Category: Middle Grade Novel

Nominations:

The No-Brainer’s Guide to Decomposition (HarperCollins Children’s Books), Middle Grade Novel, 2024

BIO: Adrianna Cuevas is the author of the Pura Belpre honor book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez,the Edgar Award winning The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto, and many other popular middle grade titles. She is a first-generation Cuban-American originally from Miami, Florida. A former Spanish and ESOL teacher, Adrianna currently resides outside of Austin, Texas with her husband and son. When not substitute teaching at her local high school, cheering for the Florida Panthers hockey team, and setting off the smoke alarm in her kitchen, she is writing her next middle grade novel.

Nominations:

The Curse of Eelgrass Bog (Razorbill), Middle Grade Novel, 2024

BIO: Mary Averling grew up across England and Canada, never far from the woods. She has degrees from the University of Victoria and Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. Her debut, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, was a Junior Library Gold Standard Selection, an ALA Rainbow List Pick, and one of BookPage’s Top 10 Books of 2024. Since she can’t stay away from libraries for very long, she is currently working toward her PhD in Ontario, where she lives surrounded by all the magical, spooky, heartfelt books she can find.

Nominations:

What Stays Buried (HarperCollins), Middle Grade Novel, 2023

BIO: Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Program series. Originally from New York, Suzanne is a dual US and Italian citizen currently living in Italy. She has published more than 20 novels, including GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS, IN NIGHTFALL, and the Bram Stoker Nominated WHAT STAYS BURIED – her debut middle grade book. When not writing, Suzanne is the founder of Writing in Italy, an author retreat and tour company. Follow Suzanne and her three photogenic dogs on Instagram at @authorsuzanneyoung. 

Nominations:

Frances and the Werewolves of the Black Forest (HarperCollins), Middle Grade Novel, 2023

BIO: Refe Tuma is the author of the critically-acclaimed Frances Stenzel series, including Frances and the Werewolves of the Black Forest, nominated for the 2023 Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel. Refe is also the co-creator of Dinovember and the What the Dinosaurs Did picture book series, including What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night, named a Best Children’s Book of the Year with Honors by Bank Street College. Since 2013, his Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominated short stories and essays have appeared in all sorts of places, from wonderfully obscure literary journals to the New York Times. He lives with his family, his dog Boris, and cats Pablo and Nico in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Oh, and it’s pronounced ‘reef.’

Nominations:

Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman (Kokila), Middle Grade Novel, 2023

BIO: Diana López is the author of several middle grade books including Confetti Girl, Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel, and Lucky Luna, and of the picture book biography, Sing With Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla, about the famous Tejano music star. Her latest publication, Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman, is the first in a series. A retired educator, she often mentors new writers and is currently serving as the president of the Texas Institute of Letters. She lives in Corpus Christi, Texas where she frequently hears tales of ghost women haunting rivers, dancing devils with chicken feet, and half-human, half-owl creatures known as lechuzas. To learn more about her visit www.dianalopezbooks.com.