Award Books by Genre: Other Award(s)

Set in the future where humanity has conquered death, Scythe delivers a gripping and philosophical take in an original and interesting format. A class of sanctioned killers (Scythes) keep the population in check (called gleaning) in an elegantly built world with seriously deep tension, following Citra and Rowan, two teenage apprentice Scythes under Scythe Faraday. Neither one wants the job, which makes them perfect for the role where the Thunderhead, a governance AI, refuses to touch. Faraday dies midway through their training, splitting the two up under Scythes Curie and Goddard- two Scythes with opposing worldviews. Curie practices a cleaner and more humane method of gleaning while Goddard revels in the killings. Citra works beside Curie and begins to investigate Faraday's strange death while Rowan grows increasingly uncomfortable with Goddard's excesses. Both become increasingly aware of the Scythedom's split in ideology as the old guard- made up of Scythes like Curie and Faraday- is pushed aside by Goddard's brutal radical faction. Eventually, the two reunite for a final test in which the winner must glean the loser. What follows is the high stakes culmination of everything the two has learnt involving morality, loyalty, and the future of the Scythedom
Scythe is one of the best modern YA dystopian novels that is both original and very well executed. It poses an interesting philosophical question of morality and power, exploring how power can corrupt- and if humans should even have the power to control life and death. Written in a captivating style, Neal Shusterman balances deep philosophical moral questioning with fast paced action, wrapped up in an elegant world.

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz is a historical fiction book about how war and terrorism affects the innocent. The book follows an eleven year old boy named Brandon who is stuck in the World Trade Center, in New York City on September 11, 2001, and along side follows a girl named Reshmina from Afghanistan, whose village becomes a battleground in 2019. Brandon is visiting his father at work on the 107th floor when the first plane hits the World Trade Center, Brandon must fight and persevere to get out of danger to survive. Meanwhile, Reshmina faces the impossible choice when an American solider seek refuge in her home while the Taliban threatens her family from within. I personally love this book because the book taught me not to judge someone until you’ve walked in their shoes. The book teaches this lesson by showing both sides of the War on Terror, and how normal peaceful people suffer regardless of which side they are on. By experiencing Brandon’s traumatic experience on 9/11 and then Reshmina’s perspective as her village is caught in the crossfire of a war she had no control of, show that victims of violence exists everywhere. The novel challenged me as the reader to see beyond stereotypes and recognize the humanity of people from different cultures and backgrounds. Overall, the book Ground Zero is an emotional and eye opening story that demonstrates how war creates victims on all sides and encourages readers to break the cycle of violence by understanding each others pain.

I picked up Fourth Wing thinking, “Okay, dragons are cool, but how intense can this be?”
Answer: very.
This book throws you straight into a brutal dragon-rider school where survival is optional and falling off a cliff is basically a pop quiz. The main character, Violet, is physically fragile but stubborn enough to keep going, which made me root for her immediately, mostly because everyone else seemed determined to kill her.
The dragons are easily the best part: sarcastic, powerful, and not remotely interested in human nonsense. The plot moves fast, the stakes stay high, and yes, there is romance, but it doesn’t completely hijack the story (thankfully).
Is it high literature? No.
Is it wildly entertaining, dramatic, and impossible to put down? Absolutely.
I finished it feeling emotionally attacked by fictional dragons and immediately wanted the sequel.

Rating:
Perfect if you like fantasy, danger, and characters who survive mostly out of spite.

I went into Great Big Beautiful Life expecting something like a cozy beach read… and instead got emotional punches with a side of Southern charm that actually hit. It’s part romance, part mystery, and all kinds of beautifully messy people trying to make sense of their pasts and present.
What hooked me wasn’t just the slow-burn connection between the two journalists chasing the same story—it was how the town itself felt like a character: salty air, secrets tucked in every corner, and a few laugh-out-loud moments when someone says exactly the wrong thing at exactly the right time.
If you like books that make you care about characters enough to text your friend “read this now”, this one deserves a spot on your TBR pile. And don’t worry, there are swoony moments, but they’re earned with depth, humor, and just the right amount of “well didn’t see that coming.”

Rating:
A warm, witty, and genuinely touching novel that sneaks up on you.

A love story that honors misfits and art and community. Beautifully written as one would expect from Fredrik Backman. Brings tears and laughs, and sometimes at the same moment.

