Illustration: KRISTY LANKFORD, kristylankford.com
Congratulations to the 26 Mid-Atlantic SCBWI members whose 52 different titles were included in 60+ lists naming the Best Children’s and Teens Books of 2019—for well over 150 individual end-of-the-year mentions! They are: Alyssa Hollingsworth, Angela Dominguez, Ann Marie Stephens, Barbara Carroll Roberts, Elizabeth Acevedo, Elizabeth Steinglass, Emily Ecton, Erica S. Perl, Erin Teagan, Jacqueline Jules, Kim Norman, Kwame Alexander, Lamar Giles, M. K. England, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Maria Gianferrari, Meg Medina, Megan Wagner Lloyd, NoNieqa Ramos, Olivia Hinebaugh, Patricia O’Connell Pearson, Robert Meganck, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Susan (VanHecke) Wood, Tami Lewis Brown, and Zara Gonzalez Hoang.
ALA Notable Books
Merci Suárez Changes Gears written by Meg Medina, 2019 Newbery Medal
Rebound written by Kwame Alexander
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say written by Angela Dominguez
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo, 2019 Printz, Pura Belpré and Amelia Bloomer Book Awards
ALA Notable Children’s Recordings
Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist written by Susan (VanHecke) Wood, narrated by Brian Amador, 2019 Odyssey Honor
Rebound written by Kwame Alexander, narrated by Ron Butler
The Poet X written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo, 2019 Odyssey Award
Amazon
How to Read a Book cowritten with Kwame Alexander
Ninita’s Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy Marmoset written by Sarah Glenn Marsh
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo, 2019 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Winner
Association of Jewish Libraries
All Three Stooges written by Erica S. Perl, Sydney Taylor Book Honor
AudioFile
With the Fire on High (audiobook) written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo
Baltimore County Public Library
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Bank Street College
Hawk Rising written by Maria Gianferrari
Merci Suárez Changes Gears written by Meg Medina
Rebound written by Kwame Alexander
Terrific Tongues written by Maria Gianferrari
The Ambrose Deception written by Emily Ecton
The Eleventh Trade written by Alyssa Hollingsworth
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Thread of Love illustrated by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth
Instructions Not Included: How a Team of Women Coded the Future cowritten by Tami Lewis Brown
Booklist Editor’s Choice
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Brightly
Arnold and Louise series written by Erica S. Perl
Song of the Dead written by Sarah Glenn Marsh
CYBILS Nominees & Finalists
Fighting for the Forest: How FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save America written by Patricia O’Connell Pearson
Give Me Back My Bones! written by Kim Norman
Happy Fell (Arnold and Louise) written by Erica S. Perl
How to Read a Book cowritten with Kwame Alexander
Lost and Found (Arnold and Louise) written by Erica S. Perl
Nikki On the Line written by Barbara Carroll Roberts
Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? Footprints at the Shore written by Susan (VanHecke) Wood
Soccerverse: Poems About Soccer written by Elizabeth Steinglass, Finalist
Superlative Birds illustrated by Robert Meganck
The Crossover (Graphic Novel) written by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
The Disasters written by M. K. England
The Great Louweezie (Arnold and Louise) written by Erica S. Perl
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander, Finalist
Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature written by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo, Finalist
Capitol Choices
Merci Suárez Changes Gears written by Meg Medina
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals of the UK
Rebound written by Kwame Alexander
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo, CILIP Carnegie Medal
Chicago Public Library
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Children’s Book Council: Children’s and Teens Choice
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Common Sense Media
How to Read a Book cowritten with Kwame Alexander
The Crossover (Graphic Novel) written by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII written by Patricia O’Connell Pearson
Fresh Ink: An Anthology edited by Lamar Giles
Hawk Rising written by Maria Gianferrari
Merci Suárez Changes Gears written by Meg Medina
Rebound written by Kwame Alexander
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo
DC Association of School Librarians 3-Star Nominees
Out of Wonder written by Kwame Alexander
Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Denver Library
Galapagos Girl/Galapagueña illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Nikki On the Line written by Barbara Carroll Roberts
Soccerverse: Poems About Soccer written by Elizabeth Steinglass
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Epic Reads
With the Fire on High (audiobook) written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo
Evanston Public Library
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature written by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
First Book
How to Read a Book cowritten by Kwame Alexander
The Crossover (Graphic Novel) written by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Forever Young Adult
The Birds, The Bees, and You and Me written by Olivia Hinebaugh
Fuse 8
Arithmechicks Add Up: A Math Story written by Ann Marie Stephens
Give Me Back My Bones! written by Kim Norman
Superlative Birds illustrated by Robert Meganck
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Truth or Lie: Sharks! written by Erica S. Perl
Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature written by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Goodreads Choice Award Final Round
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Here Wee Read: Ultimate List of Diverse Books
How to Read a Book cowritten by Kwame Alexander
Soccerverse: Poems About Soccer written by Elizabeth Steinglass
Spin written by Lamar Giles
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Hip Latina
The Truth Is written by NoNieqa Ramos
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Horn Book Fanfare
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
ILA Young Adult Choices
Rebound written by Kwame Alexander
Imagination Soup
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Indie Bound: Next Lists
How to Read a Book cowritten by Kwame Alexander
Nikki On the Line (audiobook), written by Barbara Carroll Roberts, narrated by Christine Lakin
Not So Pure and Simple written by Lamar Giles
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
International Literacy Association & the Children’s Book Council Children’s Choices
Elizabeth Warren: Nevertheless, She Persisted written by Susan (VanHecke) Wood
Pluto Is Peeved! An Ex-Planet Searches for Answers written by Jacqueline Jules
Jewish Book Council
All Three Stooges written by Erica S. Perl, 2018 National Jewish Book Award for Children’s Literature
Junior Library Guild Gold Selections
El crossover (The Crossover in Spanish) by Kwame Alexander
Fighting for the Forest: How FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save America written by Patricia O’Connell Pearson
Galapagos Girl/Galapagueña illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Paper Mice written by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Soccerverse: Poems About Soccer written by Elizabeth Steinglass
Spin written by Lamar Giles
Survivor Girl written by Erin Teagan
Swing by Kwame Alexander
The Crossover (graphic novel) written by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Kirkus
How to Read a Book written by Kwame Alexander
Spin written by Lamar Giles
The Crossover (graphic novel) written by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander, Finalist
Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature written by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Latinx In Publishing
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Mother (mothermag.com)
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Multnomah County Library
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
NCTE
Merci Suárez Changes Gears written by Meg Medina, Charlotte Huck Honor
Rebound written by Kwame Alexander, Notable Verse Novel
NPR
The Birds, The Bees, and You and Me written by Olivia Hinebaugh
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
National Book Award Longlist
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) Notable Social Studies Trade Books
Elizabeth Warren: Nevertheless, She Persisted written by Susan (VanHecke) Wood
Thread of Love illustrated by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
National Science Teaching Association
Instructions Not Included: How a Team of Women Coded the Future cowritten by Tami Lewis Brown
Nerdy Book Club
How to Read a Book written by Kwame Alexander
Spin written by Lamar Giles
The Crossover (Graphic Novel) written by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA)
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
New York Public Library
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
New York Times
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
News & Observer
Spin written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Nonfiction Detectives
Superlative Birds illustrated by Robert Meganck
Parent’s Choice Awards
Nikki On the Line (audiobook), written by Barbara Carroll Roberts, narrated by Christine Lakin
Paste Magazine
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Penn Graduate School of Education
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Publisher’s Weekly
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Raleigh News & Observer
Spin written by Lamar Giles
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
Reading for Research (ReFoReMo)
Give Me Back My Bones written by Kim Norman
SCBWI
Hawk Rising written by Maria Gianferrari, Crystal Kite Winner
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say written by Angela Dominguez, Sid Fleischman Award Winner
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo, Golden Kite Honor
School Library Journal
How to Read a Book written by Kwame Alexander
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
School Library Journal: Top 10 Audiobooks
Mango, Abuela, and Me (audiobook) written by Meg Medina, illustrated by Angela Dominguez, narrated by Alisa, Rosi, and Brian Amador
TAYSHAS Texas Top 10
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Teens’ Top 10 (YALSA)
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Time Magazine’s Top 10 YA Books
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer written by Lamar Giles
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
Today Show
The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander
With the Fire on High written by Elizabeth Acevedo
YALSA
The Disturbed Girl’s Dictionary written by NoNieqa Ramos
The Poet X written by Elizabeth Acevedo
*NOTE: Some lists/awards announced in 2019 include books published in 2018
This list, compiled by Dionna L. Mann, content editor of the Highlighter, the quarterly newsletter serving the Mid-Atlantic region of SCBWI, is not meant to be exhaustive. However, for omissions, corrections, or updates, please contact Erin at midatlantic-ara@scbwi.org or Dionna at midatlantichighlighter@gmail.com.