Award Books by Genre: Other Award(s)

Five years ago, the small town of Fairview was struck by a tragedy: popular high school senior Andie Bell had gone missing. Her body never turned up during the investigation, but all the evidence found pointed to only one prime suspect: her boyfriend, Sal Singh. Thus, the story goes: Sal Singh murdered Andie and then committed suicide. The case was closed. The proof was clear as day. Everyone believed it.

But Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure.

Now in her senior year of high school, Pippa chooses to do her capstone project on this very case, first only just to cast doubt on the results of the original investigation and on Sal's guilt. But her research sends her down an entirely different path: the more Pippa examines the circumstances surrounding Andie's disappearance, the more clues she finds pointing to the possibility that Sal maybe wasn't guilty of anything after all. And it is these leads that eventually put Pippa's life in danger, as threats from a mysterious someone begin to pop up left and right; someone here definitely does not want her unearthing Fairview's - and Andie's - secrets.

I think the first thing that stood out to me in this book was the formatting: it switches between Pippa's project log entries and a more conventional third-person viewpoint of the story, which I think was an interesting literary choice. It was nice seeing glimpses into Pippa's head and the results of her research as well as how the people surrounding her interacted with her. The story was paced decently, I liked seeing the humorous banter between some of the main characters, and although I must admit that certain parts of the plot sounded a little unrealistic, it is ultimately just a novel, so I wasn't too bothered by it. I think the main problem I had with this book was that the writing felt a little juvenile and awkward at times, but overall, this book was decent. I doubt I'm going to continue with the trilogy, but the first installment wasn't that bad in my opinion.

The world building in this book was amazing and made the story feel so immersive. I loved the dual perspectives because they helped show both sides of the conflict and made the characters more complex. The pacing was fast, and there were so many emotional and suspenseful moments throughout the novel. Some scenes were heartbreaking, but that made the story even more memorable. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy and dystopian romance.

This book was intense, disturbing, and impossible to put down. The suspense kept building with every chapter, and the anonymous messages created so much tension. I really appreciated how the story addressed racism, privilege, and toxic school environments in a way that felt powerful and realistic. Chiamaka and Devon were both compelling characters. The twists had me genuinely shocked and would highly recommend to those who enjoy YA mystery and thriller!

This sequel somehow managed to be even more intense than the first book. The action scenes were amazing, and the dragons were still my favorite part of the series. This is a massive roman-tasy novel and really delivers high stakes, intense political building, and a dramatic climax. Violet’s growth throughout the story made her feel even stronger as a protagonist, and the emotional tension kept me invested the entire time. The ending completely shocked me and left me desperate for the next book.

I honestly did not expect to enjoy chess this much in a book, but this story made it so entertaining. Mallory was funny, smart, and relatable, and the chemistry between her and Nolan was adorable without feeling overly dramatic. I liked how the book balanced romance with themes of pressure, ambition, and family responsibility. Some parts felt a little predictable, but overall it was a super fun and addictive read. Highly recommended for those who enjoy contemporary romance!

This book was incredible from start to finish. The mystery kept me hooked, but what really stood out was how deeply the story explored family, identity, and culture. Daunis was such a strong and realistic main character, and I loved learning about Ojibwe traditions throughout the novel. The plot twists genuinely surprised me, and the emotional moments hit hard. Definitely one of the most meaningful YA thrillers I’ve read!!

This book is not for the weak hearted. It is the prequel to The Hunger Games, and this tale follows Haymitch, a former victor and Katniss's mentor, as he tries to survive a deadly Quarter Quell in a beautifully cruel arena. With double the tributes, chances for Haymitch are small, but he decides to either break the arena or die trying, leaving his lover back in District 12. Possibly the saddest of the Hunger Games series, but a definite must read. After all, someone has to stop that sunrise from rising on the reaping. You'll catch my reference if you read the book.

