the group, causing a series of life-threatening accidents.

The Thrashers is a fast-paced novel that also delivers nuanced character development. Rather than presenting straightforward villains, it offers a cast of teenagers grappling with complex, relatable emotions and making flawed choices. Although Jodi isn’t an unreliable narrator, the story unfolds through her perspective, and it quickly becomes clear that there’s much she doesn’t know. This limited viewpoint adds layers of suspense, as secrets are revealed at just the right moments. A series of expertly timed twists propels the narrative forward, maintaining a relentless momentum right up until the final page.

Fans of psychological suspense and morally grey characters will enjoy this book. Hand this to fans of One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, Sadie by Courtney Summers, and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

– Cathy DeCampli

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

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Fledgling by S.K. Ali

  • Fledgling
  • by S.K. Ali
  • Publisher: Kokila
  • Release date: October 8, 2024
  • ISBN: 9780593531242

Tensions between Upper Earth and Lower Earth have simmered since the last revolution. Now, a fragile peace hangs in the balance as Raisa of Upper Earth prepares to marry Lein of Lower Earth, a union meant to solidify an alliance and bring an end to lingering hostilities. But beneath the surface, danger brews. Nada and Nayf, Lein’s twin cousins and political prisoners, see an opportunity to derail Upper Earth’s sinister plans. They aim to manipulate Raisa and prevent the rollout of the Enlightenment, a dystopian program of mind control delivered through wearable technology. Meanwhile, Upper Earth fights back with a powerful propaganda campaign, casting Raisa as the Fledgling, a mythical figure destined to bring freedom

The narrative explores urgent contemporary issues: the manipulation of history through the destruction of records, the exploitation of land and people, and the use of technology to subjugate society. The post-apocalyptic world is vividly described, with a stratified society revealed through lost records and memories. The chapters alternate between multiple perspectives, each voice distinct and consistent, adding emotional depth to the story.

Fans of a large cast of characters and dystopian stories about oppressive governments will be captivated by this book. Fledgling will have ready-made fans among readers of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.

– Cathy DeCampli

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

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs

Avery had always been warned never to stray from the trails in the forest surrounding her quiet town. But one jog leads her deeper into the woods and to a hidden black water pond that seems to call to her. From that day forward, Avery is plagued by eerie visions of brackish water, ghostly whispers, and shadowy figures lurking just out of sight. When locals begin to vanish without explanation, she realizes that the stories about dark forces in the forest may be more than just legends. After her best friend disappears, Avery must face the ancient evil she unknowingly unleashed.

Isaacs skillfully builds tension through a series of menacing encounters that escalate in intensity, culminating in the book’s climax. Avery’s estrangement from her Indigenous roots leaves her feeling adrift and ill-equipped to confront the forces of the lake. Themes of identity and secrecy weave through the narrative and well developed supporting characters round out the story.

The Unfinished is an easy sell for readers who enjoy dark, moody suspense with a supernatural twist. Perfect for fans of House of Ash and Bone by Joel A. Sutherland and What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould.

– Cathy DeCampli

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

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Everything is Poison by Joy McCullough

When Reed Beckett’s mother abruptly abandons him and his little sister, he is thrust into the role of caregiver. His sister, Beatrice, has spinal muscular atrophy and desperately needs surgery to ease her suffering. With barely enough money to buy food, let alone pay for medical care, Reed turns to risky and illegal means to keep them afloat until their mother returns. Unexpectedly, his former best friend—and student council president—Helena Shaw steps in to help. Together, they plot and scheme to keep Beatrice healthy.

The characters in this book are impossible not to love. Beatrice is a precocious 10-year-old hacker, Helena defies expectations while doing everything she can to keep others happy, and Reed will stop at nothing to protect his sister. Their interactions are heartfelt and deeply moving. Diet Soda Club is a powerful reminder that judging others without knowing their full story only reveals part of the truth.

This book will resonate with readers who enjoy stories of resilience and a lovable, ragtag group of characters. Fans of Just Until by Joseph Moldover and Jupiter Rising by Gary Schmidt will find much to love in this compelling read.

— Cathy DeCampli

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

2025 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults List

YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Blogging Team presents fiction titles published for young adults in the past 14 months that are recommended reading for ages 12 to 18. The purpose of the annual list it to provide librarians and library workers with a resource to use for collection development and reader’s advisory purposes.

