Fiction

African Town wins the 2023 Scott O'Dell Award; SCBWI announces grant winners; WNDB is taking grant applications; and more in this edition of News Bites.

The award is given annually to outstanding fiction and literary nonfiction titles for ages two to eighteen that inspire a love of math.

The titles are recognized for being of high interest to youth who are BIPOC, from street culture, in restrictive custody, and/or reluctant readers.

Climate change and environmental activism are ­exceedingly relevant topics for young readers today, and these two titles have different approaches to similar issues.

The author says her novel loosely based on the Maroon communities of escaped formerly enslaved people will give young readers a connection across cultures and experiences and help restart the difficult conversation around slavery. 

National Twin Day is December 18, and these 10 books featuring twins—from princesses to mediums to teens and tweens coming-of-age in contemporary and historical settings—are perfect to hand to readers.

Rollicking adventures, coming-of-age woes, and long-lasting friendships are part and parcel of middle grade books, and these outstanding 25 picks fit the bill.

An emotional Tahir said winning the prestigious award felt like "an impossible dream."

Hand these books to tweens and teens who love Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.