Get Ahead of the 2026 ALA YMAs with These 5 Must-Read Contender Titles

This month, we’re diving into the most buzzworthy books of the year – handpicked by our Curation Team from our ALA Youth Media Award Contenders book list. These standout titles are generating serious award chatter, and we’re reading them now to get ahead of the curve! 

The team selected their titles based on multiple starred reviews, mock award sites, prediction blogs, National Book Award longlist mentions, webinars, and past winners. The final list of 69 picks includes picture books, nonfiction, Hispanic Interest, African American Interest, Asian Interest, YA Fiction, and more.

We’ve picked a contender from each audience level to read this month. Learn more about the books below.

 Shop the Full List

Fireworks  

By Matthew Burgess, Illustrated by Catia Chien

Audience: Lower Elementary

Fireworks is a sparkling picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Catia Chien, highlighting the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly anticipate a spectacular fireworks display. POP! Words and art blossom into flowers of fire across the sky, making this a perfect read for firework enthusiasts in cities and suburbs everywhere.

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The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest 

By Aubrey Hartman

Audience: Upper Elementary

Clare, the undead fox, lives in Deadwood Forest, a place caught between life and death. As an Usher of souls, Clare’s quiet existence is upended when a badger named Gingersnipes refuses to cross into the Afterlife. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover why – and what it means for the balance between worlds. With echoes of Kate DiCamillo and Tim Burton, this haunting, heartfelt tale explores fate, friendship, and the power of choice.

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How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

By Daniel Miyares

Audience: Upper Elementary

Set during the Cuban Revolution, this gripping graphic memoir follows 12-year-old Carlos – based on the author’s father – as his family faces upheaval and escape. When Fidel Castro seizes power, Carlos’ father vanishes, and the family must flee Cuba under watchful eyes. Torn between loyalty to his homeland and the hope of reunion, Carlos embarks on a journey of courage, resilience, and transformation. A powerful coming-of-age story about family, freedom, and finding home in the face of political turmoil.

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All the Blues in the Sky

By Renée Watson

Audience: Middle School

In this moving novel in verse, Renée Watson explores grief, healing, and friendship through the story of Sage, whose thirteenth birthday becomes the day her best friend dies. Lost and heartbroken, Sage joins a counseling group for girls navigating loss. As she learns that grief has many shades – sadness, guilt, love, and hope – she begins to heal and rediscover joy. Poignant and powerful, this story reminds readers that it’s okay to feel everything, and that healing doesn’t follow a straight path.

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All Better Now

By Neal Shusterman

Audience: Young Adult

In this gripping biological thriller by Neal Shusterman, a mysterious virus spreads happiness – but at a cost. Those infected lose all negative emotions, sparking a movement to spread the virus and a backlash from those in power. As society fractures over what it means to truly live, three teens find themselves at the heart of a global reckoning. Thought-provoking and fast-paced, this story explores truth, control, and the price of bliss.

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SHOP THE FULL ALA YMA CONTENDERS LIST

It’s time for our most popular annual webinar for the 2026 ALA YMA Contenders. Our expert panel of librarians and media specialists will discuss their picks for the books of the past year that will stand the test of time and become must-have additions to your school and classroom libraries. You’re invited to join this lively discussion on December 9, 2025, at 4pm CT! 

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SCHEDULING CONFLICT? We’ve got you covered! Register and we’ll send you the on-demand recording shortly after the webinar ends.