Tag: selected lists

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: Lucy, Uncensored by Mel Hammond and Teghan Hammond

  • Lucy, Uncensored
  • by Mel Hammond and Teghan Hammond
  • Publisher: Penguin Knopf
  • Release date: October 8th, 2024
  • ISBN: 9780593814055

Best friends Lucy and Callie dream of leaving their small town and enrolling in a college drama program. But when they encounter bigotry on their campus visit, they decide to set off on a road trip to explore other options. To Lucy’s surprise, she gravitates toward a women’s college far from home. As far as she can tell, the school seems open and accepting, but they’ve never accepted a trans woman before. Will she be the first?

Throughout the book the main characters were age-appropriately chaotic: they forget to submit important assignments, lose their belongings, and disappoint themselves and each other. They’re trying so hard, but they can’t quite keep it all together. This felt authentic to the teen experience. Their dialogue felt authentic as well. Lucy and Callie don’t always know what to say, and neither do their parents or teachers, but they’re ultimately trying to be supportive and honest. This heartfelt messiness was refreshing.

Readers will appreciate the representation of the trans experience. At only about 250 pages, Lucy, Uncensored is packed with (theater) drama, but Lucy’s happiness takes center stage. Lucy encounters transphobic jerks, navigates her relationship with her dad, and experiences exhaustion in her journey as an advocate—but she also experiences joy and self-fulfillment.

A teen reader interested in drama would enjoy this, but it would also appeal to many teen readers who are discovering their paths, navigating the college admissions process, or just want a short, funny, yet heartfelt coming-of-age story. Readers might also enjoy A Whole Song and Dance by Sarvenaz Tash or Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy.

– Carolyn Vidmar

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

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2026) Featured Review: Blades of Furry, Vol. 1 by Emily Erdos & Deya Muniz

Battle skating is a competitive sport that combines figure skating and martial arts on ice. Rookie battle-skater, Emilie, finds himself having to battle the reigning champion, Radu, in one of his first competitions after another competitor injures themselves. During the match, when Emilie gets a small cut, he discovers Radu’s secret, he is a vampire and vampires are banned from competing. Instead of sharing his secret though, Emilie and Radu help each other become better competitors and find themselves falling in love.

Originally published on Webtoons, this graphic novel is the first compilation of the series and includes new content. It’s action packed and swoonworthy. This sporty romance is not only funny and charming, it’s also full of secrets and family drama. The vibrant artwork and characters you love (and others you love to hate) will have you anxious for the next volume.

With Blades of Furry’s combination of queer romance, animal characters, ice skating and martial arts, fans of Beastars by Paru Itagaki, Heartstopper by Alice Osman and Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu will fall head over heels for this series too.

-Loren Spector


Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Dear Manny by Nic Stone

  • Dear Manny
  • by Nic Stone
  • Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
  • Release date: March 4th, 2025
  • ISBN: 978593308035

Third in the Dear Martin series, this installment focuses on Jared, the rich white boy, and his struggle to find his way in life while dealing with family traditions and expectations. He hopes to find a person he likes being at the end of the struggle. Jared’s dad is pressuring him to make decisions that will align with the family legacy but Jared is not sure if that is something he wants to uphold. Along the way, he begins to have strong feelings for Dylan, his political opponent. Needless to say, this is not what his father is looking for from him. If that is not enough to keep them apart, the host of obstacles that they need to overcome might be.

Complex characters like Jared (not just a rich white kid) and Dylan (feisty and confident) will keep readers engaged. Jared’s evolution from spoiled to aware of his white privilege will keep readers interested. Familiar characters like Justyce and SJ will make readers of the first two books smile to see them again. John Preston IV is a character that readers will root against. Dear Manny continues Nic Stone’s pattern of rallying against a system that allows injustices to happen on a daily basis. The plot moves at a rapid pace, which will increase reader appeal. The theme of equality for diverse members of our people is supported well by characters that readers will connect to, feel empathy for or be concerned about.

