The National Book Foundation has announced the 2024 National Book Award finalists. Here are the SLJ reviews of the finalists for the Young People's Literature Award.

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. ISBN 9780593624814.

Gr 3-7–An important middle grade novel about a family reunion, as well as the histories of the Indian residential schools that were set up across the U.S. and Canada. Summer, 12, and her little brother Sage have traveled from their home in Arizona to visit their grandparents in Canada. Summer’s mother is Cree and her father is Apache Indian. Upon arrival at Kokom and Mosom’s (her grandma and grandpa) home, Summer is reunited with beloved family members including her favorite cousin Autumn. While on her travels, Summer has been dreaming about Buffalo Dreamer, a girl who is running to escape the horrors of residential school. Summer is puzzled and ponders their relevance to the excavation that is currently happening at the site of the old residential school that her grandfather attended as a child. When unmarked children’s graves are unearthed at the site, it devastates Summer while leading to more people in her life opening up about their experiences at these traumatic institutions. Based on Duncan’s family history, this novel balances an exploration of painful events with idyllic scenes of intergenerational love and connection. Beautiful descriptions of traditional Native American culture and dress make scenes vivid for readers as Summer’s family rides horses, picks berries, prepares meals, and shares stories, even ones that have remained unspoken. VERDICT A powerful addition to all middle grade library shelves highlighting a time in history that has been hidden and often forgotten in both Canada and the U.S.–Tracy Cronce

The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky by Josh Galarza. Henry Holt and Company (BYR)/Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 9781250907714.

Review to come.

The First State of ­Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. Greenwillow. ISBN 9780063337312.

Gr 3-5–Kelly returns with another solid middle grade novel exploring themes of time travel and personal responsibility. In 1999, anxiety-ridden 12-year-old Michael, in the throes of prepping for a potential disaster thanks to Y2K, happens upon a teen named Ridge, who is strangely dressed and speaks in unfamiliar phrases. Ridge has traveled back in time from 2199 thanks to his mother’s scientific work and a dare from his siblings. Although the opportunity to know any and all future outcomes is irresistible to Michael, he understands he must help Ridge get home. Small bumps in logic and pacing are this story’s only issues. The loss of a kindly mentor throws a wrench into the rhythm, with the urgency of Ridge’s return set aside for a stretch that feels longer than the number of pages it takes to read. However, Kelly has deftly assembled a community of empathetically rendered characters, making this an enjoyable, uplifting reading experience. The elements of sci-fi will be enough to sate fans of the genre while remaining approachable for all audiences. VERDICT A lovable cast buoys this time travel drama by one of the most reliable authors in children’s literature.–Alexandra Quay

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi. G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House. ISBN 9780593699263.

 Gr 5 Up–Stuck between his Syrian heritage and his American citizenship, a boy looks for meaning in this powerful novel in verse. It’s the end of 2016’s summer, and huge Chicago Bears fan Kareem has lost the chance to play quarterback for the school team. When the coach’s son and reigning bully strikes a sketchy deal with him, Kareem is stuck lying and cheating in hopes of securing a spot during spring training. His parents welcome a new Syrian family into their community and start pushing for a friendship between their son and Kareem, and it becomes apparent how reluctant he is to embrace where he comes from. His mom travels to Syria to aid her ailing parents but is prevented from returning by the executive order known as the “Muslim Ban,” upending their household and leaving Kareem feeling even more lost. Kareem finds meaning in fighting against prejudice and ignorance; however, he’ll have to look inward to straighten his own moral compass. This novel seamlessly merges all-American football and NFL terms with Arabic language and Syrian culture. The nonlinear text makes the story dynamic and engaging, drawing readers in from page one. Safadi weaves a story of identity, growing up, standing up for what’s right, and boyhood. VERDICT A first purchase for middle school libraries, especially where fresh approaches to sports fiction are in high demand.–Carol Youssif

The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shanté. Page Street YA. ISBN 9798890039538.

Gr 9 Up–Shanté chronicles coming of age in 1990s New York City in her poetry memoir and ode to Black women and girls. Through sharing pivotal memories of growing up among her father’s family in Brooklyn and mother’s in the Bronx, she reveals lessons from The Talk(s) she received from them and shuttles readers between themes of survival, freedom, and innocence lost. Composed of free verse, haiku, and prose that is presented like entries in an otherwise unwritten Black culture dictionary, the memoir is divided into three parts. Each part skillfully addresses the labels, stereotypes, and tropes placed and forced onto Black girls and the work it takes to defy or undo them. While she offers direct advice “for Black girls,” Shanté does not neglect Black boys and men in her musings. Footnotes composed of must-read, must-watch, and must-listen recommendations, together with valuable resources, truthful asides, and hard facts, follow nearly every piece, but do not distract. Instead, they act as a perfectly curated instructional guide to Black culture, Black history, and the author herself. Shanté adeptly addresses racism, implicit bias, gender, sexuality, sexual violence, and mental health, encouraging readers to care for themselves, think, research, and act. VERDICT Strongly recommended for all young adult collections.–Alicia Rogers