Tag: Erica Schimmel

2027 Best Fiction for Young Adults Spring Round-Up

Each quarter, the Selected Lists teams compile the officially nominated titles to date. These titles have been suggested by the team or through the title suggestion form, read by multiple team members, and received approval to be designated an official nomination. At the end of the year, each team will choose the final list of nominations and determine the Selected List’s Top Ten from these titles.

– Erica Schimmel, 2027 BFYA Coordinator

The Secret Astronomers. By Jessica Walker, 2025. 304 p. Viking Books for Young Readers, $19.99 (9780593692677). Gr. 7-12.

Two students find an unexpected friendship when they begin communicating through notes and drawings in an old, abandoned astronomy textbook in their high school library. Using code names, the two develop a closer relationship than either would ever expect – and discover a mystery tied to the town’s past.

The House Saphir. By Marissa Meyer, 2025. 432 p. Feiwel and Friends, $19.99 (9781250320957). Gr. 9-12

Legend has it that Bluebeard killed his wives. Mallory uses that legend to con people to pay for a tour of Bluebeard’s house. One night Bluebeard’s heir joins the tour and wants to hire Mallory to solve the mystery of who is murdering people at his haunted family estate.  Is the killer a ghost or alive?

Sisters in the Wind. By Angeline Boulley, 2025. 384 p. Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), $19.99 (9781250328533). Gr. 9-12

When severely injured due to a pipe bomb explosion, 18-year-old Lucy is forced to reckon with her dangerous past and learn about her Indigenous heritage while on the run.

K-Jane. By Lydia Kang, 2025. 326 p. Quill Tree Books, $19.99 (9780063354623). Gr. 7-12.

With the impending arrival of a new baby brother, 17-year-old Jane Choi questions her family’s lack of Korean-ness. To save her baby brother from the same fate, Jane begins exploring everything Korean on a private social media channel. When more people find out about the channel, everything falls apart.

The Last Resort. By Erin Entrada Kelly, 2025. 240 p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9781546132431). Gr. 3-7.

The Last Resort will appeal to fans of many genres (such as horror, supernatural, mystery and realistic fiction) and across many grade levels. Lila’s grandfather passes and her family inherits his old house, which happens to be a portal for ghosts (that only Lila can see) to cross to the other side.


Season of Fear. By Emily Cooper, 2025. 352 p. Christy Ottaviano Books, $19.99 (9780316581639). Gr. 9-12.
Ilse is unable to feed fear she doesn’t feel to the terrifying Saint of Fear, endangering both her sister’s and her own life. In her quest to shield her sister from certain death, Ilse discovers the truth behind her fearlessness.

Winter White. By Annie Cardi, 2026. 272 p. Union Square & Co., $18.99 (9781454960584). Gr. 9-12.

Pia and her family live in isolation, earning money by selling eggs in town. When an accident sidelines her father, Pia must make the deliveries on her own. But what is really being delivered underneath the egg cartons? Is Pia’s entire life a lie?

Reasons We Break. By Jesmeen Kaur Deo, 2025. 416 p. Disney Hyperion, $18.99 (9781368113748). Gr. 9-12.

In the midst of personal setbacks, against a background of a gang war, Simran and Rajan find themselves pursuing an risky star-crossed romance.

The Faraway Inn. By Sarah Beth Durst, 2026. 384 p. Delacorte Press, $14.99 (9798217024308). Gr. 7-12.

Calisa just wanted to escape her bad breakup by escaping to Vermont for the summer. She planned to stay at her Great Aunts bed and breakfast, but she arrives to a failing inn. There are some very odd things happening at the Inn. Things like a swirling portal in the broom cupboard, a very strange reptile, and whispers coming from under the porch.

Freddie and Stella Got Hot. By Maggie Horne, 2026. 336 p. Feiwel & Friends, $19.99 (9781250377371). Gr. 9-12.

Freddie and Stella enter a school contest to take down their former bestie, Levi. When Stella turns ruthless, taking down every popular girl in their class, Freddie starts to get uncomfortable. The only way she can stop Stella is by befriending the enemy that started this whole mess–Levi.

Last Chance Live! By Helena Haywoode Henry, 2025. 544 p. Nancy Paulsen Books, $21.99 (9780593625309). Gr. 7-12

Eternity Price enters the popular reality TV show Last Chance Live, hoping to earn her freedom and amnesty following a crime that leaves her on death row, but when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she’s forced to make the difficult decision of which she wants more: companionship or freedom?

The Lion’s Run. By Sara Pennypacker, 2026. 288 p. Balzer + Bray, $18.99 (9781250392817). Gr. 4-6.
Though others call him a coward, 13-year-old Lucas proves his bravery by rescuing kittens, aiding the French Resistance, and helping mothers. Determined to help his friend’s horse evade Nazi capture, he embarks on an extraordinary journey of courage.

One Word, Six Letters. By Adib Khorram, 2026. 224 p. Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), $19.99 (9781250405555). Gr. 7-12.
On a dare, Dayton yells a gay slur at school. Farshid hears and wonders if it was directed at him. If he gets stronger, maybe no one will question him. As the school year continues, the incident looms over both boys as they question the men they are becoming.

Check out our interview with the author of One Word, Six Letters, Adib Khorram!

