As book banning has ramped up and terrible regulations slipped through a legal loophole in my state meaning that 11 books have been banned statewide in school libraries, I have become even more passionate about doing whatever I can to support wide access to literature for all my students and all SC students. After a conversation with our fantastic media specialist (school librarian), I learned that the lists would likely come out at the end of January or beginning of February and that, if I wanted, I could serve on one of the selection committees in I wanted. I learned that these committees have a majority school librarians but can also include teachers, administrators, parents and students. Yes, I definitely applied but that’s not for this current yearly project.
I then started checking the official website and their Facebook to see the list as soon as they released it. I had success the next day, the last Tuesday of January.
When I watched the video (the first and only thing they released that day) I found the results a bit surprising. In contrast to last year’s YA list, I had read only four of the 20 as opposed to eight last year. This is likely because last year’s list included far more fantasy and apart from the SCASL list, I tend to not read much non-speculative YA of the YA books that I do read. (My stats show that YA is the age range I read the least of between middle grade, YA, and adult.) Of the middle grade list, like last year, I had read just two, although I have had a few of the other books on previous optional TBRs and not gotten to them.
I plan to read at least 2 or 3 of these each month as a minimum until I finish both lists. I will save my reviews of these books for separate posts although I have not yet decided how many books I will include in each one. After I give the statistics, I will give a few final thoughts about the lists so that I can compare my initial thoughts to what I think after reading all the entries.
- 2 read prior to release of the list
- 2 more in my owned tbr
- 2 more accessible as ARCs on libro.fm
- 3 graphic novels
- 8 BIPOC
- 2 other representation – neurodivergent, ED
- 3 written in verse
- 2 non-fiction
- 2 historical
- 16 contemporary
While I completely agree with the concept that most students at this age prefer more realistic settings and also acknowledge the fact that many at the younger end of the age spectrum likely do not yet have the capability of abstract thinking, I think that having 16 of the 20 entries as contemporary with no even vaguely speculative genres a bit too much. Thankfully though, at initial glance, this appears to be the only criticism I have about the choices.
I really appreciate that this list includes graphic novels. I do not remember specifically if the list has included graphic novels before but I think that they need to include them because so many of middle schoolers are reluctant readers.
- 4 read prior to release of the list
- 1 in my owned tbr
- 1 graphic novel
- 1 written in verse
- 12 BIPOC
- 2 with other representation – bipolar, deaf
- 3 LGBTQIA+
- 2 nonfiction
- 2 historical
- 4 fantasy (1 magical realism, 1 myth retelling)
- 2 science fiction
- 3 romance (one fantasy romance)
- 3 mystery/thriller
- 3 contemporary
When it comes to the YA list, I really appreciate the range of genre and representation presented. I also love the fact that yet another top ten read for me, Warrior Girl Unearthed, has made the list. We will see what the quality of the books reveals after I read them and hopefully more of them are like Promise Boys and Warrior Girl Unearthed than Come Home Safe and House of Marionne.