2026 Youth Media Award Winners: Covers, Links, and Quick Descriptions

When thirteen-year-old Sage's best friend dies, Sage struggles with grief and feels that she is at fault, but when she joins a grief group, she slowly learns to heal.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER * INDIE NEXT PICK * FIVE STARRED REVIEWS!

2025 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident, this vivid and uplifting middle grade debut novel in verse about one young child's courage to...

Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature Page-turning WW2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri 1941.

This delightfully grim tale is a heartwarming exploration of moving on, perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Tim Burton!

Fireworks is a sparkling picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, highlighting the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly anticipate a spectacular fireworks display.

Every Monday Mabel takes her breakfast outside and waits for her favorite part of the week: the garbage truck.

A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang.

Two little mineral piles, Stalactite and Stalagmite, foster a friendship over millions of years as they grow closer together, figuratively and literally.

In his striking author-illustrator debut, the award-winning illustrator of My Papi Has a Motorcycle offers an immersive and fantastical desert adventure, where the sun reigns over the vast landscape and shapes all that it touches.

Rhodes deftly captures a unique ­aspect of this historical event, with a perspective that is ­often under-represented in historical ­fiction.

Derrick Barnes takes all forms of storytelling available to him­—allegory, folktales, and classics—to weave a novel that is empowered, empowering, and incredibly human.

After a storm devastates the farm his parents have been renting, Junior moves with his family to Roxboro, North Carolina.

In this haunting story about family, legacy, and sacrifice, a young Black girl living in a Texas sundown town must find the courage to stand up for what's right even when it means facing impossible choices—perfect for fans of Dear Martin...

After a storm devastates the farm his parents have been renting, Junior moves with his family to Roxboro, North Carolina.

This captivating biography chronicles the remarkable journey of renowned fashion editor and arbiter of style Andre Leon Talley-from humble beginnings in rural North Carolina to the pinnacle of the international world of fashion.

A lyrical picture book from the award-winning author of Heavy, about three Black boys who form a deep connection during a transformative summer trip down South to visit family.

In this sparkling and heartfelt debut YA novel in verse by a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, a young Black girl discovers first love, self-worth, and the power of a good skate.

Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world's best...

A teen baseball star who "has it all"--looks, wealth, and a pro-MLB father--grapples with an impossible choice: reveal his abuse at the hands of his father and risk being separated from his younger brother in the foster care system, or...

Penelope Ross has always felt like a passenger in her mother's fairytale - until the night of her 17th birthday, when she is forced to enter her own. After a text from her estranged mother rips her away from a night with friends, Penny is...

From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

FIVE STARRED REVIEWS! A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST SELECTION A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year "This is essential, illuminating reading." —R. J. Palacio, bestselling author of Wonder Fight hate. Make art. In 1943 Amsterdam, Emma...

A nonfiction picture book biography of astrophysicist Wanda Díaz Merced and how losing her sight didn't stop her from studying the stars.

The bestselling Bat returns! Bat and the Business of Ferrets is the fourth title in National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold's heartfelt and widely acclaimed series featuring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum. Bixby...

In this lyrical picture book illustrated by a two-time Caldecott Medalist, share in a blind child's joyful experience of the changing seasons.

For Fans of the I Survived series and The War That Saved My Life, this gripping middle grade novel is set during one of the most dangerous storms in American history.

A deeply moving middle grade novel in verse about a girl struggling with depression when she starts fifth grade amidst a sea of changes.

From beloved middle grade author Saadia Faruqi comes a poignant exploration of the impact of mental illness on families—and the love and hope that it takes to begin telling a different tale.

5 STARRED REVIEWS "Lively, interactive...truly eye-opening." —Booklist "A sincere reflection on childhood...growing up in a world not built with him in mind." —Publishers Weekly "A superb middle grade memoir that champions...

This is Sonora Reyes at their absolute best." — Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys From bestselling author Sonora Reyes comes a poignant and searingly honest companion novel to the multi-award-winning The...

This beautifully crafted novel sings and soars." —Nikki Grimes, author of Ordinary Hazards Dylan seeks solace through birdwatching and poetry in the woods behind his grandfather's auto shop—but when he rescues an injured hawk, he must...

To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession. NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice—now...

From the author of Oprah's Book Club pick and New York Times best seller Nightcrawling, here is an astonishing new novel about the joys and entanglements of a fierce group of teenage mothers in a small town on the Florida panhandle.