I believe this book is a must read, if you can stomach it. It’s a classic dystopian novel about a dictatorship government and an annual event: The Hunger Games. Kids are reaped from the outlying districts and forced to compete to the death in exchange for extra food that year. This whole series follows a young victor and her attempt to overthrow the Capitol, and change the way the games are played forever. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Reviewer Grade 8

This book is exciting but I can't say it was my favorite. It is fun, as it follows the storyline of a god's child, Percy Jackson and his satyr friend Grover. After getting trouble at school, he finds himself fighting a minotaur trying to get to Camp Half Blood, a group of half gods like him. He quickly makes enemies, and two friends--Lucas and Annabelle. He begins to traverse on a journey to help Zeus get his lightning bolt back, hence the title of the book. Anyway, I think it's worth reading, especially for younger kids who like adventure.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa as a chilling yet heartwarming dystopia that dives into the intricacies of memory and identity. It follows the journey of the protagonist, an unnamed female novelist, as she navigates her changing world. The story is set on a remote island where objects and memories systematically disappear, leaving holes in the hearts and minds of the people. It leads the reader to question, alongside the protagonist, what role our pasts and our memories play in shaping our identities, and it masterfully taps into the fear of losing oneself. I have only rated this book three stars because although it was an enjoyable read, it got dull at times and I found some of the subplots to be more distracting than impactful.

Videographer Katie has just been offered the gig of a lifetime: the opportunity to interview a Coast Guard super hero in Florida Keys. One problem: she can’t swim. Also, the swimmer she’s interviewing happens to be the most scientifically good looking guy she’s ever seen. In a series of crazy conflicts and the swimmer’s eccentric aunt, Rue, Katie learns what it means to be in love, and love herself.

This book was really cute! I absolutely love how simple Center’s writing is, it made the book fly by! I also adored all the characters in this novel, even the complex characters I believe I was supposed to not like I ended up enjoying them as well. The overall plot was crazy. It seemed like conflict after conflict was occurring, but it didn’t feel excessive, and in a way I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! As for the love story, it was really cute. While there was a little more miscommunication than I would have liked, I really enjoyed the story between Katie and Hutch. My only complaint was there wasn’t more of them together!

Right off the bat this book destroys the surface of Earth and turns the survivors into a deadly video game: Dungeon Crawlers: Earth Addition. This is not your average action book but instead an unpredictable battle for survival as Carl, and his cat Donut, enter the dungeon where they are forced to fight mobs, gain upgrades, and raise their level to survive. It's like a video game but all too real. If you are looking for a sweet book, maybe pass this one. I think it's a good book, but there is some language and adult jokes, so not for really young kids. Best of all, it is in a series, so once you put this one down, you can pick up another!

"The Sun and the Star" follows Nico di Angelo, who has been tormented with nightmares ever since Gaea was defeated. In his dreams, a voice calls out from the depths of Tartarus, begging for his help. Refusing to leave the cry unanswered, Nico and his boyfriend, Will Solace, set out on a quest to travel to the depths of the Underworld. Now, Nico and Will must not only confront the monsters and sinister forces that try to stop them, but also their own differences as they navigate their new relationship. "The Sun and the Star" is not a standalone novel; you will need to have read Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, and Trials of Apollo in order to enjoy this story and understand all the references and plot points.

As someone who has been a Rick Riordan fan since elementary school, I am shocked and disappointed to give one of his books a two-star review. As much as I love Nico and Will and was excited for them to get their own spinoff book, I couldn't bring myself to like "The Sun and the Star." Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro's writing styles did not blend together cohesively, which left the book with an inconsistent and overall disappointing voice that was extremely hard to read. Additionally, the pacing was off - even though the entire premise of the story was them going to Tartarus, only 20% of the book was actually spent in Tartarus and the buildup just got to be frustrating. Overall, I think the biggest reason I was so disappointed in this book was because of the plot holes (especially for a book made for Percy Jackson fans who have read all the other series) mistakes (e.g., Nico referring to his mother by his sister's name), and mischaracterization. "The Sun and the Star" had a lot of potential to be representation for the LGBTQ+ community and an awesome Percy Jackson spinoff, however, it was executed poorly, anticlimactic, and just made me frustrated. I would still recommend book this book to diehard Percy Jackson fans, but be warned that it is incredibly underwhelming.

