Award Books by Genre: YALSA Award

This is an exciting read, if not very realistic. It follows a trapped society surrounded on all sides by a moving maze. At night, horrific creatures lurk within the maze walls, but the inhabitants are protected by huge walls. That is, until Thomas shows up. At first, nothing is out of the ordinary, until a girl shows up the very next day. Soon, things begin to change and escaping the maze becomes even more necessary. It is a very fast paced book and it's good for all ages. I would try this book, but it's not a must read.

I can see why this book became such a huge phenomenon in the 2000's, but it wasn’t really for me. The atmosphere is moody and memorable, which I did appreciate. However, the relationship between Bella and Edward felt unhealthy at times, and that made it hard for me to enjoy the romance. The pacing was slow in the middle, and I found myself wanting more plot progression. It’s iconic and influential, but personally, I didn’t connect with it as much as I hoped. I do think the movies are quite better!

When I first read this book, I was really intrigued by the faction system and the idea of sorting people by personality. The beginning felt strong and made me want to keep reading, especially as the main character Tris started her training. However, as the story went on, some of the characters felt underdeveloped, and the romance didn’t fully work for me. A lot of the conflict seemed to rely on predictable choices rather than surprising ones. I still think it’s entertaining and easy to read, but it didn’t leave a lasting emotional impact on me.

This book had an interesting premise, and I liked the idea of a world divided by blood color. At first, I was really invested in the protagonist Mare’s journey and her shock at discovering her powers. However, as the plot continued, it started to feel like a mix of other dystopian stories I’ve already read. Some twists were predictable, and the characters didn’t feel as complex as I wanted them to be. I enjoyed parts of it, but it didn’t stand out enough for me to rate it higher.

This book took me a little time to get into, but once it did, I was obsessed. The characters are easily the strongest part for me, each one felt distinct, flawed, and deeply layered, especially two characters named Kaz and Inej. I loved how the story trusted the reader to keep up instead of over explaining everything. The heist plot kept me on edge, and I genuinely didn’t know how things would turn out. While it can feel dense at times, the payoff is absolutely worth it, and I found myself really attached to this group by the end.

This book completely pulled me in from the very first chapter, and I remember feeling tense the entire time I was reading it. Being inside Katniss’s head made everything feel urgent and real, especially the fear and pressure she feels just trying to survive. What I loved most was how the book isn’t just about the Games themselves, but about the themes of power, sacrifice, and how unfair systems hurt people who never asked to be part of them. The relationships, especially between Katniss and Peeta, felt complicated and realistic rather than overly romantic. By the end, I felt emotionally drained in the best way, and it made me think long after I closed the book!!

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is about Tally Youngblood who lives in a futuristic dystopian society where everyone is considered an “Ugly” until they get cosmetic surgery and become a “Pretty.” Tally chooses to rebel against becoming a “Pretty” when her friends Shay and David show her that being a “Pretty” isn’t all that it is made out to be.
In my opinion, this book was nice. While the story was interesting, some parts were predictable.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian stories, adventure, and coming-of-age novels.

A book about a secret school of deadly assassins? Yes please! I had not read a book by Mather before but because of this book I will definitely read again in the future. November is an intriguing character, and she was a great kick butt girl boss. The plot and book flowed nicely and the mystery was well thought out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes spies and assassin type books.

As book one in the six-book series, it will also read well as a standalone. I like how the world is explained throughout the book - rather than dumping me with all worldbuilding in the beginning, or especially all at once. By the end of the book, new things are still being learned about Tess (the protagonist's sidekick). But is Day really the protagonist, or is it June? Although the story is admittedly more focused on Day, June's impact on Day's life is by far the more entertaining part of the book. Every chapter alternates perspectives, like a good Red Pyramid or The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel -- appropriate, political (if you will), and disappointing when really invested in what's about to happen next.