Set in eighteenth century Cairo, Nahri is a con artists who spends her days marking arrogant soldiers and planning her next meal. So when she accidentally summons the mythical djinn warrior, Dara, she sees her carefully planned life in turmoil. When he whisks her away to the magical city of Daevabad, Nahri discovers shocking secrets about her heritage and navigates complicated political affairs, as she also discovers that her companion may not be all he says he is.

The City of Brass is a high fantasy novel and made for a fun read! While I absolutely adore fantasy, the backdrop and the mythology in which this story is based made for a longer and more complicated read. The magic systems were intricate and the history of the djinn were incredibly complex. That being said, it’s clear that the author put her soul into writing this novel, as nearly everything was seamless! The characters were flawed and forced to navigate complicated political environments that challenged their personal morals, and the ending was crazy! I genuinely feel like all hope is lost now, I have no clue how the author can write two more books expanding the plot when so much happened just in the last 50 pages! If anyone is looking for a plot based high fantasy, definitely don’t sleep on this one, it was so much fun to read!

A Long Walk To Water to me has a beautiful structure, two stories told separately that converge later down the line is truly an engaging take. I personally love the fact that it is a true story. It takes place during the Sudanese Civil War telling the story of a refuge trying to escape and a young fictional girl and her struggle to obtain water. Both stories are entirely apart but show similar themes of resilience,hope, and determination. I really liked how they connected over struggle and unfortunate circumstances yet overcame and displayed how hope prevails in the end. If you like true stories, war, and a really enticing parallel structure you'll like a Long Walk To Water.

This was an absolutely amazing book! In Skyhunter Talin, the main character, is part of a fearless and talented group of soldiers called strikers. Regardless of the pain and sorrow she experiences she continues to defend the country of Mara from the Karensa Federation. However it all seems hopeless, until she meets an escaped federation soldier who changes everything. I really loved learning about and connecting with the characters in this book, and the constant action and tension made it almost impossible to stop reading. Although one of my favorite parts of the book might just be the little mouse. I would definitely recommend this book!
Reviewer grade: 8

Wonder is a coming of age fiction starting with a boy named August. August, who has never been to school before, has to learn the hard way of fitting in. He was born with mandibulofacial dysostosis, which caused August's cheeks and other facial features like the mouth, ears, and eyes, to form differently at birth. When I first read this book, I was so intrigued from the first page, and this book taught me so many life lessons, and that you shouldn't care what others think of you. The story explains August's battles, the overwhelming feelings he encounters, from friends, and family, all while having the trouble of people's reaction to his face. August taught me to be brave and have courage to do things that are new or challenging. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone struggling to find themselves in life, it taught me so much.

Marissa Meyer's Cinder is a sci-fi retelling of the classic tale Cinderella. It follows Cinder, a young cyborg mechanic, as she struggles with the people's discrimination against her and her fear of the deadly plague slowly overtaking the Earth. With the looming threat of universal war, and her complicated relationship with the crown prince, Cinder is caught up in political drama, scientific breakthroughs, love, loss, and shocking realizations about her past.

This book deals with heavy themes of discrimination as Cinder is made an outcast for her cybernetic makeup. It also displays themes of racism in the behaviors of the citizens of the Earth and Moon towards each other. Throughout the story the stereotypes of both sides challenged and understanding is established between the groups.

This book was a unique and interesting read keeping the reader invested through every twist and plot point. I would highly advise it for young adult readers who enjoy sci-fi, fantasy, or just classic fairy tales.

The Book Thief is a very emotional book set in Nazi Germany during WW2. The story follows a young girl named Liesel Meminger, who is sent to live with a foster family and finds a love for books, even though the world around her is falling apart. One of the most unique parts of the story is that it is narrated by Death, which gives everything a different and interesting perspective. What makes this book so good is how it connects you to its characters. The author uses creative language and symbolism making every detail important. Liesels relationships, especially with her foster parents and Rudy (her best friend) feel real, raw and deep. There are a few downsides: the pacing is a little slow at times, especially in the middle and the narration could be confusing for some. Death also reveals future events which can take away the suspense at times. Overall, The Book Thief is a very good book that leaves a lasting impact. Its emotional, meaningful and is different from much of the stories about WW2. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or character-driven stories.

