Plot/Idea: In this cozy supernatural story, a young boy teams up with a tabby cat who is much more than meets the eye. Quirky and heartfelt by turns, The Cat Who Chased Ghosts proves that man's best friend can be feline, and that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Prose: Minnella uses a playfully informative tone–punctuated by wry, tongue-in-cheek humor–throughout the novel. Middle grade readers will feel immediately at home in this lightly spooky story. 

Originality: Minnella integrates familiar elements, but with some very fun twists, an atmospheric setting, and sparkling worldbuilding. 

Character/Execution: While Whiskers undoubtedly steals the show, Timmy is an appealing hero who sets out to learn the secrets of 'Haunted Hall' and the legacy of the Guardian Cats alongside equally engaging and inquisitive sidekicks.

Plot/Idea: The God Squad is a YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror novel about brothers Mathew and Miles, two extraordinary boys who can see gods and monsters, and the extraordinary journey they're forced to undertake. On the road alone to protect their family, they're soon caught up in a war that will determine the fate of the gods as well as humanity.

Prose: The Deyerins' descriptions are clever and detailed and they waste no time getting into it. Their prose brings the reader into the brothers' astonishing lives, and the descriptions are almost visceral, especially when describing the brothers' reactions to frightening-looking creatures. 

Originality: There are many books about teenagers and gods, but The God Squad stands apart, not least because of the brothers' extraordinary dilemma, the varied cast of characters, and the secrets so many of them try to conceal. That, coupled with the brothers' adventures and a a ferocious winner-take-all final battle, makes for an intriguing read.

Character/Execution: Mathew and Miles are real and root-able, genuinely good kids trapped in a mess not of their own making. They come from a loving family, one they deliberately chose to leave in an attempt to ensure their safety, a family that tries to help them long-distance. The other characters are equally intriguing, all with their own faults and foibles–even the gods. 

Plot/Idea: The other kids call Enid Davies a witch’s daughter, but she and her friends, Dylan and Zoe, are normal teens until the day that a monster tries to drown Enid in the lake. Readers won’t have to wait long to get into the action during Enid’s quest to save her friend on Affalon Isle. Ramsey delivers a quick-moving and wildly fun magical adventure for YA readers.

Prose: Ramsey delivers a clear, propulsive narrative with a healthy balance between dialogue and action.

Originality: Evil queens, wizards, and dragons spill into the real world as seamlessly as they populate a fantasy realm. Enid’s quest to save her friend is seeped in Arthurian legend and packed with delightful interactions.

Character/Execution: Enid and Dylan are believable teens with a genuine friendship that transcends form and place. Ramsey’s characters have agency and dimension.

Plot/Idea: Alyen wants to enjoy the peace after Dúramair defeated its enemies in a great battle, but all of her senses are screaming at her that danger is still near. Evil appears in the form of a deadly storm. With the metaphors of storm and shadow, Slayer of Monsters explores what it takes to be victorious. Mollova hits all of her beats, weaving a story that is easy to fall into, and leaving readers ready for the next book.

Prose: Slayer of Monsters maintains a clear narrative style that is appropriate for its audience, while honoring its fantasy traditions.

Originality: Slayer of Monsters is a true high fantasy adventure. A personified storm of “darkling elementals” is a fresh take on magical danger.

Character/Execution: Readers will immediately become invested in Alyen and her friends. Slayer of Monsters displays an understanding of YA sensibilities balanced with well-crafted fantasy characters. Dissimilar character names might make them even more easily distinguishable.

Plot/Idea: Set in Egypt, Illinois during the Great Depression, The Willa Tree is a polished, richly realized story about the Rose family. When a school assignment about researching families leads 15-year-old Lettie to ask questions,  a generation of sinister secrets come out to the detriment of all.

Prose: Farrell's prose is lovely and vivid, even when describing unpleasant scenes, while her writing also powerfully captures Lettie's determination, spirit, and inquisitiveness.

Originality: A distinctive historical setting, winning characters, explosive secrets, and an astonishing twist ending, allow this coming-of-age story to shine.

Character/Execution: Lettie is a wonderfully complex young woman determined to rise above her family's plans and be more than "just a maid." A school project that requires interviewing family members brings everyone's fears and prejudices to light, but rather than shy away as her parents demand, she is determined to find out the truth about herself, her mother, and her true father. Lettie's best friend, Stan, and her worst enemy, school bully Mabel Mae, are also terrific characters, and the three of them work together to expose a generation of secrets.

Plot/Idea: Fast paced and thrilling, C.W. James has crafted a wonderful middle grade story that is enthralling for all ages. With lovable characters that the audience can root for and an intriguing storyline, The Tomb of Phatmes has the feel of a children's classic.

Prose: James writes in vivid, detailed, and precise prose that provides historical verisimilitude without sacrificing mystery, adventure, and intrigue.