The Republic is one of two factions the U.S. splits into after collapse -- home to elite military families like the one June comes from, but also home to beggars, drunks, homeless, and the poor like Day. June is at some point convinced that Day murdered her brother (a spoiler from page 1) and vows to hunt him down both for revenge and to prove herself to the Republic. But as she gets close with Day, she uncovers truths about the Republic causing her to question her involvement.

Happy Ending

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon follows eighteen-year-old Madeline “Maddy” Whittier, who has a rare illness that keeps her inside her home, unable to leave. Her life changes when Olly, a boy who moves in next door, enters her world. They form a friendship through emails and messages that later develops into romance. This leads Maddy to take more risks of leaving the bubble she’s been trapped in her whole life. After discovering a shocking secret, she is forced to make difficult choices about freedom, trust, and love.

In my opinion, this book was engaging and emotional. It was a unique idea, and the author did a good job at writing the story. Although the book was quite long and slow-paced at certain points, I was never bored. I finished this book in one sitting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary romance, coming-of-age stories, or books about love and self-discovery.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is about a high schooler named Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi who chooses to investigate a murder-suicide event that happened in her town a couple of years earlier for her senior year choice project.

When Pip was younger, Andie Bell, a popular high school girl, was supposedly murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh. Sal allegedly confessed by text message and committed suicide. The town accepted this explanation, but Pip always felt something didn’t add up - the Sal she knew was kind and unlikely to be violent.

With the help of Sal’s younger brother Ravi Singh, who wants to clear Sal’s name, Pip digs into evidence and interviews people around town. As they uncover more information, they realize there was a lot more to Andie’s disappearance and the case overall than anyone originally believed.

In my opinion, the book was a really good mystery and had plenty of twists and turns which made it hard to predict what actually happened. The case was complex, but the author’s writing style made it easy and entertaining to follow. When I picked it out, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.

This book was extremely interesting to read and it’s impressive that Sarah Maas was able to write this as her first book. In this story, 18 year old assassin Celaena Sardothien was freed from the labor camp she’d been working at for a year by Crown Prince Dorian to participate in a competition with other criminals to see who will become the king’s secret assassin. However, there are dark things happening underneath and Celaena has to protect herself from the dangerous and magical things around her. The magic system of Wyrdmarks is very interesting and the character interactions are complex. It is a book that is hard to put down.

The Naturals is a thrilling book that is centered around a girl named Cassandra Hobbes or Cassie who can tell you almost everything about you and your life with just looking at you. She wishes that she will be able to leave her work as a waiter and do something to help. Then a mysterious boy shows up at the diner and leaves a card for the FBI. She figures out that her ability to profile people has landed her a spot in a program that helps catch serial killers that have been dormant. She wishes that she could help on active cases, but when she actually gets dragged into one it hits a little too close to home. As the Naturals work together they try to catch a serial killer while still acting like regular teenagers, flirting, playing games, and getting caught in a love triangle. This book creates a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions and surprises. It is one of the best books I have ever read and it is definitely one of my favorites.

I really liked this book. I read it after watching the movie and it was similar, but still had some differences. I really liked the different things that happened when the end started coming. With the progress of Thomas emotionally and physically it shows the progress of not only the other Gladers, but also the book and Glade itself. Even though I watched the movie before reading the book, I still was able to be surprised and enter the world of the maze. Even though there is a lot of things going on it still is a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions. As Thomas grows more knowledgeable of the maze I did to. It brought the truth to my eyes as Thomas realized it for himself.

Stella is sick. No, not with the typical cold or flu, as Stella would rather have, but with a rare disease: Cystic Fibrosis. Her lungs have been faulty all her life and she hopes to obtain a lung transplant soon. In order to fulfill this goal, Stella attempts to maintain constant control of her life, risking nothing that would prevent her from getting the transplant. That is until she meets Will, who's only thing in common with Stella is his Cystic Fibrosis. With no care about control (or his medication) Will is fascinated with Stella and her orderly life. However, their illness prevents them from coming closer than six feet apart, and any close contact could jeopardize everything. Stella wants nothing to do with Will, how could she risk everything she's ever wanted? Yet as the two become closer, being six feet apart seems unbearable.
This was a good teen romance that captured what it's like to be controlled by something completely out of control or reach.

