Current Nominees

6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe

Penny and Tate have often clashed, despite their mothers' epic friendship; but now that they are living in the same house, beset by medical crises and the trauma of Penny’s father's death, they have to come to terms with their true feelings for each other.

Nonbinary teen birder Bianca Torre must face their large list of fears to solve a murder they witnessed or they might be next.

The harrowing story of a young girl's struggle to survive the Holocaust in Czernowitz, Romania - long considered a safe haven for Jewish people.

A young change-maker learns to find himself and never compromise, discovering how the right decision is very rarely the easy one, but taking the road less traveled can make all the difference in the world.

Chaos Theory Nic Stone

A romance between a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician’s son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Scars exist to remind us of what we’ve survived.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Set in 1910, the Davenports delivers a totally escapist, swoon-worthy romance while offering a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked.

Dead Flip by Sara Farizan

Eighteen-year-olds Cori and Maz, once inseparable best friends, reunite to solve the mystery of what happened to their other friend Sam--who disappeared six years ago and has now returned, not having aged at all.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

Enter the Body by Joy McCullough

In the room beneath a theater stage, the ghosts of Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and other teenage girls who died tragically in Shakespeare's plays, share their experiences and trauma and get the chance to retell the stories of their lives in their own terms.         

 Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Erin Faith Hicks

Angry hockey player Alix thinks that calm, cool, Ezra can help her learn to control her temper. But as they hang out and start to get closer, she learns there is more to him than the cool front he puts on.

In this gorgeous graphic novel, a young inventor falls for a lifelike AI and confronts questions of freedom and autonomy.

 A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

To earn the last credit she needs to graduate, Lydia Chass teams up with foul-mouthed Bristal Jamison to transform her listener-friendly local history podcast into a hard-hitting, truth-telling exposé as they investigate an unsolved murder from their small town's past.

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

Cam disguises herself as a man to inherit her father's money and estate, and though she tries to keep a low profile, she ends up falling for Crown Princess Brie.

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

J.B., Ramón, and Trey, students of the Urban Promise Prep School, must follow the school's strict rules, but when their principal is murdered, the three boys must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested.

Rez Ball by Byron Graves

A young athlete is determined to play like the hero his Ojibwe community needs him to be, after his varsity basketball star brother is killed in a car accident.

Stateless by Elizabeth Wein

Stella North is one of twelve young pilots competing in a 1937 air race meant to promote peace in Europe, but when one of her competitors is sabotaged, Stella races to determine who is capable of murder, and who might be the next victim.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

Eighteen-year-old Adina Walker, a scholarship student at a prestigious academy, faces the consequences of a single mistake and competes in a high-stakes contest hosted by the wealthy Remington family, where she uncovers unsettling truths about the sponsors and the contest's high stakes.

Throwback by Maureen Goo

A Gen Z Korean American girl gets stuck in the '90s with her teenage mother in this fresh, funny adventure full of heart, humor, and time-crossed romance.

 Where You See Yourself by Claire Forrest

Effie Galanos' goals for her senior year include her navigating her way through her high school that is not really wheelchair-friendly, getting into the perfect college, and getting her crush Wilder to accompany her to the prom--but by spring she is beginning to see herself entirely differently.

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa

El Diablo is in the details in this Latinx pirate fantasy starring a transmasculine nonbinary teen with a mission of revenge, redemption, and revolution.