High School Battle of the Books 2026-2027

NCSLMA's High School Battle of the Books list for the 2026-2027 school year

Updated March 18, 2026
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I survived the sinking of the Titanic, 1912
Ball, Georgia
Paper Book
A thrilling graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912, with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Haus Studio. George Calder must be the luckiest kid alive - he and his little sister, Phoebe, are sailing with their aunt on...
Firekeeper's daughter
Boulley, Angeline
Paper Book
An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick! A Printz Medal AND Morris Award Winner! Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.
You & me at the end of the world
Bourne, Brianna
Ebook
Under the same stars
Bray, Libba
Paper Book
Instant New York Times Bestseller * A USA Today Bestseller * An Indie Bestseller * A Good Morning America Book Club Pick * Edgar Award Nominee * Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee * An Audible Best Audiobook of the Year ...
Promise boys
Brooks, Nick
Paper Book
Promise Boys is a blockbuster, dark academia mystery about three teens of color who must investigate their principal's murder to clear their own names. This page-turning thriller is perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Holly Jackson<...
The reappearance of Rachel Price
Jackson, Holly
Paper Book
NOW IN PAPERBACK - THE STUNNING NO.1 BESTSELLING YA THRILLER FROM HOLLY JACKSON, AUTHOR OF NETFLIX'S A GOOD GIRLS GUIDE TO MURDER 'The queen of YA crime Holly Jackson returns with a blisteringly good standalone thriller' - Observer 'An instantly gripping, corkscrew...
The Headmaster's List
De la Cruz, Melissa
Paper Book
One of Us Is Lying meets Gossip Girl in The Headmaster's List, an edge-of-your-seat YA thriller about a fatal car crash and the dangerous lengths one teen will go to uncover the truth about what really happened. Friday night. The party of the summer....
Better than the movies
Painter, Lynn
Paper Book
A USA TODAY and New York Times bestseller Perfect for fans of Kasie West and Jenn Bennett, this "sweet and funny" (Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks) teen rom-com follows a hopelessly romantic teen girl and her cute yet obnoxious neighbor as they...
The field guide to the North American teenager
Philippe, Ben
Ebook
Surprises await a clever Black French Canadian teen when he's forced to attend high school in Austin, Texas, in this hilarious contemporary YA novel. William C. Morris YA Debut Award Winner! "A witty debut with whip-smart dialogue that will find much love...
Brownstone
Teer, Samuel
Paper Book
An Indie Next List Selection! A Harvey Award Nominee! "Angsty. Awkward. With a scrappy heart of gold, Brownstone is a must-read for anyone who's ever felt totally out of place." --Gabby Rivera, bestselling author of Juliet Takes a Breath An exciting teen coming...
Where wolves don't die
Treuer, Anton
Paper Book
Tightly woven Indigenous YA thriller that explores masculinity and love between generations of family Ezra Cloud hates living in Northeast Minneapolis. His father is a professor of their language, Ojibwe, at a local college, so they have to be there. But Ezra hates the dirty,...
Dragon hoops
Yang, Gene Luen
Paper Book
In his latest graphic novel, Dragon Hoops, New York Times bestselling author Gene Luen Yang turns the spotlight on his life, his family, and the high school where he teaches. Gene understands stories--comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills....
Iron widow
Zhao, Xiran Jay
Paper Book
The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant robots that battle aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China, no matter that the girls die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male...

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