The Cruel Prince is just straight up amazing. I LOVED Jude and her development as a character and how it was done. Cardan is a 10/10 no notes. This book is the original enemies to lovers and I am here for it! The only thing about this book is it can tend to have a lot of politics which might confuse readers but otherwise this is a masterfully written book that transports readers to the land of Faerie. Would recommend this to most if not all fantasy readers as it is a staple of the genre.

First off, I love Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and this novel did not disappoint. A bunch of kids with talents like analyzing people and detecting lies solving cold cases in the FBI? Yes please! Cassie's backstory was well thought out, and I loved her character development. The mystery was also very well thought out and the plot twists omg! The only part I didn't love was the hinted at love triangle mainly because it didn't feel essential to the story. I loved the You chapters (serial killer perspective), which were equally creepy and interesting. This book is perfect for mystery lovers, the only thing I wouldn't recommend doing is reading this in the dead of night haha.

“What If It’s Us?” is a LGBTQIA+ romance book involving two teens in New York. The two main characters, Ben and Arthur, meet in a post office. Ben, 17 years old and a New York resident, is there to mail his ex-boyfriend’s stuff back to him. Arthur, 16 years old and staying for the summer because of an internship, held the door open for Ben and became interested in him. The two hit it off, but they end up getting separated by a flash mob proposal. The two keep thinking of each other and how they want to meet again, but they have a hard time finding each other. Arthur finally figures out a way to get Ben’s email, and the two reconnect. Their whole summer together is filled with ups and downs, laughter, and drama.

“What If It’s Us?” is a sweet, well-written book. The characters are very likable and diverse. Arthur and Ben have a realistic relationship, with the two having their ups and downs since they come from different backgrounds. Arthur, coming from a well-off white family, and Ben, coming from a lower-class Puerto Rican family. The two also have some very sweet romantic moments that touched my heart. The plot has a nice climax, and the ending makes sense for the characters and the story. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are fans of LGBTQIA+ romance.

This book is in my top five of all time. I really enjoyed the writing style as it makes the characters easier to relate to. Every time I reread it, I noticed something new, a detail here and there. The plot seems sad in the beginning, and sad things happen, but the end puts the sweet in bittersweet. It follows the main character, Doug Sweiteck and his transition to Marysville as he struggles with two big secrets that Schmidt reveals through the actions of the characters--so read carefully, you don't want to miss anything. When Doug sees James John Audubon's paintings of a variety of birds, they change his life. The character growth between all the characters is astonishing and it shocked me. Definitely check it out!

"I Love You So Mochi" is a book about a Japanese American girl named Kimi who visits Japan on a journey of self-discovery. Her mother is a famous painter who wants her to follow in her footsteps. However, Kimi doesn't feel like painting suits her as a career. After an argument with her mom about her career, she gets a letter from her estranged grandpa, inviting her to visit Japan for spring break. Kimi takes up her grandpa's offer, later meeting a cute boy who offers to be her tour guide for Japan. For just a week, Kimi has the chance to discover herself, connect with family, and fall in love.

This book was really touching. The author does a great job characterizing the characters and making them feel human. The moments when Kimi emails her mom and describes her original designs are also awesome. I really enjoyed reading about the main character and learning about her style of clothing. The romance between the two main characters is so adorable, and I was definitely feeling sad when I came to the last day of Kimi's trip. All in all, this is a wonderful, sweet read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a delightful book.

