More Great Books for Young Readers

Monday was an unexpected snow day, as half the country was digging out of Winter Storm Fern, so I was lucky enough to watch the 2026 Youth Media Awards comfortably at home.  If you are anything like me, your TBR list is now out of control as you added a bunch of titles.

Sorry!  Not helping with that today.  I’m probably going to make it worse.  As someone who has been on a book committee (albeit, not for ALSC—the O’Dell Award, and not this year), I know the hard work that goes into reading widely.  And I know some books you love get left off the table.  So here are a few of my own, personal honorable mentions!

Broken, written and illustrated by X. Fang

This book may not have been eligible for the Caldecott Award (Canadian publisher), but there’s no question you should read it.  A child breaks her grandmother’s cup and tries to blame the cat…who’s not having it.  Realistic guilt ensues. 

Cat Nap, written and illustrated by Brian Lies

A cat jumps through artwork in the Metropolitan Museum of Art…and the illustrations likewise jump from medium to medium, including sculpture, stained glass, and more.  I’m tired just thinking about it!

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner

In a fit of grieving rage, 13-year-old Finn knocks over a headstone near his father’s resting place.  Instead of traditional legal punishment, the daughter of the woman interred asks Finn to climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks over his summer vacation.  This novel in verse also uses photos and text messages and Finn’s walks through the wilderness reveal his own nature.

Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz

Admittedly, I was a child who loves dolls and felt “seen” with the Barbie Movie…and feels seen here, too.  But Schlitz weaves a complex story of doll make-believe, blended families, finding friends, and a surprise from communist Hungary in this very readable middle-grade novel.

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

Three separate stories (1940s Germany, 1980s West Berlin, and 2020 New York City) come together in surprising ways that illuminates the connections between people in protest throughout the decades. 

Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between by L.M. Elliott

As one of the first female Senate pages, Patty has a front-row seat to the burgeoning Watergate Scandal.  To help put the book in context, each chapter begins with photos, news reports, and summaries that help explain Watergate to the modern teen reader.

A huge thanks to all who volunteered their time to these book committees!  Do you have any other books you’d like to highlight?

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