Teens interested in books about social justice, making the world a better place and having a strong sense of right vs wrong will enjoy this book. This will appeal to fans of the previous two books in the series, as well as those who are fans of authors such as Angie Thomas and Jason Reynolds. It also will hold up well as a stand alone book.

– Melissa Palmer

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

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2026) Featured Review: Spacewalking with You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Dornoda

  • Spacewalking With You, vol. 1
  • by Inuhiko Doronoda
  • Kodansha Comics / Penguin Random House
  • Publication Date: May 27, 2025
  • ISBN-13: 9798888774380

High school student Yamato Kobayashi is struggling. He can’t seem to keep a job and has almost given up entirely on school. When Kobayashi meets transfer student Keisuke Uno, a sometimes loud and talkative student who keeps a notebook of rules to make his life easier, his life starts to change. Soon, the two are friends, Uno helping Kobayashi to focus better and Kobayashi helping Uno to take chances and go for what he wants. 

Spacewalking With You features teens who are coded neurodivergent, but do not have a diagnosis (the author addresses this in the author’s note). Kobayashi and Uno are as different as can be, but their friendship strengthens both of them. The artwork is whimsical with exaggerated expressions. The storyline is heartwarming and handles tough topics such as mental health and learning how to thrive in a world not built for you in a gentle way.

Hand this manga to fans of comical slice of life stories like Komi Can’t Communicate or Hirayasumi. Those who appreciate the friendships forged in A Silent Voice will also appreciate Spacewalking With You.

—Kim Keown Farnsworth


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

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2026) Featured Review: Suitor Armor by Purpah

  • Suitor Armor
  • by Purpah 
  • Ten Speed Graphic 
  • Publication Date: November 12, 2024
  • ISBN-13: ‎ 9780593835654

Lucia spends her days in a fantasy world as a lady-in-waiting for Kirsi, the daughter of the lord of the castle. Lucia lives a peaceful if humble existence, hiding her fairy wings away from the world as fairies are the enemy of the humans after a deadly war. Things take a turn once Lucia meets a suit of armor magically animated by the court mage. There seems to be a connection between the two. And hey, am I imagining things, or did that suit of armor just speak?

Suitor Armor by Purpah originated as a webtoon and still possesses that “just one more page” addictive nature in the graphic novel medium. What is especially impressive about the comic is the author’s ability to explain the history of this fantasy world while keeping the pace quick and the story beats character-focused. Although the main story of this first volume revolves around Lucia and the armor, the other characters have their own small romances and arcs that bring extra charm. 

Put this graphic novel into the hands of teens whose favorite Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast. This would satisfy readers of fantasy graphic novels like Nimona and Wynd. Fans of fantasy romances like Sleepless and manga series My Sister Took My Fiancé and Now I’m Being Courted by a Beastly Prince would also feel right at home in these pages. 

– Nick Taylor


Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: The House No One Sees by Adina King

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

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2026) Featured Review: Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand

  • Fitting Indian
  • by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand
  • HarperAlley/ HarperCollins Books
  • Publication Date: May 13, 2025
  • ISBN-13: 9780063237537

Nitashi Gupta is having a rough junior year. She is struggling with her traditional Indian parents, the boy she likes is taking another girl to homecoming, and she’s worried she’s losing her best friend. She’s using alcohol and cutting to cope. But when a humiliating picture of her goes viral, it all becomes too much, and she lands in the psychiatric ward after a suicide attempt. Through the help she receives there is definitely making a difference, it’s going to take some work to help her family and friends overcome the taboos and cultural misconceptions about mental health.

Chand’s story is a gritty look at teen mental health. Teens will be inspired by Nitashi’s growth into a passionate advocate for mental health. Though some of her family and friends’ attitudes about mental health make it difficult for her to receive the help she needs, she finds several advocates within her community who support her as she tries to challenge unhealthy attitudes. Anand uses a palette of rich jewel tones that effectively illustrate Nitashi’s moods. 

Offer this to teens who have been inspired by other books offering insight into teen mental health issues such as Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, and Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar features another Indian American teen who finds solace in creating art.

 -Heather Christensen