Overview

• The 10-title slate features works by Derrick Barnes, Kyle Lukoff, Amber McBride, Ibi Zoboi, María Dolores Águila, K. Ancrum, Mahogany L. Browne, Daniel Nayeri, Hannah V. Sawyerr, and Maria van Lieshout.
• Four longlisted authors—Barnes, Lukoff, McBride, and Zoboi—return as previous finalists in the Young People’s Literature category.
• Judges for the category are David Bowles (chair), Cathy Berner, candice iloh, Jung Kim, and Maulik Pancholy.
• Publishers submitted 325 books for consideration, from which the panel selected the 10 longlisted titles.
• The list spans formats including novels in verse and a graphic novel, with themes that touch on grief, pandemic-era challenges, race, immigration, and historical narratives.