My one complaint with this book, was the underwhelming synopsis. The summary included on the back of the book doesn't do it the proper justice it deserves. Remarkably Bright Creatures is not just a novel about an octopus solving a mystery, but also self-discovery, family ties, and unlikely connections. It deals with deeply emotional concepts, and the characters feel real as they struggle through their lives, each trying to achieve their individual goals that all somehow intertwine.
My favorite part of this book was the characters. I came to love Marcellus, Tova, and Cameron immensely by the end of the book. The development of these three characters was easily my favorite part. The suspense is not as high stakes as some other realistic fiction novels, but it still had me flipping page after page, yearning for more.
I would describe Remarkably Bright Creatures as a "chill" read. A book you can read to cleanse the pallet in between intense fantasy books, or a book you can read over the course of a month if you're busy and still enjoy.

“Weyward” tells the story of three women across generations. 1619: Altha is on trial in a town unforgiving of unusual women. 1942: During World War 2, Violet works to uncover the mysteries of her family lineage all while suffering tragedy on her own. 2019: On the run from her abusive ex, Kate navigates the hardships of starting over, all while discovering who she is in the process. All three women’s stories are woven together to form one story about women’s empowerment spanning generations.

I was very disappointed in this book. The premise sounded so interesting, and I was excited to read a story centering around female strength. Unfortunately, while the empowerment of women is a common theme, the story was so slow and actually made me feel bored. I was also shocked at how depressing some of the elements of the novel were. I wasn’t expecting a happy story, but so much of the book described tragedy and hardship that it was hard to feel rejoiced when the empowerment piece finally occurred. Also, this fiction novel includes elements of magical realism, which I felt did not serve a purpose to the point the author was trying to make. While I believe the women’s connection with nature was supposed to be a representation of their strength, the execution of the “magic” just made the story more confusing and did not add much importance compared to the other more significant aspects of the story.

Milkweed is a novel that takes place during World War II in a ghetto in Warsaw. The book flows a little boy who is an orphan with no memory of his past and has to traverse Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. He eventually find a Jewish Girl named Janina whose family takes him in and takes care of him when he comes by. They eventually all get sent to a ghetto where they have to learn how to survive in their new circumstances.

Milkweed is a powerful and emotional novel. It’s written beautifully that is able to put you in the world of World War II Warsaw. The characters are well written, and deeply developed with an engaging plot. I would recommend anyone read Milkweed.

The Selection by Kiera Cass is a romance novel, set in a dystopian future where there is a strict caste system (with one being the royals and eight being the criminals) that decides what job you have in the kingdom of Illea.
The story is centered on America Singer, a girl from caste five who has a future in music, when she is chosen for The Selection. The Selection is a televised contest where 35 girls vie for the hand of Prince Maxon, heir to the throne.
America, in the beginning, has no interest in the prince and harbors feelings for her secret boyfriend Aspen, from caste six. But as she gets to know Maxon, they develop a complicated romantic connection.
In my opinion, the book was entertaining, and Kiera Cass’s writing has a distinct voice. However, America was a frustrating main character. The story was rather predictable and the love triangle drama seemed almost forced at points.
I would recommend this book to people who like romance novels, dystopian settings, and lighthearted love triangle drama.

Gachiakuta follows 15-year-old Rudo. After being wrongly convicted of murder, he is punished by being sent to “The Pit,” where all garbage is thrown away. He ends up on the “Ground” and meets a man named Enjin, who teaches him about the existence of a group called “Givers,” who use their powers to protect the people of the Ground from monsters.

I think this book has a really good hook for a first volume. It establishes the world-building almost immediately, even if it is a little exposition-dump-y at times. Rudo is a really interesting main character for a couple of reasons, but the one that stood out to me the most is that he actually feels and looks like a fifteen-year-old boy, which isn’t something you see a lot in manga. He’s reactive and a little judgy, but he’s also very kind and receptive to feedback, and it makes the audience want to get to know him better. My rating is so low because the first volume is very short, and I really did not like how “in your face” some of the explanations felt. Otherwise, it’s quite literally the very beginning, so there’s not a lot to really form an opinion about, but I did enjoy this volume and am looking forward to reading the next.

Joan Goodwin has always dreamed of the stars. In 1980s Houston, NASA is finally willing to begin integrating women astronauts into the program. With her group of fellow astronaut candidates, Joan navigates a world of love, family, and friends in a word slowly beginning to accept diversity.