I picked the book Lesson in Chemistry because I'm currently taking Chemistry and this bright cover and its status as a PPLD top checkout caught my eye. The story follows Elizabeth Zott, scientist who ends up hosting a TV cooking show to teach women about science. I loved Elizabeth’s fierce intelligence, but it was frustrating to read about the blatant sexism she faced in the lab. I really related deeply to Elizabeth’s struggle for professional respect, making this one of my favorite reads of the year.

I chose this book after seeing the movie adaptation announced, since I wanted to understand the true history behind the headlines. This non-fiction storyline investigates the chilling "Reign of Terror" in the 1920s, where members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma were murdered one by one after oil was discovered under their land. What I enjoyed most was how David Grann writes like a novelist; the pacing is so fast that you forget you are reading a history book. However, the sheer level of injustice described was deeply upsetting to process. It definitely surprised me because I had never learned about this specific part of American history in school.

I picked up this book because the title made me curious about what happens after the school bell rings, and I know PPLD recommends it often. This book tells a story of ten short sections about different students from the same middle school all walking home in the same direction. I really liked how the stories were funny and relatable, but they also had some deeper moments that made me think about my own friends. My favorite part was seeing how the characters' paths crossed in small ways, though I wish some of the stories were a little longer because I wanted to know even more about the kids! It didn't quite end the way I expected, which was a cool surprise.

I chose to read this book because I loved the beautiful cover art and I had seen it on several PPLD reading lists for students. The story begins when a robot named Roz opens her eyes for the first time and discovers she is alone on a remote. She has to learn how to survive by observing the animals, but the island's inhabitants aren't so sure about their new "monster" neighbor. I was surprised by how much emotion a story about a robot could have, and it made me think a lot about how we treat nature. I really related to the way Roz felt like an outsider trying to fit in, and it’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read lately.

I love historical fiction. That is why I loved the book refugee. The reason why it was not a five star is because it was hard to follow all three stories but other than that, it was a great and wonderful book. Refugee helped me learn about the historical event through three different stories. I loved comparing all of the stories and their timelines. Refugee is a very clean book for all teens.

I love Edenbrooke so much, when I read it became one of my new favorite books. The main character is belittled in regard to how perfect her sister is, and she just lives in the shadow of her sister. Edenbrooke is the perfect example of a main character finding her own story. The romance is real and makes you not want to stop reading. The plot is loveable which makes you fall in love with the book. It is simple but beautiful, Julianne Donaldson did a fabulous job.

Born during the time of apartheid in South Africa, comedian Trevor Noah tells the story of his childhood as a mixed boy in a time where having bi-racial parents was considered a crime.

This book was incredible! I had to read it as a summer reading assignment, and while books for school are rarely interesting, “Born a Crime” blew me away. For starters, Trevor Noah tells a story of inequality and injustice and writes of horrors I can barely imagine, and yet he writes with so much humor that it is very digestible. The life he lived and the way he grew up is so very different to me that it was at some points hard to fathom, but I felt like it opened my eyes in so many ways. The fact that apartheid only ended in the nineties is heartbreaking to me, but Trevor Noah talks about firsthand experiences living through the aftermath. While I knew vaguely who Trevor Noah was, his memoir filled me with the utmost appreciation for him, and his story will be one that sticks with me for a long time.

Almost American Girl is an illustrated memoir by Robin Ha about her journey to America and her experiences there. I always find it interesting to read about other people’s experiences, but I especially enjoyed this one because of its format. It is graphic novel style, making this a fun, quick read. The illustrations were very pretty and so was the writing! I loved this book, and it gave me a window to someone else’s life that I really enjoyed reading about!

Out Of My Mind is a fantastic book about Melody, a girl with cerebral palsy. Contrary to popular belief, Melody is a very smart girl and has a lot of ideas and things she wants to say, but her disability has, until now, held her back. At her new school, she joins a team for smart people who compete with other groups of smart people to prove they’re smarter. I loved this book so much and even cried at some point. Beautiful story and writing, this was my third favorite read of 2025!

Rebecca. Samantha. Haley. Katie. Ashley. Growing up, Nora became many different girls as she helped her mom con criminal men, learning a lesson from each persona she took on. Now, having escaped that life and her mother, she is living with her older sister, Lee, finally trying to start over and be a normal teenager. But an awkward bank trip with her ex-boyfriend and new girlfriend turns deadly as two bank robbers enter in the middle of their visit and hold everyone in the building hostage. Now, Nora must pull off the biggest con of all: getting out of the bank alive.

