Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners! Keep reading to find out more about our ALA Award winners, honors, and recommended reading selections from ALSC and YALSA.
John Newbery Honor Book
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. View the full list here.
★Michael L. Printz Honor Books ★
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi; translated by Cathy Hirano
The Michael L. Printz Award annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year. In addition, the Printz Committee names up to four honor books, which also represent the best writing in young adult literature. View the full list here.
Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi; translated by Cathy Hirano
The Batchelder Award is awarded to a United States publisher for a children’s book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originating in a country other than the United States and in a language other than English and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States during the preceding year. View the full list here.
Margaret A. Edwards Winner
Steve Sheinkin wins the 2020 Edwards Award for
Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal- the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery
The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. It recognizes an author’s work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world. Learn more about the Edwards Award here.
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. View the full list here.
William C. Morris Finalist
There Will Come a Darkness: The Age of Darkness (Volume 1) by Katy Rose Pool
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first given in 2009, honors a book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. View the full list here.
YALSA Nonfiction Finalist
Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship” by Deborah Heiligman
YALSA’s Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12 to 18) during a publishing year.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, Children’s Literature Winner
Stargazing by Jen Wang
The goal of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.
American Indian Youth Literature Award Picture Honor Book
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Awarded biennially, the AIYLA identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity. View the full list here.
YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels
Best Friends by Shannon Hale; illustrated by LeUyen Pham
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Bloom by Kevin Panetta; illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau
Grimoire Noir by Vera Greentea; illustrated by Yana Bogatch
Hawking by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Myrick - Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable; illustrated by Ellen T. Crenshaw
Last Pick: Born to Run by Jason Walz - Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
- Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks, color by Sarah Stern
Stargazing by Jen Wang
This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews
Great Graphic Novels for Teens is a list of recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12 to 18, prepared yearly by YALSA. denotes a top ten title. View the full list here.
YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults
Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins
Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller
How Not to Ask a Boy to Prom by S. J. Goslee
The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron
The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool
The 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 is to provide librarians and library workers with a resource to use for collection development and reader’s advisory purposes. Top ten titles are still to come. View the full list here.
YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
Last Pick: Born to Run by Jason Walz
Run, Hide, Fight Back by April Henry
Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
The Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike reading for any reason. denotes a top ten title. View the full list here.
ALA Rainbow Book List
Alien: Echo by Mira Grant
Black Wings Beating by Alex London
Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
The Confusion of Laurel Graham by Adrienne Kisner
Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig
How Not to Ask a Boy to Prom by S. J. Goslee
It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn, illustrations by Noah Grigni
Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale
The list is a curated bibliography highlighting books with significant gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning content, aimed at children and youth from birth to age 18. This list is intended to aid youth and those working with youth in selecting high-quality books published in the United States of America between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019. View the full list here. denotes a Top Ten Title.
ALSC Notable Children’s Books
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi; translated by Cathy Hirano
Between Us and Abuela by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Sara Palacios
Born to Fly by Steve Sheinkin, illustrations by Bijou Karman
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
It Rained Warm Bread by Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet and Hope Anita Smith, illustrations by Lea Lyon
Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Jessica Lanan
The Last Peach by Gus Gordon
Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
Stargazing by Jen Wang
Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship” by Deborah Heiligman
According to the Notables Criteria, “notable” is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways. View the full list here.
ALA Rise List
All American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney
Best Friends by Shannon Hale; illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins
Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
So Tall Within by Gary D. Schmidt, illustrated by Daniel Minter
Each year, Rise: A Feminist Book Project seeks to recommend well-written, well-illustrated books for young readers with significant feminist content. The project has been promoting quality feminist literature for young readers since 2002 as a part of the Feminist Task Force and the Social Responsibilities Round Table. View the full list here. denotes a Top Ten Title.
