The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America and is one of the most prestigious awards a book can receive. Each year the committee chooses the best Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature published each year from a longlist of candidates. This year’s winner will be announced November 17, 2021. We’ve put together a list of this year’s finalists for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature, as well as past years winners and candidates that appeal to the middle school audience.