The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of the American Library Association (ALA) has released a list of young adult fiction believed to be the best 2015 has to offer. 58 books were selected, and among the top 10 are Noggin by John Corey Whaley, Jackaby by William Ritter, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, The Young Elites by Marie Lu, and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.
Below are the books that comprise the top five of the list, all of which are available from the JMRL catalog:
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander – A middle-grade novel in verse follows the experiences of twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan, who struggle with challenges on and off the court while their father ignores his declining health.
The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley – Uprooted from Chicago to rural Ireland, Maggie searches for her place in the country she now calls home before enduring a tragedy that sends her on a pilgrimage to fulfill her uncle’s request.
Vango by Timothee de Fombelle – Becoming a fugitive when he is wrongly accused of murder, an aspiring young priest embarks on a transcontinental journey by train, boat and airship in search of answers about his shrouded past.
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston – In an alternate world where industrialization has caused many species of carbon-eating dragons to thrive, Owen, a slayer being trained by his famous father and aunt, and Siobahn, his bard, face a dragon infestation near their small town in Canada.
The Gospel of Winter by Brendan Kiely – Managing the challenges of his dysfunctional family by taking Adderall, sneaking drinks from his father’s bar and confiding in a local priest who shatteringly abuses him, 16-year-old Aidan finds support from a crew of new friends including a crush, a wild girl and a charismatic swim-team captain with secrets of his own.