Tag: Government

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

An Interview with 2021 Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist Elizabeth Rusch

YALSA’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction is awarded each year, chosen from a field of 5 finalists (2021: Candace Fleming’s The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh). This year’s finalists covered a wide range: the space race, an international rescue, the memoir of a genocide survivor, and a biography of a complex figure in the narrative of the United States. But none is more immediate and practical than You Call THIS Democracy? by Elizabeth Rusch.

Cover Art

This primer on “how to fix our government and deliver power to the people” is clear and thought-provoking, delivering lessons and suggestions in accessible and meaningful ways. And in this interview, she expands on some of those lessons, reminding us that we all have a part to play in forming a more perfect union. With great thanks to Liz for this book and for her time in answering our questions!

author Elizabeth Rusch

THE HUB: Nonfiction titles such as You Call THIS Democracy? often make use of infographics and other visual features. These feel particularly effective, and I wonder how that process of design worked for you. How involved were you in the book’s design and graphic elements? How do you feel about the interplay between the text and the graphics?

ER: When I envisioned You Call THIS Democracy? I knew I wanted some powerful visuals. Sometimes readers need to see something to understand it. For instance, when I made the point that politicians draw bizarre voting district maps to manipulate the outcome of elections, I thought it was important for readers to see examples of these strange maps. 

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