I didn't have many expectations going into this book, as I just picked it up for a summer reading program. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked "The Girls I've Been"! The story alternates between the disastrous bank robbery and Nora's past, going through the different cons she was involved in and the different girls she became. This structure was perfect for creating suspense and made it almost impossible to put this book down! Additionally, the writing style was very easy to read and intriguing (despite a few minor typos), and the romance plot between Nora and Iris was sweet and didn't take away from the tension and suspense at all! I loved that "The Girls I've Been" was not only a thrilling story, but also fearless social commentary about the hardships that Nora was exposed to growing up. I would definitely recommend giving this book a try for an easy, thrilling, and meaningful read!

Set in occupied France during World War 2, “The Nightingale” tells the story of two sisters navigating their lives that become forever changed. Vianne has never spent her life alone. While living a quiet life with her husband and daughter in a small French town, she believes nothing will come of Hitler’s army terrorizing her country. When her husband is enlisted to fight for France, she finds herself alone for the first time and must discover how to balance keeping her family safe while fighting for what’s right. Opposite of Vianne, Isabelle has always dreamed of becoming a hero and fighting for her country. When she discovers the newly beginning French Resistance, she doesn’t hesitate in risking her life to save downed airmen all across France. However, when Germany begins losing the war, the consequences for spies become more serious, and Isabelle must decide how far she is willing to go for her country.

This book devastated me. Kristin Hannah describes all of the horrors of World War 2 in brutal, unflinching detail. More than that however, she put in so much research into learning about the French Resistance and the role women played, and she writes their courage and bravery with such passion. I think this a novel everyone should read, as the lessons of humanity and good vs evil will stick with me for a long time. I feel like everyone hears about how terrible war is, but accounts such as the ones in this novel, even while fictional, truly prove how war ravishes humanity and communities.

A year after her girlfriend's tragic passing, Felicity Morrow has returned to Dalloway School for her second attempt at graduation, heading back to her old room at the campus' historic Godwin House. Felicity has always been drawn to the occult, and Dalloway only feeds her obsession: Godwin House is even supposedly haunted by the ghosts of the Dalloway Five, five young women who died under mysterious circumstances on Godwin Grounds. But the occult is no longer a place of solace for Felicity, not when she's convinced her dead girlfriend, Alex, is haunting her, and Felicity is now only interested in her grades and graduating.

Unfortunately, the new Dalloway student has other plans for her. After her debut novel won a Pulitzer Prize, Ellis Haley enrolled in Dalloway School to research the Dalloway Five for her second book. Ellis is a method writer, putting herself in her character's own insane adventures, and Felicity can't help but be drawn to her intelligence and whimsy. And eventually, Felicity reluctantly agrees when Ellis asks her to help her research the Dalloway Five. But when strange events begin to follow Felicity wherever she goes, Felicity is forced to confront the ghosts that plague her mind - including Alex.

Perhaps the summary of this book sounds straightforward. I will tell you it's not. Perhaps, it's because Felicity is an incredibly unreliable narrator, which may throw some people off, but the book left me unsatisfied and with more questions than answers. Initially, I thought the Dalloway Five would have more importance to the plot, but truthfully, not much is revealed about them or their deaths either. In fact, the whole magical/paranormal circumstances surrounding Dalloway are fairly muddled and confusing, and by the end, I was confused what role magic even had in the whole book. Perhaps it was intentional, as the author was likely trying to make the reader question reality, but I feel like it could've been executed better.

It is important to mention that Felicity suffers from psychotic depression, which heavily impacts her narrative. As I have never dealt with this condition, I will not speak for people who have suffered from this disorder. There are also side characters who struggle with mental health issues. The reviews I've seen online regarding the representation of mental health in the book are mixed: some people say the characters with issues are portrayed in a very bad light, which is ironic considering that Felicity mentions at some point how people with mental disorders are often seen as crazy/insane. Others feel seen by the author and satisfied with the portrayal; the author herself has battled psychotic depression and wanted to touch on her own experiences.