Originality: Although the story is molded by the staples of its genre, The Tomb of Ptahmes consistently approaches each event with novelty and nuance.

Character/Execution: Each of the characters is unique and interesting, with their own meaningful motivations for their actions. Although sometimes these motivations are basic, they add to the realism of the story and help drive the narrative.

Plot/Idea: Gonzalo Lopez, or "weakling" as the bullies call him, is a Hispanic-Jewish high school student who inexplicably develops superpowers as he's about to be beaten (again) by the school bully. What follows is a clever, funny, action-packed tale with a twist that changes everything.

Prose: Tarassenko's prose is quick and clever, with excellent wordplay and descriptions. Though the bully might come off as a cliché to some readers, the characters feel, speak, and behave like realistic teenagers.

Originality: There are many books about nerdy, bully-bait teenagers suddenly getting superpowers, but few like this one, with diverse characters, real-world problems, and a twist readers won't see coming.

Character/Execution: Tarassenko's characters are relatable and entertaining, particularly Gonzalo, who is a self-effacing delight. He's harder on himself than anyone else, even the bully, but isn't afraid to wryly poke fun at his situation.

Plot/Idea: Falcon's Favor is a queer steampunk mystery/romance, the fourth in Fraedrich's Broken Gears series. The book opens in the aftermath of Falcon denouncing his corrupt grandfather and exposing corruption in the wake of taking down the Reaper’s Collective. As a result, Falcon is injured, essentially disowned, and the only way to move forward is to share cheap living with a stranger: Keene Kohli. After their home is robbed, the two team up to find the perpetrator. 

Prose: To the author's credit, Falcon's Favor can be read as a standalone despite being the fourth book in a series. Fraedrich also has a flair for description and her depictions of food are mouthwatering. The sex scenes are tender and Keene's awareness of and gentleness with Falcon's inexperience is lovely.

Originality: Fraedrich's novel–a cozy steampunk slow-burn queer romance novel set in a police state with an Enforcer and a caterer as leads–is about as unique as it gets.

Character/Execution: Falcon is a worthy hero who faces setbacks without flinching (at least outwardly). Keene is delicious, and not just because he's an excellent cook. He's also protective of Falcon from the beginning, and doesn't hold Falcon's past against him. Their friend Beatrice is also a delight, and the thieves, despite their crimes, are sympathetic. The same can't be said for Falcon's superiors, demonstrating exactly why Falcon risked everything to expose corruption in the first place.

Plot/Idea: This snappy YA novel follows the clever 10-year-old Ariel, an unflagging geologist who travels to the Arctic Circle with her mother and dog, Champ, to take on a malfunctioning borehole threatening a caribou population in Canada. 

Prose: Zaleski infuses the prose with a light touch of humor, ferrying readers through a story that is entertaining, a bit suspenseful, and vividly depicted.

Originality: There are many YA books with clever heroines, but there are none whose heroines are brilliant young geologists with roots in the Blackfoot tribe. Ariel's adventures take place on Inuit land, allowing readers a glimpse into Inuit culture along the way.

Character/Execution: Ariel will be an instant hit with readers, as she is both sweet and smart, immediately recognizable as a lively, discerning kid (her first word was "igneous"). Zaleski paints Ariel's grandfather Naaáhsa in wise, perceptive strokes as well, allowing his character to engage in teaching moments with her throughout.

Plot/Idea: Swetnam’s plot is unpredictable and high-speed, as 12-year-old Joey and his sister Clarissa join forces to help a topsy-turvy group of aliens save Earth. Their leader, Cleocatra, sends the siblings on puzzling tasks that seem to make no sense, all in the name of galaxy-saving, and the ride is equal parts wild and sensational, a perfect fit for middle grade readers.

Prose: The prose is as quirky as the storyline, and Swetnam writes with a dry sense of humor that permeates throughout, making the book entertaining and witty. 

Originality: The mix of space hijinks, humorous prose, and untamed adventure here is a winning combination, boosted with endless originality and pizzazz. 

Character/Execution: Swetnam’s characters are engaging and fun, each with an important role that moves the plot forward. Cleo is, quite literally, the cat’s meow, surrounded by a galvanic cast of aliens and humans who make a compelling group. 

Plot/Idea: Vincent creates a politically charged setting that represents a variety of communities that deserve to be heard. Vincent’s passion for these tough but current subjects radiates off the page through her characters and their call to action. While it is stacked with LGBTQIA+ challenges, each one is addressed in an appropriate manner.

Prose: Lots of conversation and interaction among the characters allows them to develop. With sufficient explanation Vincent helps the reader understand terms that belong to the LGBTQIA+ community. As tension rises throughout, thoughtful solutions are developed. Readers will have a deeper understanding of the issues the LGBTQIA+ face and hopefully lead to understanding and galvanization.