In an age where the greatest heroes from history have magically returned to help save the world, Harriet Tubman returns to create a hip-hop album with a fallen producer, forging powerful music that inspires a divided nation.

A gripping sci-fi thriller—and Native American First Contact story—from the New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse, Daniel Wilson, who is a Cherokee Nation citizen and works as a threat forecaster for NASA.

Award-winning cartoonist Peter Kuper transports readers through the 400-million-year history of insects and the remarkable entomologists who have studied them.

You wish to never see a plum again in your life... You think: When I am an adult, I will never have a fruit tree. I will never be like this." For fans of Sarah Rose Etter and Scott McClanahan, Plum is a darkly beautiful, unflinching novel...

Nearly 15 million girls, including many in the U.S., are forced into marriage each year.

From the "razor-sharp and outrageously funny" (Taylor Jenkins Reid) mind of Mia McKenzie comes a vibrant novel exploring how one weekend can change your whole life.

A teenage girl breaks free from her father's world of isolation to discover that her whole life is a lie in this "absorbing and well-crafted" (The Washington Post) novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things and Watch...

Rikki Thunder, twenty-two-year-old drummer for the scorching new '80s metal band Whyte Python, is about to have it all: absurd wealth, global fame, and a dream girlfriend.

In a vibrant tropical jungle, Croco the Crocodile has fallen into a hole and can't climb out.

In this enchantingly whimsical, darkly comic tale from Gianni Rodari (Italy's Roald Dahl), an unlikely hero--none other than a young onion!--takes up the fight against the tyrannical Prince Lemon, with wit and heart.

Meet Memen, the calm and collected older sister, and Mori, the curious younger brother.

Working in a Chinese tea garden is hard work, but it's rewarding when it's done with family!

For fans of Duncan Tonatiuh and Yuyi Morales' Dreamers, a one-of-a-kind picture book about one immigrant family's journey north, illustrated in the vein of an ancient codex and drawing upon Mesoamerican mythology.

Vann, a struggling stickball player, competes in a game on the Cherokee Nation.

An essential introduction to trans history, from ancient times to the present day, in full-color graphic nonfiction format.

A heart-pounding thriller told in a mix of narrative voices and found documents from the bestselling author of The Honeys, perfect for fans of Tiffany D.

Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world's best...

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Long Way Down comes a powerful print adaptation of the acclaimed, award-winning audiobook Soundtrack—a stirring story of music, friendship, and finding your voice in 2000s New York City.

5 STARRED REVIEWS "Lively, interactive...truly eye-opening." —Booklist "A sincere reflection on childhood...growing up in a world not built with him in mind." —Publishers Weekly "A superb middle grade memoir that champions...

An emotionally resonant and visually stirring picture book about life, death, and celebrating those we love.

Chocolatl and Axolotl Guacamole and Quetzacoatl. Open up this treasury Aztec words-- from A to Z! From singular artist Emmanuel Valtierra comes a spectacular introduction to twenty-six words, concepts, and gods central to Aztec and Mexican...

The picture book debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo and World Fantasy Award winner John Picacio.

In 1930s San Antonio, thirteen-year-old Petra dreams of going to college and becoming a writer.

A New York Times bestseller! Reality proves more epic than fantasy in this family road trip story starring a reluctant young hero and his curmudgeonly grandfather. Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García has never considered himself the hero of his...

From the author of Time Villains comes a new fantastical adventure about family, tradition, and seeing things for what they truly are.

2025 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident, this vivid and uplifting middle grade debut novel in verse about one young child's courage to...

Noche is a Lechuza by night, an ethereal jet-black owl who guides the dead to the after.

In this Romeo and Juliet-inspired retelling set during the civil rights era, a Mexican American girl is driven to join a movement for justice after her white classmate and best friend from the barrio are tragically murdered.

In this moving intergenerational tale perfect for fans of Messy Roots and Illegal, Eisner-nominated creator Pablo Leon combines historical research of the Guatemalan Civil War with his own experiences as a Guatemalan immigrant to depict a...

The Pura Belpré Honor Award winning author of Aniana del Mar Jumps In makes her YA debut with a powerful novel-in-verse about a Texas teen who is battling racism in her theatre program and book banning efforts by her town's school board.

What can a potato do? To Peruvian scientist Alberto Salas, they have the power to change the world. Go on the hunt with Alberto for for wild potatoes before they go extinct in this playful picture book biography, gorgeously illustrated by...

A courageous, uplifting biography of a woman almost lost to history." –ALA Booklist World War II spy, Filipino guerrilla fighter, war hero, Medal of Freedom recipient, leprosy survivor, teacher, peacemaker .