Although now a blogging team, the group was originally a committee. The committee evolved from a committee established under the School Libraries Section of ALA, which was charged with producing a list of 1930’s “Best Books for Young People.” The committee has undergone several changes of focus and names over the years, including the Book Selection Committee (1954), and later the Committee for the Selection of Significant Adult Books for Young People (1963). It became the Best Books for Young Adults Committee (BBYA) in 1966. As publishing for the young adult market grew exponentially (over 2,000 titles per year in 2008) and seven other YALSA selection and award lists for young adults were created since its inception, Best Books for Young Adults was restructured and named Best Fiction for Young Adults by the YALSA Board of Directors at the Midwinter Meeting in 2010.

Suggest a Title for the 2026 List Here

See Current Committee Contacts Here

Download the Complete 2025 List Here

Click the titles to be directed to the original reviews. Click the authors names to be directed to author’s website.

  • All the Fighting Parts
  • by Hannah V. Sawyerr
  • 2023, Amulet, $19.99, (9781419762611), Gr. 9 – 12
  • Sixteen-year-old Amina Conteh clashes with her religious father in many ways, and is forced to spend more time at their church because of her rebelliousness. When she is assaulted by a church leader, Amina uses poetry to find her voice and seek justice for what happened to her.
  • Bright Red Fruit 
  • By Safia Elhillo
  • 2024. 368 p. Make Me a World, $19.99 (9780593381229), Gr. 8 – 12
  • When sixteen-year-old Samira’s overprotective Sudanese immigrant mother grounds her for the umpteenth time, she takes refuge in an online poetry community. There she meets Horus, an older poet. When she ignores her friends’ warnings about him, there’s more at risk than her reputation, risks her mom didn’t prepare her for.

  • Dragonfruit
  • By Makiia Lucier
  • 2024. 356 p. Clarion Books, $19.99 (9780358272106). Gr. 8 – 11.
  • As a child, Hanalei and the princess of Tamarind were poisoned. Hanalei’s father stole a rare dragon egg intended to resurrect the princess and fed it to Hanalei, forcing them into exile. Now years later, Hanalei has a chance to find a new dragon egg and right the past.
  • Libertad
  • Bessie Flores Zaldivar
  • 2024. 417 p. Dial Books, $19.99 (9780593696125). Gr. 9 – 12.
  • Libertad Morazán creates an anonymous Instagram profile to share her political poetry about the 2017 Honduran presidential election, while trying to reconcile her feelings for her best friend, Cami, and her new girlfriend, Dani. After tragedy strikes her family, Libertad has to decide the best course of action for her future.
  • Looking for Smoke
  • By K.A. Cobell
  • 2024. 402 p. Heartdrum, $19.99 (9780063318670). Gr. 9 – 12.
  • When a Blackfeet girl is found murdered during a giveaway honoring a missing teen girl, four teens with complicated pasts find themselves named suspects. They have to work together to clear their names. But as time goes on, it looks increasingly likely that one of the four is the murderer.
  • The Merciless King of Moore High
  • By Lily Sparks
  • 2024. 365 p. Flux, $16.99 (9781635830965). Gr. 9 – 12.
  • Exiled from her school and left to fend for herself against the monsters outside, Kay seeks shelter with the rival school, Moore High, and its king. However, she soon discovers a deadly secret that could destroy both schools.
  • Rez Ball
  • By Byron Graves
  • 2023. 357 p. Heartdrum, $19.99 (9780063160378). Gr. 9 – 12.
  • Tre Brun is trying to prove he’s a great basketball player, but it’s hard when everyone compares him to his older brother Jaxon who died in a car accident. Jaxon nearly took Red Lake Reservation High School state. Now Tre is ready to take his team to state. . .and win.
  • Thirsty
  • By Jas Hammonds
  • 2024. 318 p. Roaring Brook Press, $19.99 (9781250816597). Gr. 9 – 12.
  • As a biracial girl from a poor background, Blake Brenner has just wanted to feel seen. Now four years into a relationship with her beautiful and rich girlfriend who enables her drinking problem, Blake must navigate the summer before college and pledging a secret sorority for women of color.
  • Twenty-Four Seconds from Now… : A Love Story
  • By Jason Reynolds
  • 2024. 239 p. Atheneum, $19.99 ( 978-1665961271). Gr. 9 – 12
  • Neon is just twenty-four seconds away from losing his virginity to Aria, but nerves are getting the best of him. Told in reverse, the story unravels the moments that brought Neon to this moment, highlighting the relationship advice he receives from significant figures in his life.
  • Under This Red Rock
  • By Mindy McGinnis
  • 2024. 326 p. Katherine Tegen Books, $19.99 (9780063230415). Gr. 10 – 12.
  • Neely, still reeling from her brother’s suicide, has been secretly living with schizophrenia. She finds comfort and stability working as a guide in the caverns–until her coworker and crush Mila is found brutally murdered and Neely begins to worry she’s the one responsible.

