The National Book Foundation has revealed the five finalists for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature: Kyle Lukoff for A World Worth Saving (Dial); Amber McBride for The Leaving Room (Feiwel and Friends); Daniel Nayeri for The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story (Levine Querido); Hannah V. Sawyerr for Truth Is (Amulet); and Ibi Zoboi for (S)Kin (Versify).
The finalists were drawn from a longlist that was announced on September 9.
Teens Read the National Book Awards (formerly known as the Teen Press Conference) will take place on the morning of November 18 at Symphony Space in New York City, hosted by author Casey McQuiston. The event for local middle and high school students will include readings followed by a q&a and book signing with the five finalists. The conference will also be livestreamed, and the first 25 public school educators to register will receive one set of the finalist books.
The winners will be announced on November 19, at the NBA’s invitation-only 76th awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City; the awards will also be livestreamed.
Read on for PW’s starred reviews of the five finalist books:
A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff
“A transgender teen and a golem aim to dismantle a supernaturally evil conversion therapy program in this satisfying horror-tinged novel by Lukoff.... This superb fantastical adventure tackles serious real-world problems faced by queer youth via unique interpretations of Jewish mysticism that, paired with A’s powerfully raw emotional journey, further flesh out the thrilling plot.”
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride
“A teen steward acting as a bridge to the afterlife wonders if there’s more to her existence in this achingly tender verse romance.... Through quiet, in-between-feeling moments rendered in an eerie, philosophical tone, McBride considers the liminal spaces between life and death, as well as the weight of grief and loss on children, particularly Black youth. Richly imagined settings pulled from Leavers’ memories evoke Black Southern gothic imagery, adding texture to this wholesome speculative novel.”
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri
“Nayeri considers the effects of WWII on two Iranian children in a heart-piercing historical novel.... Babak’s palpable love for his sister emphasizes the novel’s suggestion that there is power in kindness, even in the face of tragedy. Lush details and taut plotting distinguish this immersive, profound offering.”
Truth Is by Hannah V. Sawyerr
“When considering how her unplanned pregnancy with her ex-boyfriend will affect her future, 17-year-old Truth Bangura knows only that she longs for ‘more options than the ones I’ve been given.’ Sawyerr combines fast-paced, unwavering verse poems with text messages, social media transcripts, and more in this stunning portrait of a teen in transition that earns all the snaps.”
(S)Kin by Ibi Zoboi
“Using gripping verse, Zoboi delves into each [of her] teen [character]’s inner turmoil, tackling themes of misogynoir, colorism, and immigration via complicated mother-daughter dynamics. The girls’ shifting perspectives appear on alternating sides of the book’s pages, only combining once they meet; an ambiguous resolution rounds out this searing exploration of personal growth and self-discovery.”