Originality: Addressing current issues is necessary to help those that have suffered or been victims of violence against the LGBTQIA+ community. The novel will surely create awareness among readers.

Character/Execution: Well-intentioned, relatable, and multilayered teen characters help drive the plot and embody the injustices they encounter both within their communities and far beyond. 

Plot/Idea: With vivid events and a detailed magic system, The Five Dimensions of Magic offers young audiences a vibrant heroic story. With unexpected twists and turns for the characters to conquer, each event moves the story further and gives energy to the novel.

Prose: Efron writes incredibly believable dialogue that captures the reader's heart and mind. However, at times, the prose feels muddled and key elements of the story are not always explained in a clear manner.

Originality: Although this book certainly utilizes the conventions and tropes of fantasy storytelling, it does so in a way that is unique and intriguing. The magic system is truly fantastic and lays the ground work for a fun and thrilling plot.

Character/Execution: The Five Dimensions of Magic has a large cast of characters for the audience to root for and champion throughout the story. Each character feels individual and well-crafted, with their own personality quirks and motivations.

Plot/Idea: Ann, Not Annie grapples with heavy themes, from alcoholism and grief to anxiety and sexual assault, all through the narrative conventions of teenage romance. Through short, engaging chapters, Ann’s struggle with her father's death, mother's alcoholism, older brother's absence, and her discovery of self, are weaved together smoothly.

Prose: Ann, Not Annie features an authentic young adult voice that is strongest when leaning into Ann’s bizarre, often off-the-wall humor. However, this humor and prose style feels at odds with the narration–one that offers a distant, adult retrospective point of view.

Originality: While Ann, Not Annie contains many of the elements of a typical YA problem novel, its main character’s bold sense of humor and rough edges set her apart, while the outside narrator presents a unique perspective, even if that perspective can be confusing. Ann’s dark and comical eccentricity shines the most through her comics, which are incorporated at the end of most chapters, and provide additional insight into her character.

Character/Execution: Ann Grey is a complicated, aggressive, and edgy but lovable heroine who readers root for despite (or maybe even because of!) her flaws. She experiences significant growth as she learns to stand up for herself and open her heart to love. Side characters can come across as stereotypical throughout most of the book, while some of Ann's relationships outside her family and main love interest, Danny Feller, are thinly drawn.

Plot/Idea: When his great-grandfather’s spirit departs, 14-year-old Johnny Bear Child finds it hard to let go of the old Blackfeet chief. His medicine quest finds him reconnecting with his great-grandfather in unexpected ways, culminating in a dangerous journey for Johnny and his friends. His course is fraught with expected coming-of-age elements, but Babcock adds in threatening components that exponentially raise the stakes.

Prose: Teen readers will love Babcock’s crisp writing and clear worldbuilding, and the story's dialogue rolls across the pages in smooth, natural waves.

Originality: Rich in Blackfeet tradition, this book gives readers a peek into Indigenous life—and teems with wisdom and mystical connections.

Character/Execution: Babcock lightly touches on the deeper experiences of Indigenous people, though a deeper development would give the story more flavor. Johnny Bear Child and his friends evoke the universal joys and pains of adolescence as they teeter between childhood and the adult world.

Plot/Idea: Daughter of Daybreak, a striking work of YA fantasy, hits the ground running where the first book in the series concluded. Readers will relish returning to the vibrant world of mortal goddesses, princesses, and otherworldly powers.

Prose: Arden's prose is immediately engrossing and reflects the author's clear and articulate worldbuilding.

Originality: Arden draws from fantasy conventions, but delivers a unique fantasy realm, backed by imaginative details and supported by robust scaffolding.

Character/Execution: Daughter of Daybreak offers a gorgeous Medieval Earth replete with lavish detail. Jedda and Dimity are well-articulated as goddesses on Earth, their personalities reigning through their actions and perceptions. Side characters fill out the novel, showing the author's remarkable handle on scene-building. 

Plot/Idea: Though the book is dense and starts slow, More blends adrenaline-packed action scenes with intricate worldbuilding and character work for a coming-of-age narrative that will appeal to a broad swath of readers.

Prose: Through vivid descriptions of technology and Indigenous language and dialect, More’s prose deftly paints the intriguing and original Mannahatta. Flashbacks to Sakima’s past, however, feel randomly placed, failing to blend with the other seamless elements of the plot.

Originality: By framing Natives as the more technologically advanced people, More’s Mannahatta eschews stereotypes while still embracing Native beliefs and practices. Less interesting is the Lenape Tribe’s sexism, which sets up Sakima with a trite journey to defy said tribe's misogyny, a theme echoed in many YA action-adventure novels.

Character/Execution: Headstrong and independent Sakima challenges her tribe’s sexist views of women and proves herself a warrior. Other characters, especially Sakima’s friends in modern-day New York City, feel more like props in Sakima’s overall journey.