A boy who loves stories grows into a teenager who escapes into his writing and then a young man who plays his typewriter like a piano to show the fullness of Black life, in this lyrical picture book biography of James Baldwin, the...

A rich and beautifully told history of humanity...Sublime." Joseph Coelho What did "the beginning" look like?

In this moving intergenerational tale perfect for fans of Messy Roots and Illegal, Eisner-nominated creator Pablo Leon combines historical research of the Guatemalan Civil War with his own experiences as a Guatemalan immigrant to depict a...

The true story of how a massive catastrophic eruption plunged the world into darkness, altering the global climate and inspiring the likes of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein—from the award-winning author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes and featuring...

New school, new country, but only half a family?! Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent's divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel. Ave thought moving to Kansas...

A child shares feelings about their identity with their dad in this powerful journey of self-discovery.

For fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and The Okay Witch comes a hilarious and affirming cozy fantasy about the adventures of a girl who discovers she is the descendant of a powerful witch coven.

AN INDIE'S INTRODUCE PICK! In this modern take on Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, debut writer Jess Callans delivers a tender, queer coming of age story about finding your voice and choosing to live authentically, even when it's...

This inspiring and enriching picture book biography explores the life and work of beloved poet Mary Oliver in its own uniquely lyrical way, shining a light on Mary's belief that there are treasures and poems all around us in nature waiting...

A New York Times Bestseller Grace Woodhouse was the star kicker with a D1 future, but that was before she came out as transgender and quit football.

Our Flag Means Death meets The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue in this YA historical fantasy about three queer teens and their found family of queer pirates facing down a secret magical society.

Jennifer's Body meets Heartstopper in this terrifying, tender, and bitingly hilarious supernatural horror about a boy who must save his best friend from a demon that wants to steal his heart—literally.

In this riveting YA non-fiction set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, trace Lorena Hickok--or Hick's-- rise from devastating childhood to renowned journalist, and watch as she forms the most significant friendship and romantic...

Eighteen-year-old Holiday needs to sort her life out. She's still shaken from her brother's recent suicide attempt; still pining over her ex, Maya; and still struggling to write again after a long dry spell. To earn enough money for a...

Tired of mopping slop, this Mop wants to run away, and challenges anyone who wants to stop it.

This sweet, giggle-inducing early reader kicks off a brand-new series featuring two unlikely friends in the tradition of Frog and Toad, from the beloved Geisel Award-winning author of The Watermelon Seed.

A close game of basketball played by a diverse group of first and second graders is full of suspense, joy--and good sportsmanship too"--

A penguin in a hardhat digs in a tunnel, popping up in different places, visiting a gardener, a farmer, a banker and others until he and everybody along the way reach a surprise ending.

A Black, autistic teen tries to figure out what happened the night his older brother was unjustly arrested in this "propulsive" (Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments), moving story about brotherhood, identity, and...

A swoon-worthy romantic dramedy about finding love and reconnecting with your culture in the most surprising ways—now in paperback.

In this stunning YA adventure, debut author Askel Aden weaves a story of family schism and reconciliation that effortlessly enriches the complex dynamics of mother and child.

Straight A student, talented artist, swim team star — tenth-grader Lexie Moore is a shoo-in for Sunridge High's prestigious fine art program, if only she can find the right words to tell her dad she wants to apply.

I fell so hard for Chris and Alicia and all of the stupidly teenage and deeply human choices that lead them into a pocket dimension of space-time.

How did Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple, convince more than 900 of his followers to commit "revolutionary suicide" by drinking cyanide-laced punch?

Barbara Weisberg's Talking to the Dead blends biography and social history in this revelatory story of the family responsible for the rise of Spiritualism.

A School Library Journal Best Book Chicago Public Library Best of the Best List 2025 Here are the shocking, yet true, stories of presidential medical cover-ups from the 19th to the 21st century—the latest thrilling title in award-winning...

This powerful and unflinching examination of racism in America by award-winning historian Ann Bausum deconstructs the warped history of the Civil War, perfect for fans of STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING and JUST MERCY. Warning: This is not your...

The true story of how a massive catastrophic eruption plunged the world into darkness, altering the global climate and inspiring the likes of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein—from the award-winning author of The Mona Lisa Vanishes and featuring...

A Cherokee girl introduces her younger brother to their family's traditions — begrudgingly!

A stunning, poetic debut picture book from Pasha Westbrook about honoring one's roots and the unbreakable bond of familial love, brought to life with enchanting illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight.