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Having enjoyed other Reid books, I knew I would have some level of enthusiasm, but I liked it much more than I thought I would. For starters, I have always been intrigued by space and space travel, so I especially enjoyed the whimsical personality Joan obtained throughout the story. I also absolutely adored the relationship between Joan and her niece, Frances. Frances was probably my favorite character by far, as she was so lively and felt so real even as a fictional child. I didn’t care for the love story much, which would be my only complaint, but I was fascinated at how well Reid weaved the intricacies of romance and occupations in the time period of the 1980s.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in The Inheritance Games series and it can’t be read as a standalone.
The book is about solving the mystery of how Avery Grambs is connected to Tobias Hawthorne and why she inherited his fortune. The story introduces more riddles, puzzles, and twists, while simultaneously intensifying the love triangle conflicts between Grayson Hawthorne and Jameson Hawthorne.
In my opinion, the book was engaging and kept me turning pages quickly, with clever puzzles and moments of suspense that made it fun to read. But, while the sequel expands the mystery, it lacks the tight-pacing or the satisfying puzzle-solving of the first book, often leading to repetition of structure. The novel leans heavily into the love triangle and ongoing riddles, but the central reveal doesn’t feel as impactful as the buildup suggests. Like many middle books in a trilogy, it spends more time setting up future twists than delivering a fully satisfying story on its own.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first book in the series and enjoy mysteries, clever puzzles, and romantic tension.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a teenage girl living in her car, when she—out of the blue—becomes the youngest billionaire when she inherits billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s money.
The catch? She has to live in the Hawthorne Mansion alongside the family Tobias Hawthorne just disinherited while solving riddles and puzzles.
In my opinion, this book was enjoyable. The short chapters led to a fast-paced book with a love-triangle subplot. Personally, I found most of the characters likable except for Jameson Hawthorne—one of Tobias’s four grandsons—and Avery, herself. Jameson had a tendency to speak in riddles and nonsense that made no sense, and his “rebellious” behavior was, at points, irritating. While Avery Kylie Grambs is positioned as a relatable and grounded protagonist, her personality often feels too adaptable and indistinct, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with her.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy fast-paced mysteries, riddles and brain teasers, and love triangles.

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi is about Kareem, a Syrian-American boy excited for seventh grade until everything starts going wrong for him.
His best friend moves away, he doesn’t make the football team, and because he’s Syrian, he’s asked to show a new student—a Syrian refugee—around school, but he’s embarrassed by the boy’s thick accent.
Later, the football team’s quarterback—and the coach’s son—offers to help Kareem get a spot on the spring team, but only if Kareem does something he knows is wrong. On top of all that, Kareem’s mom returns to Syria to help her family, just as the 2017 Muslim Ban is put into place.
In my opinion, this was a nice coming-of-age middle-grade novel about a Muslim boy learning to do the right thing and navigate the challenges of identity, friendship, and belonging. The plot was mostly predictable and the characters seemed pretty one-dimensional. Personally, I’m not a big fan of books written in verse, but others may like that.
I would recommend this to those who enjoy stories about cultural identity, middle school struggles, and sports-themed coming-of-age tales.

Conrad of Urwin lives in a brutal Meritocracy, where people are divided into Highs, Middles, and Lows based not only on their family's legacy, but also their strength in combat. As Conrad and his mother struggle as Lows, he soon has no choice but to turn to the person he loathes most in this world - his uncle. And while his uncle promises to reunite Conrad with his sister, the only way to save her is to enter the Selection for the Twelve Trades and prove that he is powerful enough to earn his place in the Urwin family. However, as he embarks on this dangerous journey, Conrad must decide how far he will go in order to rise...

As much as I wanted to like "Sky's End," I honestly couldn't find any redeeming qualities within the story. From the very beginning, the writing style and pacing were off, making the book extremely difficult to read, as the time skips completely interrupted the flow and action. Not only did this severely affect the story itself, but it also made significant events (like character deaths) seem to carry no weight. Additionally, there was no clear organization or climax to the story, making the entire book seem stagnant, confusing, and rushed. None of the characters (including Conrad) were likable or dynamic, and the sexist undertones throughout the book and blatant objectification of female characters did not sit right with me as a reader.

Carrie Soto had it all. Since training with her father since the age of two, she has become the only women’s tennis player to win 20 grand slams. Her career was shaped by grueling and tireless matches, and now one woman threatens to take it all. The year is 1994 and Nicki Chan has officially matched Carrie’s record of 20 slams. Not willing to let her greatest player title be taken, Carrie makes the shocking decision to come out of retirement at age 37 in order to defend her record.