"Unwind" is a sci-fi dystopian masterpiece that everyone should read. "Unwind" follows Connor, Lev, and Risa, each with a very different life and story. Despite their differences there is one thing they all have in common; they have been scheduled to be unwound. Being unwound is every teenager's worst nightmare, unless that is you're a tithe. After a war that happened long before Connor, Lev, and Risa's time, a decision was made that any child between the ages of 13 and 18 can be unwound, aka have their body harvested to be used for others who need transplants, if their parents so decided. Despite societies persistence that being unwound is a way for the kids to live on forever, Connor, Lev, and Risa have other plans for their future...

Emma Paxton has never had a family. So when her long-lost identical twin, Sutton Mercer, messages her and asks to meet in Arizona, she is overjoyed. However, things are not as they seem. Emma soon discovers that Sutton was murdered - and she must take Sutton's place in her twin's lavish (albeit complicated) life. With Sutton's murderer watching her every move, Emma must work to find the killer and avenge her sister, diving deeper into her twin's dark past and her twisted involvement in The Lying Game, uncovering secret after secret.

I really liked reading Shepard's more famous series, "Pretty Little Liars," so I picked up "The Lying Game" in the hopes that it would be the same page-turning mystery filled with high school drama. However, although some plot points and revelations were interesting, I was largely disappointed by this book. It is told in first perspective by Sutton from beyond the grave, following Emma's current activities in third person, and the idea of Sutton telling the story (although essential, as it gave context clues that Emma had not figured out yet) was a little awkward. Honestly, the whole book felt a little unbelievable and the characters were all stereotypical and flat, making it hard for me to enjoy. If you are looking for a Shepard's style of YA mystery, I would recommend reading "Pretty Little Liars" or "The Perfectionists" instead.

Isabel "Belly" Conklin has always loved summer, because every summer, she gets to spend time at her favorite place in the world - Cousins. There, she is able to escape from all her worries at her mother's friend, Susannah's, luxurious beach house. But this summer is different. Belly finds herself conflicted as she experiences feelings for Susannah's two sons, Jeremiah and Conrad. Exploring this conflict leads Belly to take a deeper look at herself as she transitions into adulthood, filling her summer with countless adventures and drama.

I read "The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han after reading "To All the Boys I Have Loved Before," which is by the same author, and I didn't enjoy this series as much as the "To All the Boys" series. Han's books are always good choices for someone looking for a light read filled with drama and romance (and both series have TV adaptations that are fun to watch!). However, the idea that Belly has to "choose" between two brothers took a lot away from the plot for me (as it seems that she has no consideration for either of them and only thinks of herself and her rapidly changing emotions), as it made Belly a very unlovable character. To me, she was portrayed as selfish and naive, focusing only on herself as she chooses between Jeremiah and Conrad, paying no attention to the impact of her actions on the brothers. Because of this, the reader cannot become attached to Belly as the main character, as well as the book itself and the heartbreaking and intriguing story that Han presents.

"A Good Girl's Guide To Murder" by Holly Jackson introduces lovable and realistically flawed characters Pippa Fitz-Amobi and Ravi Singh as they work to not only complete Pip's senior capstone project, but also to solve the murder of Andie Bell. Every character in this novel has complex thoughts, feelings, and motives that weave together to create a shocking, multi-layered mystery and page-turning plot. Presented in an engaging mixture of transcribed interviews, project notes, and Pip's own perspective, you will not be disappointed by picking up this book!

After reading and adoring many of Karen M. McManus's novels, I found myself looking for a similar read, and after stumbling across Jackson's work, I was hooked! Not only is "A Good Girl's Guide To Murder" perfect for those seeking a good mystery, but "Good Girl, Bad Blood" and "As Good As Dead" (the other books in this amazing three-part series), tie in beautifully to the already-compelling world Jackson has created, leaving the reader stunned with every plot twist. Jackson presents a story - and series - where the characters, clues, relationships, and resolutions feel anything but forced, and each new twist leaves the reader wanting more of not only Ravi and Pip's adorable relationship, but also more of the mysteries in Fairview which seem to never stop unraveling!