Celebrates aunts, related by birth or not, who surround children with unyielding love and support.

Celebrates a young girl's transitions through birth, childhood, and young adulthood, with advice on remaining connected to loved ones and nature.

A joyous celebration of gender expression through an Indigenous lens, by New York Times bestselling author Tasha Spillett and Ojibwe elder Daniel Ramirez

We Weave is an intergenerational tale about a Navajo boy and his grandmother using their creativity to purchase a computer when schools transition to digital learning.

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author's family history Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom's...

There's no "brave" without "afraid"! Jo Jo is back to face her fears, in her own special way, in the fifth book in the beloved Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series. Spunky Ojibwe first-grader Jo Jo Makoons knows a lot about bravery and...

This graphic novel for middle-grade readers tells the true story of how a young Indigenous girl survived nine days after getting lost during a snowstorm in northern Canada.

From the author of Hedge Over Heels comes another irresistible story featuring family, friendship, and an adorable baby fox!

With lyrical verse and powerful emotion, Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) tells the story of urban Native kids who find strength in connection with those who came before and in the hope that lets them take flight. Ariel and Tomah have lived in the...

A joyful coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel by debut Indigenous creator Cameron Mukwa about the journey of a two-spirit kid who wants to create a ribbon skirt for the upcoming powwow.

A Lakota child spends a summer with grandparents at their home on the Rosebud Reservation in this young chapter book, illustrated in full-color This charming chapter book follows a present-day Lakota child connecting with extended family,...

Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world's best...

BOOKPAGE MOST ANTICIPATED YA OF 2024 Shane works with her mother and their ghost dogs, tracking down missing persons even when their families can't afford to pay.

From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

The continuing comic adventures of reservation sensation Super Indian.

In her stunning debut, Cheryl Isaacs (Mohawk) pulls the reader into an unsettling tale of monsters, mystery, and secrets that refuse to stay submerged.

Best of the Year: NYPL - Chicago Public Library - American Indians in Children's Literature - CCBC Ezra Cloud hates living in Northeast Minneapolis.

In the middle of the great Pacific Ocean is a little island.

Filo's Butterflies is a charming picture book about how a young Samoan boy calms his nerves before his first siva performance at a family wedding.

Every year in October, Sina and her family celebrate White Sunday.

In this poignant picture book about family and belonging, the child of a Jewish mother and a South Asian father hears stories about her family history.

In this poignant debut picture book from authors and farmers Nikiko Masumoto and David Mas Masumoto, with illustrations by award-winning artist Lauren Tamaki, little Midori discovers that every peach on her Japanese American family's farm...

A new picture book from Simran Jeet Singh, A Vaisakhi to Remember celebrates community and heritage as a young girl looks for points of connection in a new country through the joyous Sikh spring harvest holiday of Vaisakhi.

A chilling middle grade novel about a girl haunted by a hungry ghost.

Better Nate Than Ever meets Dumplin' in this charming, poignant debut by Kyle Casey Chu, aka Panda Dulce, a founding queen of Drag Story Hour.

Ollie Herisson's dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot.

Los Angeles, 1924 Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American girl.

From Stonewall Honor–winning writer SJ Sindu, author of Shakti, and celebrated illustrator Dion MBD comes a powerful coming-of-age teen graphic novel that follows one girl's journey to Sri Lanka to reconnect with her long-lost mother...

The second book in a stylish, current, and multi-faceted series of Jewish-themed casebound board books for curious young readers.

From Sydney Taylor Award winner and National Jewish Book Award honoree Laurel Snyder comes a warm, reverential, lyrical, and fresh read-aloud picture book about Hanukkah, perfect for the modern family.

Three starred reviews! In this "poignant" (Booklist, starred review) and uplifting true story of community, a neighborhood comes together in the wake of a library fire to save the stories within, offering a timely reminder of the essential...

My Body Can showcases all the different talents bodies have throughout the year.

A mesmerizing meditation on family, forgiveness, and the freedom to be found in embracing one's truest self." —Booklist (starred review) A bullied girl who communicates with ghosts finds her inner strength in this haunting novel in verse...

In a Beinoni time there should be no war, no terrible illness, no crime.

A fresh new voice, Abby White delivers the perfect dose of humor and heartbreak with her debut D.J.

Part historical mystery, part sweeping romance, The Rebel Girls of Rome brings the stories of two young women to brilliant life: Lilah, a college student looking to understand her grandfather's mysterious past, and Bruna, a queer Jewish...