National Book Award for Young People's Literature · 2018

The 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

The Poet X won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Browse it alongside all 4 honor books, with ages and reading levels for each.

2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature Winner
The Poet X
Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2018

The Poet X

By Elizabeth Acevedo

A young poet battles silence and tradition to find her voice in Harlem.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2018)Carnegie Medal for Writing (2019)National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2018)Americas Honor (2019)Golden Kite Honor (2019)Michael L. Printz Award (2019)Odyssey Honor (2019)
357 pages· 32,942 words· Est. 3 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 145,238 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Xiomara Batista, an Afro-Latina teen in Harlem, feels trapped by her family's strict expectations and her own unspoken desires. Her secret love for poetry becomes a lifeline, especially after meeting Aman, a boy her family must never know about. When invited to join a slam poetry club, Xiomara faces a choice: stay silent or risk everything to be heard. Will she defy her mother's rules and embrace her true self, or will fear keep her words hidden? In a world that tries to silence her, Xiomara's voice demands to be heard.
2018 Honor Books
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

By M. T. Anderson, Eugene Yelchin (Author/Illustrator)

An elf and goblin's mission spirals into chaos, risking war.

532 pages· 41,921 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 4,371 ratings
$24.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is catapulted into goblin lands to deliver a peace offering and spy. His goblin host, Werfel, eagerly guides him, but cultural blunders and double crosses thrust them into a crisis. As their nations teeter on the brink of war, these unlikely allies must navigate misunderstandings and hidden agendas. Will they survive the chaos, or will their nations fall to conflict? This tale of humor and intrigue questions who truly writes history.
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

Mason's friend vanished. Can he uncover the truth before it's too late?

352 pages· 66,043 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 9,616 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Mason Buttle struggles with learning disabilities and grief after his best friend Benny's mysterious death. As the investigation stalls, Mason and his new friend Calvin face relentless bullying. They find solace in a secret hideout, but when Calvin disappears, Mason is thrust into a desperate search for answers. Can he unravel the mystery of both disappearances and prove his innocence, or will his story go unheard?
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2018

Hey, Kiddo

A boy navigates life with an absent father and addicted mother.

320 pages· 15,721 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 35,680 ratings
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: Jarrett's childhood is anything but ordinary. With a mother battling addiction and a father he's never met, he finds solace in art while living with his outspoken grandparents. As he grows, Jarrett seeks the truth about his family, confronting his mother's struggles and searching for his elusive father. Can he piece together his fractured past and find his own path forward?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Journey of Little Charlie

A boy must choose between conscience and survival when faced with a dangerous debt collector's demands.

272 pages· 48,178 words· Est. 6.5 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 2,166 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Twelve-year-old Charlie faces a dire choice after his father's death leaves him in debt to the menacing Cap'n Buck. Tasked with tracking fugitives, Charlie's mission takes a turn when he uncovers their true identities. Now, caught between his conscience and survival, Charlie must decide his next move before Cap'n Buck discovers the truth. Will he choose justice or self-preservation in a world fraught with danger and moral complexity?
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