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is a dystopian novel set in a future where people are strictly divided by age and appearance. Littlies are young children who live with their parents until they turn twelve, when they are labeled Uglies and move into dormitories in Uglyville. When they turn sixteen, they are pressured into undergoing an operation that changes their appearance to become Pretties, who can move to the paradise of New Pretty Town. The story follows Tally, a fifteen-year-old girl a few months from her sixteenth birthday, who is looking forward to becoming a Pretty and joining her best friend Peris in New Pretty Town. Like most Uglies, Tally sees the operation as a turning point in her life, as Uglies are treated in a way that makes them feel inferior to the Pretties and pushes them to undergo the surgery. One day, Tally befriends another girl her age named Shay, who doesn't want to become a pretty and tries to convince Tally to join her before running away. Things only go down from here, as Tally is offered an impossible decision by the authorities and begins to learn the truth about the operation and the seemingly idyllic nature of the society she grew up in.
This book was a great read, and I really enjoyed the concept. The characters were written well and were realistic in a way that showed off their individual motivations and traits. Shay and Tally's views on society and being pretty are clearly different, and that affects their actions throughout the story. The ending is powerful, written so similarly yet different from the beginning of the story, which helps to emphasize Tally's character development and shows how much the events of the story changed things. Something I especially liked about the story was its unexpected plot twists. Some parts surprised me, proving my predictions wrong and making the story even more engaging. The novel is packed with symbolism and themes of conformity, individuality, and beauty while being easy to read and understand. It does great as the first book for the series, sparking interest in the world and characters and making readers want to know what happens next. I recommend this book for fans of science fiction and dystopian novels with some adventure and good plot twists.

Brought to readers as the #1 New York Times Bestseller book by Adam Silvera, a tiny glance of the genius title and its illustrative cover leaves readers wondering. “Never judge a book by its cover” they say. But doesn’t the cover define the book? Doesn’t the cover give us an insight on to what the author is feeling? “A bold, lovely, and haunting story of loss, hope, and the redeeming power of friendship” -Lauren Oliver writes on the cover. A tragedy in fact. Silvera’s catching title uncovers a world in which a calling service called the “Death-Cast” calls people 24 hours before they die. On September 5, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio. With totally different reactions, emotions, and experiences, Mateo and Rufus greet each other on their End Day through an app called the Last Friend. Now, the two strangers spend their final hours together on an epic adventure through their city to live up their last day without any regrets.

I immediately noticed this book through its title. I thought to myself, “Who would give a book such a depressing title?!” I mean it’s certainly unique?! I enjoyed hearing different perspectives and stories throughout the book. The switching of characters throughout the chapters was really interesting. The author shows how much death affects people. The death of a loved one affects every relationship the deceased had in their life. Silvera did a very good job at demonstrating that. The book was very predictable but a heartfelt story. I can relate to Rufus’s friends Malcolm and Tagoe who so desperately want their friend to be okay. This book was one of the best tragedies I have read this year, and I hope to see more books like it.

Avery Grambs is used to barely scraping by: with her mom dead, her dad nowhere to be found, and her half-sister's abusive boyfriend moving into their small apartment, Avery spends her days living inside her car and can only dream of a stable and financially secure future. That is - until she gets summoned to the will-reading of the late businessman Tobias Hawthorne (who also happens to be filthy rich)...and finds out that he left her almost all of his assets under a certain condition: she must live in the enormous Hawthorne estate for at least a year to inherit.

For her, it should be a perfect turn of luck: she'll never have to be worried about money ever again, right? But Avery is just as confused as the family. She's never met Tobias Hawthorne and has no familial connections with him that she knows of. Furthermore, the Hawthorne family are obviously not very pleased with a complete stranger inheriting what should have been rightfully theirs: Tobias' daughters firmly believe Avery is a con woman, and their hypercompetitive sons - Grayson, Jameson, Xander, and Nash - see her as an obstacle, a puzzle to solve. But as cryptic messages behind Tobias' will reveal themselves, Avery finds out that her inheritance is indeed part of a game, engineered by the puzzle-obsessed businessman, and she becomes entangled into the Hawthornes' complex family drama as she discovers secret passageways and compartments, as well as the secrets kept by the Hawthorne boys, unraveling truths of stories better left untold that could destroy the family - and Avery herself.

