The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2026 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Newbery Medal and Honor winners.

John Newbery Medal

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson. Bloomsbury. Feb. 2025. 208p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781547605897.
 Gr 5 Up–Sage is a Black girl living in New York City, and at 13, she’s an age her best friend will never be. Angel was killed in a hit-and-run accident on her way to Sage’s birthday party. Raw, honest emotions mark this novel in verse that explores Sage’s grief. However, she is not alone. Great Aunt Ini and new friends from her counseling group demonstrate how not all experiences with death look the same and how healing is not uniform or linear. “Sometimes you go to sleep crying/ and wake up crying/ and that life after losing someone you love/ feels like one big ocean of sorrow/ and you might feel like you are drowning,/ but always there is something/ to hold on to/ to keep you afloat.” New romantic interests also offer Sage a chance to redefine who she is and provide an escape from the heaviness of her feelings, which are tested as new challenges unfold. Hand to readers looking for a good cry. VERDICT A heartrending story of grief and resilience with a surprising depth despite a brief page count. A recommended first purchase for all collections serving teens and tweens.–Monisha Blair

John Newbery Honors

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser. HarperCollins/Allida. ISBN 9780063284432.
Gr 5 Up–Told in alternating timelines between ancient China and Depression–era New York, the story follows Han Yu, who travels the Silk Road alone when his family falls ill, and Luli, who is desperate to save her family restaurant. A beautiful, moving story about bravery and the power of art.

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila. Roaring Brook. ISBN 9781250342607.
 Gr 4-6–A poignant novel in verse centering the true story of a community who rallied together to protect the right of Mexican children to attend school. Roberto Alvarez is a 12-year-old Mexican American boy, the youngest in his family, and he loves to read and learn. His neighborhood, or colonia, is a loving place that takes care of one another in good times and bad. When Roberto and the other Mexican kids from the colonia are told they are no longer allowed to attend the local school, the adults gather to fight against the segregationist powers to protect the future of their children. Roberto finds himself the face of the movement and hopes that he has what it takes to be a leader for his people and spread change. This well-written story of underexplored history makes a large impact as it follows Roberto’s highs and lows in realizing that the cause that he is fighting so hard for deeply impacts not just the people around him, but others struggling minorities around the country as well. The poetic format eloquently describes the emotions that flow through Roberto while still effectively relaying the facts of the Lemon Tree Incident reported in the back matter. Spanish language and phrases are used heavily throughout the novel; there is no glossary. VERDICT A highly recommended purchase for all libraries looking to expand their historical fiction collections with a novel sure to entrance readers.–Lindsey Morrison

The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri. Levine Querido. ISBN 9781646145669.
Gr 3-7–Babak and Sana’s father devoted his life to teaching others; but after he is claimed as a casualty of World War II, the brother-sister duo must find a way to survive on their own. Babak and Sana embark on a perilous journey across Iran to find the nomadic people their father taught, hoping to find a home among them. Babak vows to honor his father by also teaching, going as far as carrying a blackboard on his back. He quickly realizes the war-torn region is further divided due to language barriers and miscommunication. Initially lacking confidence in his own abilities, Babak slowly finds his conviction to bring people together through teaching languages, strongly proclaiming the importance of education as a tool for communication and forging bonds. Newbery Honor-winner Nayeri highlights Iran during WWII, an often overlooked perspective of the war in a country caught between occupation by the Allied and Axis forces. The artfully detailed setting and strong values depicted through Babak’s endeavor to teach others will leave readers inspired. VERDICT A powerful novel about an often-forgotten region and era that highlights the power of education through shared communication to create bonds.–Kristen Shaw

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316575720.
Gr 5-7–A fantastic tale of loss, discovery, afterlife, and mushrooms. Deadwood Forest is not alive but it’s also not dead, as is the case with its resident Afterlife Usher. Clare is a fox who was spared death so he could become a guide to lost souls trying to pass on to the afterlife. Leading a solitary but meaningful life, Clare has learned to guide wandering spirits and to read the signs of what the eternal life is trying to communicate. Meanwhile, he is the keeper of the forest, a mushroom farmer, and an acquaintance to two trashrats. He does his job well and efficiently, so it’s only when Gingersnips the badger shows up without a clear or easy way to pass on that Clare starts sensing trouble. To make matters worse, the contrasting Fernlight Forest’s usher called Hesterfowl has delivered a premonition about Deadwood Forest, and Clare and Gingersnips will have to put their species’ antagonistic natures to rest to solve the mystery. Told in beautiful prose and with rich imagery, this is a deep story about death, loss, and grief, but also about compassion, finding meaning, and discovering what one really is made of in the face of the strongest adversity. Clare’s painful un-death, the mystery of his missing mother, and Gingersnips’s own tragic family story will grip every reader’s heart. VERDICT An excellent choice for libraries where fantasy is in high demand. Give this book to nature and animal lovers alike.–Carol Youssif