These points aside, I personally did not connect to any of the characters in the book. A lot of the side characters felt flat and incredibly pretentious, and I personally disliked Felicity and Ellis. There has also been some discontent online regarding the representation of the two POC characters; one character's biggest purpose in the book was to tell Felicity about racism. The beginning of the book set off a nice tone, and I liked reading about the history of Dalloway and the whole historical lore behind it. However, the rest of the book dragged on for so long I had trouble even remembering what happened. Then, the book started picking up at around 70%, and the rest of the book was packed with random twists and turns to the point it felt like a completely different story. The ending was rushed, and the big twist felt like it was thrown in at the last minute, though I must say I didn't see some of it coming. There were also other random plot points added in that I felt like weren't necessary. This book felt all over the place for me, and it didn't give the greatest reading experience, but it does have its audience, and perhaps I may recommend it to a friend or two.

Those who live in Barkley Cove are more than happy to accuse the mysterious "Marsh Girl" of murdering beloved quarterback Chase Andrews. But there is so much more to Kya Clark than that. After being left to fend for herself at the age of ten, Kya learns to live off the land, developing a deep love for nature and its wonders. And as she grows older, she is forced to navigate the complexities of first love, loneliness, and heartbreak. "Where The Crawdads Sing" alternates between Kya's coming-of-age story and the ongoing murder investigation, leaving you constantly wanting to know what will happen next.

I was really looking forward to reading "Where the Crawdads Sing" because of its original and intriguing genre-blending. However, I think that Delia Owens may have tried to incorporate too many ideas into one story. The time skips were incredibly disorganized, with chapters and chapters devoted to the span of a few days with little action, followed by massive time skips that threw off the pacing, making this book boring, repetitive, and predictable. Along with this, the writing style was all over the place and the dialogue was poorly written, especially as the author unevenly incorporated North Carolina dialects for no apparent reason. In addition to these issues, I could not get invested in the romance plot, as the love triangle seemed forced, unnecessary, and confusing, hypersexualizing Kya and undermining her character development. Overall, I am sad to say that "Where the Crawdads Sing" did not live up to the hype for me, though I'm sure some readers will enjoy it.

All Talasyn has known is the Hurricane Wars. Her whole life has been composed of fighting and defending her land of Sardovia from the tyrannous Night Empire. Following a devastating blow and a shocking discovery, Talasyn meets Alaric, the newly crowned Emperor of the Night Empire. Despite being sworn enemies, the two must work together to face a new and rising evil.

This book was really fun to read! I saw a lot of people saying it gave the same vibes as Rae and Ben Solo from Star Wars, and while I don’t really like that comparison, I love Star Wars and I could see a little similarity with the world Guanzon wrote. I do wish the novel was a little less romance focused, as I feel as though some elements of the romance plot overtook the main fantasy story. Overall, this was a very fun book, and I’m excited to continue with the series!

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata is such an interesting and unique book, following a woman throughout her life facing trauma and coping with it in many unhealthy ways. She's unable to become a "cog in the machine" as she grows up, straying further and further from society. This book changed my perspective on many things, and I found some parts unsettlingly familiar. I went into the book without any knowledge of it, however as it is a sort of psychological horror and there were quite a few scenes with disturbing topics such as sexual assault, violence, and child abuse/neglect. Without spoiling too many things it's safe to say it's a very heavy read, but I found it to be extremely worth it, as it was thrilling, captivating, and I loved how the characters were written. (I'm in grade 12)

Jurassic Park is a sci-fi thriller about a park that has figured out how to clone once-extinct dinosaurs and has invited two paleontologists to tour it. I chose to read this book because I love dinosaurs and have seen all the Jurassic movies. I enjoyed this book because it is an exciting thriller with lots of dinosaur action. I also appreciated how the author didn't hold back with the consequences of bringing back dinosaurs. Overall, this is a creative and masterful novel that I highly recommend.

Project Hail Mary is a sci-fi adventure book about a scientist and former schoolteacher, Ryland Grace, who has been tasked with a mission to explore another planetary system to discover the secrets of a sun-dimming microbe that threatens Earth. I enjoyed this book because it is filled with heart and comedy. I also appreciated how the author took time to explore the science of Grace's discoveries. It had a few flaws- sometimes the science distracted from the pacing, and some characters' choices didn't make sense. Overall, this is an amazing book that I enjoyed- I highly recommend it!

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.