The 2021 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

Summary: Eleven-year-old Bug faces a summer of change as their best friend Moira focuses on makeup and boys. But Bug's attention is drawn to a ghost haunting their Vermont home. As Bug unravels the ghost's secrets, a profound truth about their own identity emerges, challenging everything Bug thought they knew about themselves. What does the ghost want, and how will Bug's discovery reshape their future?

Summary: In 1885, thirteen-year-old Mei works in a Sierra Nevada logging camp, reimagining Paul Bunyan as Auntie Po, a Chinese heroine. Amidst racial tensions post-Chinese Exclusion Act, Mei clings to her stories while grappling with camp politics and her deepening feelings for her friend Bee. As she weaves tales of Auntie Po, Mei explores who owns a myth and how immigrant communities preserve their traditions while carving out a place in America. Will Mei's stories be enough to anchor her in a world that challenges her identity and heart?

Summary: Explore the Black Panther Party's revolutionary journey through the eyes of their community activism and self-defense strategies. Discover how they empowered Black Americans against systemic oppression, becoming a formidable force in the civil rights movement. This gripping narrative reveals their struggle against intense government repression and highlights their enduring legacy, from the arrival of enslaved people to today's Black Lives Matter movement. Dive into this eye-opening account and be inspired to join the ongoing fight for justice, as Kekla Magoon invites a new generation to learn from the Panthers' courage and resilience.

Summary: Nina, a Lipan girl, senses more beyond her world, while Oli, a spirit from a realm of monsters, seeks refuge by a mysterious lake. Unaware of each other, their paths cross when a disaster strikes Earth and a strange illness threatens Oli's friend. As their worlds intertwine, they must confront forces determined to keep them apart. Can they bridge the gap between their realms before it's too late?