Young Adult

It is 1999, twelve-year-old Michael is stockpiling supplies for Y2K, and then a strange teenager turns up claiming to be from the future. This won the 2025 Newbery Medal and was a National Book Award finalist, and it earns both. Funny, warm and ultimately about learning to stop bracing for disaster and live in the moment you actually have.

One summer, one wonderfully strange family and a grandmother who insists there is a ghost in the house. DiCamillo writes the kind of sentences you want to read out loud, and every character here is treated with enormous affection. Pure joy from start to finish – no gloom anywhere in sight.

An eleven-year-old girl and her eighty-eight-year-old best friend (same first name, seventy-seven years apart) team up when the grown-ups start worrying about the older Sophie’s memory. Lowry handles a tender subject with humor and total honesty. A lovely reminder that friendship does not check your birth certificate.

Spare, luminous and quietly devastating, this little novel follows an Irish coal merchant who stumbles onto something he cannot un-see. Keegan does more in 128 pages than most authors manage in 500, and the ending will stop you cold. At its heart it is a story about one ordinary man choosing to do the right thing when it costs him something.

Two stories, decades apart, braided together into one unforgettable read about survival, hope and clean water. Park (one of my favorite authors) writes with such restraint that the payoff at the end absolutely lands. This one is a favorite in classrooms for good reason – it shows teens exactly what perseverance and service look like.

Nine working-class kids from the American West row their way to the 1936 Olympics, and you will find yourself cheering out loud. This adaptation keeps all the grit and heart of the original while trimming it to a size teens will actually finish. It is teamwork, hard work and belonging – exactly the kind of story I wish more young adult shelves carried.

A wide receiver drafted by the Detroit Lions blows out his hamstring, pivots to engineering and ends up floating aboard the International Space Station. Really? Unbelievable! Melvin tells his story with humor and humility, and the do-it-yourself experiments in the back are a nice bonus for curious kids. This is the rare tweener book that treats a closed door as the start of the story rather than the end of it.

History feels deeply personal in this moving graphic novel, which tells a story of courage, resistance and hope during World War II. Richly illustrated and emotionally resonant, it invites readers to reflect on the cost of freedom and the importance of standing up for others. It's a powerful reminder that even small acts of bravery can leave a lasting legacy.

Blending fairy tale, adventure and heartfelt emotion, this graphic novel explores courage, compassion and the power of choosing kindness over fear. The expressive artwork beautifully complements the story, creating a world that feels both magical and deeply personal. It's a captivating read that reminds us that true strength is found in empathy and selflessness.

Equal parts funny, heartfelt and deeply honest, this graphic memoir explores family, identity and what it means to grow up between cultures. The expressive artwork brings every emotion to life, making moments of uncertainty, humor and self-discovery feel especially authentic. It's an engaging reminder that our "messy roots" often become our greatest source of strength.

A delightful blend of whimsy, adventure and heart, this story celebrates the idea that family is something we nurture through love and belonging. The enchanting illustrations by The Fan Brothers beautifully complement the warmth and wonder of the narrative. It's a charming read that encourages readers to bloom wherever kindness is planted.

Not every hero wears a cape – some learn to swim. This graphic novel uses an engaging coming-of-age story to explore confidence, perseverance and the often-overlooked history of segregation in public pools. Equal parts fun and meaningful, it's a book that entertains while quietly teaching lessons that matter.

Some books help readers understand an issue. This book helps readers feel it. By blending history, empathy and a touch of the supernatural, Parker Rhodes creates a story that invites important conversations about justice, compassion, and seeing others' humanity.

A powerful blend of memoir, history and graphic storytelling, this book connects one teenager's journey with a painful chapter of American history – Japanese internments camps. The time-travel premise makes the past feel immediate and personal, helping readers appreciate both the hardships endured and the resilience displayed by those who lived through them. It's an accessible and memorable way to explore the importance of remembering history.

What begins as a story about fitting in quickly becomes a thoughtful exploration of identity, friendship and belonging. The graphic novel format keeps the pages flying, while the characters face challenges that feel authentic and relatable. Funny, insightful and full of heart, it's the kind of book that sparks meaningful conversations without ever feeling preachy.