Committee Members

Coordinator: Jodi Kruse

Team members: Cathy DeCampli, Molly Dettmann, Michael Fleming, Candace Fox, Alicia Kalan, Beth Krebs-Smith, Kameron Morton, Megan Nigh, Julianne Novetsky, Yona Yurwit

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2025) Featured Review: Where He Can’t Find You by Darcy Coates

The residents of Doubtful live by certain rules to avoid The Stitcher, a serial killer known for dismembering and reassembling his victims. No one truly knows who or what The Stitcher is, but Abby and her friends have made it their mission to gather as much information as possible to defend themselves against him. However, all their preparation couldn’t prepare Abby for the night her sister goes missing. Suddenly, it’s a race against the clock to uncover the mystery of The Stitcher and find her sister before there is nothing left of her to save.

Coates creates a palpable sense of tension early in the book that does not lessen throughout the story. The ever-present terror weighs heavily on the teen characters as they constantly try to keep themselves and their loved ones alive. The novel deftly uses traditional elements of horror – a bleak and claustrophobic setting, a malevolent antagonist, and fear of the unknown.

Teens who enjoy suspenseful stories, body horror, and slasher films will flock to this book. Hand it to readers of It by Stephen King and Wilder Girls by Rory Power.

– Cathy DeCampli

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: https://bit.ly/BFYA25TeenFB

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2025) Featured Review: The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert

In a single night, four people vanish, including Nora’s best friend Becca. Though the two had not spoken before the disappearance, Nora believes Becca has left cryptic messages hinting at her whereabouts. Determined to solve the mystery, Nora teams up with James, a reclusive amateur photographer. Together, they uncover a decades-old secret with ties to a childhood game popular with the local youth.

The Bad Ones is a vividly dark and unique tale, featuring imaginary goddesses exacting retribution for slighted teenage girls. The book captures the intense emotions of adolescent friendship with striking accuracy. As the tale unfolds, the reader is drawn further into a folklore-esque tale and the narrator becomes increasingly unreliable. Nora is a genuine character, driven by guilt and love to mend a broken friendship.

Hand this to readers of dark fantasy and folk horror. Similar books are Holly Horror by Michelle Jabes Corpora and Here There are Monsters by Amelinda Berube.

– Cathy DeCampli

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: https://bit.ly/BFYA25TeenFB

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2025) Featured Review: Sky’s End by Marc J. Gregson

  • Sky’s End
  • by Marc J. Gregson
  • Publisher: Peachtree Teen
  • Release date: January 2, 2024
  • ISBN: 9781682635766

Conrad’s family once ruled their floating island, before his uncle murdered his father. Now destitute and eager to reunite with his sister who is a ward of their uncle, he trains to be a hunter. The deadliest of the Trades, hunters defend the islands from gargantuans. Conrad and his fellow trainees must compete in the gauntlet, a competition to see who can kill the most gargantuans. It is a battle filled with treachery, mutiny, and hidden alliances.

Conrad’s ragtag crew is fun to cheer for both in the gauntlet and their character growth. The battles come quickly with plenty of action for fans of adventure stories. The political upheaval provides a growing sense of unease while the game continues to unfold. 

The breakneck speed of this book will appeal to teens who like science fiction with a lot of action and little downtime. Fans of political drama will find plenty in Sky’s End. Similar titles are Sevenfold Hunters by Rose Egal and Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.

-Cathy DeCampli

Other Nominated Titles

Release Date: January 9, 2024
Release Date: October 10, 2023

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: https://bit.ly/BFYA25TeenFB