Wow! This book was really exciting! I originally picked it up because I’m a tennis player and was very interested to read a book about tennis, and Taylor Jenkins Reid did not disappoint. Carrie Soto is not by any means a character I felt compelled to root for, but as she continued to develop and her story evolved, I found myself inexplicably drawn to her passion of the sport. I specifically enjoyed how Reid developed her character through the coaching of her father, Javier. Despite the bumps and complications of their relationship, Reid describes a genuine and emotional connection between the father and daughter, and it was beautiful to read.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a cozy, heart-warming story about a caseworker who investigates a top secret orphanage filled with magical children. This is not an intense read by any means, and it has a good bit of humor as well as some lovely commentary about the nature of love and chosen family. I thought it had a relatively slow start, but I'm very glad I stuck with it. I think this book is meant to open the hearts and minds of the reader alongside the protagonist. A refreshing, wholesome story that kept me hooked until the very end.

This book felt really atmospheric to me. Fitzgerald’s writing style is beautiful, and the way he describes the setting and the characters made everything feel vivid. Gatsby himself is such a mysterious and tragic character, which made the story more compelling. I also liked how the book explores themes like the American Dream and how people chase illusions. Sometimes the symbolism felt a bit heavy. But overall, it was a really interesting and thoughtful read.

I picked up this book because I wanted a quick, easy read that would keep me hooked throughout the entire adventure. I was not disappointed. Holly Jackson's novel is creatively put together to keep the reader on their toes, and it is emotionally packed, helping the characters feel real.

For her senior capstone project, Pippa-Fitz Amobi decides to reopen a missing persons case that was closed 5 years ago. And this case is especially close to home, as the victim and her murderer both went to the same high school Pippa is attending. However, suspicious points of evidence convince Pippa the story hasn't truly been told, and she sets out to gather as much information as she can. Each piece of evidence leads Pippa further down a rabbit hole to discover the truth, and as she gets closer to her goal and unknown person begins to threaten her. Pippa struggles to decide if she'd rather have guaranteed safety, or solve the case thats been nagging the back of her brain for years.

This book is 100% worth reading. Before beginning, I had promised myself I would avoid every red herring Holly Jackson planted to lead me away from the real criminal. However, it was unavoidable. Holly Jackson plants, takes away, then replants seeds of doubt about every suspect Pippa interviews. Despite this, when the mystery is solved it makes perfect sense and doesn't feel rushed, and there are little to no major plot holes. If you want a quick a read, then this is the book to pick up. I finished it in 25 hours and enjoyed every single page.

This book was an absolute page-turner. It hardly mattered that it’s written for kids and preteens. It was still very interesting at an older age. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover on a quest to get a lightning bolt back from Hades and get it back to Zeus. All the while, monsters hunt them down and they try to rescue Percy’s mom from the underworld. The characters are very likeable and relatable and this was a nice, quick read that was very enjoyable.

This story was just as amazing as the first book of the series. There were so many interweaving stories as different sides fight to put a new king on the throne after the last one died with arguments over who the heir is and whether a section should secede. It’s very complex but has nuance that was interesting and didn’t confuse me despite its complexity. It’s a long book but it feels like it goes but in a flash with how captivating and entertaining it is. This is a book I wish I could read for the first time again.

When Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date, the last thing she needs is to add a 2,000 guest Chinese-Indonesian wedding to the mix. Luckily, her immigrant mother and three meddling aunties are prepared to do whatever it takes to hide the body and successfully cater the wedding. With the aunties dealing with a wedding, a body, and Meddy’s unexpected college sweetheart, nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

I thought this book was really cute! I wasn’t exactly sure what premise I was expecting due to the many different conflicts, but I thought the aunties were hilarious and the plot was executed well. This book was very fast paced and not at all hard to read, and I especially liked the author’s note of how this book was a love letter to her culture and her family. I feel like it made the cultural elements of the novel much more compelling. Overall, the book was very simple and shockingly kept me in suspense the whole time just because I had no idea which way the story was going to go. “Dial A for Aunties” was definitely a fun and easy read.