I will be honest, this novel felt extremely messy, and I had a very hard time describing the plot to other people asking about the book who haven't read it already. However, The Inheritance Games does have its merits. Barnes does a good job at giving her book emotional output: there were moments in the story where I genuinely felt pity for what some of the characters have gone through, and I feel especially sorry for the two prospective love interests, Jameson and Grayson. The intricate family drama was a bit excessive and made the novel feel like an on-paper-rendition of a soap opera, but it was intriguing, and I felt engrossed in it (although I really hope they find a way to resolve it somehow). The storyline itself, although it had its golden moments, moved along way too slowly for me and never seemed to get anywhere: the book spans 91 chapters, and by chapter 60, I was wondering when it would end - or if it would ever end, for that matter. The ending as well was incredibly unsatisfying: most of the questions posed about Avery's inheritance at the beginning of the book were either not answered at all or very vaguely addressed, and the cliffhanger only infuriated me more. I do understand that this book is the first in a series, which would explain the cliffhanger, but I felt so tired out from the plot that I considered not reading the rest of the books. There were also not as many puzzles as the plot promised, which disappointed me, and the story was mainly focused on the family drama as well as Avery's strange relationship with Grayson and Jameson (which isn't a completely bad thing, but I started this book thinking there would be more puzzles, and the few that were in the plot were only okay, not brilliant).

As for the characters, I honestly found Avery to be a slightly dislikeable main character: she was as much of a mess as the Hawthorne brothers were, and at times she was honestly kind of stupid. I did enjoy Xander and Nash. Xander was such a funny, lively character, and his obsession with robots and mechanics made him even more endearing. And Nash, unlike most of his family, was actually level-headed and calm, and I respected him for his demeanor, even though his role was also supposed to be controversial, as well as Xander's. Overall, the book was an entertaining read, and there were parts of it that I did love, but it did feel melodramatic and stretched out. I don't think I'll read the rest of the series, but this book was by no means a completely unpleasant experience.

This book was definitely interesting to read. I didn't exactly dislike it but it wasn't my favorite book ever. The book is about a dystopian world with a special act that lets people "unwind" their teenagers. This process involves repurposing their organs and body parts, donating them to people in need and justified this as the life doesn't really end. It's the premise of the book and brings up some heartbreaking scenes to read. In my opinion the plot isn't bad. It's about three teens that come together to try and escape being unwound. What I like about it is that it's a powerful adventure and there's a lot of unique characters. Even though it wasn't my favorite book I've read, I don't think it a waste of time and would recommend it to those who enjoy science fiction and action.

He has finally done it: Brian survived the terrors of nature and has finally returned to his home town in New York. Everything is better now, or is it? Is city life as wonderful as Brian dreamed it to be while stuck in the middle of the Canadian Forests? Or has Brian become part of nature? To find out, read the third book in the Hatchet series, Brian’s Return.

I knew that I had to read this book after completing Gary Paulsen’s previous two books in the series. Brian kept growing on me the more I read, and I couldn’t get enough of Gray Paulsen’s descriptive writing. Although this book holds less of Brian’s wilderness struggles, Brian now encounters a whole different kind of hardship. I completely suggest this book to any wilderness lovers out there!

When I finished reading Gary Paulsen’s initial book to the series, Brian’s Winter was on my list. The novel twists the first book, Hatchet, with an alternate ending! Brian now remains stranded in the Canadian Wilderness, but here’s the catch: in order for Brian to survive, he must endure Canada’s brutal winters. Can Brian get lucky enough to survive yet another season in the wild, or will he succumb to the sheer power of Mother Nature? Find out by reading Gary Paulsen’s Brian’s Winter.