The National Book Foundation has announced the longlist for the 2024 Young People’s Literature category, kicking off the 75th anniversary of the prestigious National Book Awards, per bookriot.com. The revelation comes as the book world eagerly anticipates the upcoming awards season.
Ten titles have been selected from over 330 submissions, showcasing a diverse range of voices and storytelling styles. The list includes both established authors and promising newcomers, with three novels in verse and two debut works making the cut.
Notable entries include Randy Ribay’s Everything We Never Had, marking his return to the spotlight after his 2019 finalist status. The selection also features Olivia A. Cole’s Ariel Crashes a Train and Margarita Engle’s Wild Dreamers, both written in verse.
This year’s judging panel, comprised of literary experts Rose Brock, Huda Fahmy, Leah Johnson, Mike Jung, and Brein Lopez, faced the challenging task of narrowing down the submissions.
The announcement sets the stage for the next phase of the competition, with the shortlist reveal expected in October. The winner will be crowned at the annual celebration on November 20, 2024, marking a significant moment in American literature.
See the full list below:
Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A. Cole
Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle
The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky by Josh Galarza
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay
Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté
Free Period by Ali Terese
Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams
