In November of each year, the National Book Foundation presents its National Book Award for a variety of literary categories including Young Adult Literature. Simply making the longlist, which is only ten books “long,” is an incredible honor. Imagine being one of ten out of the thousands of books that are published each year? The short list is an even greater honor, as only five – five – make it to the finalist round. And then, the winner is announced . . . the one book out of many that the NBF considers to be the best of American literature. A shiny gold or silver sticker goes on the front of the chosen books and the authors walk away with the knowledge that their stories are ones which may change lives.
My goal every year is to read a sample from the longlist to get a sense of which stories are receiving accolades from the National Book Foundation. These books are often the ones exploring new territory, pushing boundaries, and exposing readers to new and unfamiliar worlds. This year’s selection in Young Adult Literature is no exception. I selected three books to start, and after hundreds of pages, not one word was amiss. The stories were drastically different, introducing characters not seen before on the page and tackling issues that were both familiar and eye-opening. I laughed, I wept, and I reflected, hard, on the world I live in and my place in it. All three were page turners.
So my recommendation to you is to read all three. Don’t judge the book by its cover (or do – since it has a shiny sticker!). Pick them up and marvel at how Young Adult Literature challenges how we view family, home, addiction, survival, love and sacrifice. These stories are not just for children. They are for anyone with an open mind and a desire to understand more about the world around them.
My three:
Robin Benway, Far from the Tree (HarperTeen / HarperCollins Publishers) – The WINNER of the National Book Award
Ibi Zoboi, American Street (Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins Publishers) – FINALIST
Katie Bartlett, Author 
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