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
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
I survived the sinking of the Titanic, 1912 : the graphic novel
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
Paper Book
This is no ordinary apocalypse... Hannah Ashton wakes up to silence. The entire city around her is empty, except for one other person: Leo Sterling. Leo might be the hottest boy ever (and not just because he's the only one left), but he's also too charming, too selfish, and too much of a...
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
Nick Brooks's Promise Boys is a trailblazing, blockbuster YA mystery about three teen boys of colour who must investigate their principal's murder to clear their own names. For fans of Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, and Karen McManus.The Urban Promise Prep School vows to turn boys into men. As...
Death in the jungle : murder, betrayal, and the lost dream of Jonestown
Fleming, Candace
Paper Book
How did Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple, convince more than 900 of his followers to commit "revolutionary suicide" by drinking cyanide-laced punch? From a master of narrative nonfiction comes a chilling chronicle of one of the most notorious cults in American history. A YALSA...
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 Big Little Lies in Melissa de la Cruz's first YA thriller. Four Los Angeles prep students are at the center of a fatal car crash - and they will go to and the dangerous lengths to bury the truth.One of them was driving.One of them was high.One of them screamed.And one of...
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
Paper Book
William C. Morris YA Debut Award Winner! A hilarious YA contemporary realistic novel about a witty Black French Canadian teen who moves to Austin, Texas, and experiences the joys, clichés, and awkward humiliations of the American high school experience--including falling in...
Salvación
Proudman, Sandra
Paper Book
"A heartfelt, swashbuckling, standout novel." - Kirkus (starred review) In this Latinx YA fantasy inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Peña becomes the masked heroine Salvación in order to save her family and town from a man who would destroy it for the magic it...
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,...
Every time you hear that song
Voris, Jenna
Paper Book
Told in alternating perspectives, Every Time You Hear That Song is a swoonworthy summer road-trip romance, perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins-Reid and Casey McQuiston. Seventeen-year-old aspiring journalist Darren Purchase is looking for a news story to launch her...
Dragon hoops
Yang, Gene Luen
Paper Book
A Michael L. Printz Honor Eisner Award Winner, Best Publication for Teens Listed as a New York Times, Washington Post, Amazon.com, Forbes, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly book of the year. New York Times bestselling author Gene...
Iron widow
Zhao, Xiran Jay
Paper Book
Instant New York Times No.1 Bestseller. A YA Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid's Tale retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. I have no faith in love. Love cannot save me. I choose vengeance. The boys of Huaxia dream of...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.