Today, the National Book Foundation announced the longlist for the 2026 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. These ten titles were selected from a pool of 290 books submitted for consideration by their publishers. This year’s judges for Young People’s Literature are Edith Campbell, Brandy Colbert (Chair), Tricia Ebarvia, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and Anne Ursu.
The finalists in all categories will be announced on Tuesday, October 6, and the winners revealed at the 77th National Book Awards Ceremony on November 18.
In the meantime, here’s the 2026 Young People’s Literature longlist:
Delali Adjoa, The Free Verse Society
Peachtree Teen / Peachtree Publishing
Elana K. Arnold, Holloway
Clarion Books / HarperCollins Publishers
T. A. Chan, The Celestial Seas
Viking Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House
Tae Keller, When Tomorrow Burns
Random House Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House
Keala Kendall, That Which Feeds Us: A Hawaiian Gothic
Random House Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House
David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels, The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America
Knopf Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House
Chanel Miller, The Moon Without Stars
Philomel Books / Penguin Random House
Eric Darnell Pritchard and Shannon Wright, Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams
Abrams Books for Young Readers / Abrams
Julian Randall, Shook
Henry Holt and Company (BYR) / Macmillan Publishers
Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr, Life on the Moon
Knopf Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House