Discover the 2025 National Book Award Longlist in Young People’s Literature
The 2025 Longlist for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature serves up a powerful mix — myth, verse, history, horror, identity, and hope. These ten books from an increasingly diverse field don’t shy away from big questions, whether it’s about cultural loss, systemic injustice, the past’s echoes, or the myriad ways young people fight to be heard. Dive in — there’s something here that resonates no matter your reading taste.
2025 National Book Award Longlist
The National Book Foundation announced the Longlist for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature on September 9th, 2025. Below are the 10 novels included in this year’s longlist:
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila
Set during the Great Depression and Mexican Repatriation, this novel-in-verse tells the true story of 12-year-old Roberto Alvarez, a Mexican-American student who is barred from returning to Lemon Grove Grammar School and sent instead to an “Americanization” school. It explores identity, justice, and community in a pivotal but often overlooked moment in U.S. history.
The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum
A queer romantic thriller set in a rural hometown, this book follows 17-year-old Hollis Brown and Walt, a spirit with unfinished business. They must work together to reverse a curse on the town and reclaim its lost sense of possibility. Blends supernatural horror with coming-of-age and queer identity.
The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes
Henson Blayze is a 13-year-old football star in a small, predominantly white town. When his friend becomes the victim of police brutality, Henson struggles with what it means to be visible as Black, what it means to be human, and what risks are worth taking for justice. Derrick Barnes digs into race, identity, and the power of speaking up.
A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe by Mahogany L. Browne
In this collection of interconnected prose, poems, and stories, teens in New York City grapple with loss, grief, and resilience — especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Browne draws on the experiences of communities disproportionately impacted by illness and death, offering both mourning and hope.
A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff
When A, a trans teen, came out during the pandemic, things got difficult. Their parents send them to a conversion-therapy program, only to discover it’s run by a demon. When one friend goes missing, A embarks on a dangerous quest. This novel blends Jewish mythology, fantasy, and activism to examine transphobia, community, and the fight for self-voice.
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride
Written in novel-in-verse form, this is a hauntingly beautiful and ultimately hopeful work about Gospel, a keeper tasked with facilitating peaceful transitions for young people who have recently died. When Melodee enters Gospel’s domain, they both confront the boundaries of love, loss, and what it means to care deeply.
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri
After the death of their father, thirteen-year-old Babak and eight-year-old Sana must fend for themselves in WWII-era Iran. They plan to stay together as siblings, with Babak following in his father’s footsteps by becoming a teacher for nomadic tribes. Along their journey they encounter danger, moral ambiguity, and moments of kindness — all while navigating a shifting world.
Truth Is by Hannah V. Sawyerr
Truth Bangura, a 17-year-old poet, keeps certain parts of her life private — including her abortion — until her poetry performance goes viral. As Truth navigates public spectrums of judgment, personal relationships, and her hopes for after graduation, she must find what honesty and integrity look like in a world with so much pressure.
Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout
Juxtaposing two timelines, this graphic novel follows the story of Emma in 1943, who joins the Dutch Resistance after witnessing the deportation of Jewish families; and Annick in 2011, who searches for a bone-marrow donor for her grandmother after discovering she was secretly adopted. With black-and-white illustrations and historical photographs, this book emphasizes art’s role in resistance, memory, and connection.
(S)Kin by Ibi Zoboi
Told in alternating perspectives, Marisol is 15 years old and the daughter of a soucouyant (a shape-shifting, skin-shedding witch from Caribbean folklore), while Genevieve is 17 and lives with a severe skin condition. This novel-in-verse explores identity, folklore, colorism, immigration, assimilation, and what it means to shed or hold onto the skin you’re in.
Final Thoughts
These books show how vibrant and inventive young people’s literature is today. Whether rooted in myth, verse, or history, they invite readers to see the world through others’ eyes — with empathy, courage, and imagination. Finalists for the 2025 National Book Award will be announced on October 7, and the winner on November 19.
