Age Level

Seventeen titles made SLJ's list of the most distinguished young adult books published in 2019. 

A library program in Waltham, MA, offered teens an opportunity to practice active citizenship. The result was a powerful, practical, and often, a heartbreaking document of their hopes and fears.

A collection of personal essays by immigrants in high school empowers them and affects their peers.

The New York Times Magazine's 1619 Project and companion curriculum is being used by teachers to change the narrative of American history lessons in the classroom.

In Charlotte Nicole Davis's debut YA fantasy, The Good Luck Girls, young women escape from a "welcome house" on a planet inspired by the Wild West. Davis discusses how the Old West inspired her to create an adventure story Black and brown girls can see themselves in and building a fantasy world to understand our own.

Our top posts of the week past on SLJ.com and the blogs.

In this month's Pondering Printz column, Lalitha Nataraj considers titles that center underrepresented voices and the inherent value of all books, whether or not they take home the award.

This fall, three acclaimed adult authors debut YA titles—including a National Book Award finalist. Jennifer Baker talks to them about writing across audiences, seeing teen readers as individuals, and trying to make the world better.

Not only is the representation of various mental illnesses in YA literature expanding, but so is the ­sensitivity of their portrayals. Here are 13 standout titles.