Beth is Dead. By Katie Bernet, 2026. 400 p. Sarah Barley Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $19.99 (9781665988698). Gr. 7-12.

Told through alternating POVs of the famous Marsh sisters from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Beth Is Dead reimagines everyone’s favorite sisters as they grapple with the death of the second youngest, Beth, and band together to solve the mystery of how their sister died in the woods.

The Danger of Small Things. By Caryl Lewis, 2026. 272 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $19.99 (9781665977517). Gr. 7-12.

In this near-future dystopian novel that takes place after the last bee has died, a young girl uses the power of Art to incite change during what feels like the darkest of times.

Soundtrack. By Jason Reynolds, 2026. 336 p. Crown Books for Young Readers, $19.99 (9798217231591). Gr. 7-12.

Emotional and fast paced, Soundtrack will immediately draw readers in. Those involved in the arts will relate to the band that becomes a family. A message that a family doesn’t always have to share blood will resonate with readers. Reynolds has mass market appeal and this book will be no different.

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2027) Featured Review: The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker

  • The Secret Astronomers
  • by Jessica Walker
  • Viking Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House
  • Publication Date:November 4, 2025
  • ISBN: 978-0593692677

Grieving their mother’s death, a teen is sent to live with their grandparents in West Virginia to finish their senior year of high school. Feeling like an outsider, they find solace in the library doodling in an old astronomy textbook – until another student leaves them a note in the same book. The two teens, who choose the code names Copernicus and Kepler to keep their identities secret, begin developing a deep friendship through exchanging notes. As their friendship grows, they discover a mystery involving Copernicus’s mother and the strange events that happened when she attended the very same high school.

With a unique format and engaging characters, this story feels like authentic insight into teen friendships. Copernicus and Kepler come from very different backgrounds, with very different experiences, and yet the growth of their friendship feels natural. The illustrations add an interactive element for readers. The mystery also feels real and reachable, reflecting how impactful small mysteries can be. Copernicus’s experience as an outsider in a rural town, and Kepler’s balance between love for her town and awareness of some of its problematic aspects, are nuanced and sensitively portrayed.

Teen readers who value authentic portrayals of teen friendship will be drawn to this story, as will art lovers and teens who appreciate stories driven by character development rather than action.

Titles similar to The Secret Astronomers include A Guide to Falling off the Map by Zanni Louise and I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston.

-Erica Schimmel

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa

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After surviving the god-sanctioned massacre of their people, Crow has spent years hiding the fact that they are a Deathchild – a descendant of the god of Death. Knowing discovery would mean death in their society, Crow stays as under the radar as possible, concealing their magic and competing in underground fight events to earn money. But when their uncles are arrested for allegedly aiding other Deathchildren in hiding, Crow’s only hope of freeing them is to do the unthinkable: compete in the deadly Tournament of the Gods.

These Vengeful Gods is a compelling addition to the dystopian genre, with multifaceted characters and a well-paced storyline that builds suspense. Deftly weaving in modern social concerns, Crew and their friends navigate systemic class inequality, transphobia, and discrimination. The world-building, magic systems, and mythology are imaginative and interesting. The diverse characters of Crew’s found family are engaging and relatable, as is Crew’s navigation of their identity and place in the world.

Readers who enjoy mythology retellings with magical worldbuilding will enjoy this title, as will fans of strong dystopian stories featuring a sense of mystery and rebellion. These Vengeful Gods would be an excellent title for readers who enjoyed dystopian stories that explore strictly separated class societies, such as The Hunger Games. The mythology elements will also appeal to fans of reimagined mythology like Ballad and Dagger or other titles from Rick Riordan imprints.

– 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

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Truth, Lies, and the Questions In Between by L.M. Elliott

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

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: I am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

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Artist Jenna has never felt she measures up to her cousin Jessica, who seems to not only excel in every subject their parents care about, but also makes popularity and beauty appear effortless. After spending another family dinner where she feels her parents’ disappointments in her are laid bare, Jenna makes a fervent wish she could be Jessica – a wish that surprisingly comes true overnight. The novelty of living her cousin’s life quickly wears away as Jenna experiences the pressure her cousin faces, and learns Jessica may not have been as perfect as she seemed. While Jenna grapples with whether she wants to return to her own life, everyone around her seems to be forgetting she ever existed, and Jessica’s soul is nowhere to be found.

Liang’s take on the classic body-swap theme is a reflective, sensitive exploration of the pressure many teens experience. Jenna’s voice is engaging and relatable, as are her experiences with self-doubt and self-worth. Considerations of class, identity, and immigrant experiences are woven throughout in a thoughtful manner. Jenna’s experience with navigating her identity will be appealing to teens, as will the mystery and romance that propel the story forward.

This book will be enjoyed by teen readers who enjoy speculative fiction and magical realism, particularly those who are experiencing or have experienced the feeling of not being good enough. The mystery and romance will appeal to readers who enjoy those genres. Throwback by Maureen Goo would be comparable to I Am Not Jessica Chen because both consider the dynamic between immigrant parents’ expectation for their children, and are both speculative fiction with lyrical language. Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim also features a main character who deals with feeling she does not belong or measure up to outside pressures and expectations.

– 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