CCRCE’s TRCA Committee has shortlisted ten books for the 2026 Teen Reader’s Choice Award. Voting will take place from May 18th to May 22nd with the winner being announced on May 27th.

The 2026 finalists are:
Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang
Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough
Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
Joe & the Wreck of the Tribune by Jaqueline Halsey
Looking for Smoke by K. A. Cobell
Refugee: The Graphic Novel by Alan Gratz, Syd Fini (Illustrator)
Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town That Looked Away by Candy J. Cooper
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

The selected titles include a graphic novel adventure story that tackles contemporary issues like gender identity, and climate change; a heartfelt and banter-filled rom-com about childhood sweethearts; a debut thriller filled with raw emotions, life-like characters, and a vivid setting that centers on the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women; an historical fiction novel inspired by the real 18th-century shipwreck off Halifax Harbour; the explosive story of the Kids for Cash scandal in Pennsylvania, a judicial justice miscarriage that sent more than 2,500 children and teens to a for-profit detention center; and much, much more!

Jen Wang author and illustrator of Ash’s Cabin

Jennifer “Jen” Wang (jenwang.net) is an award-winning, bestselling, American cartoonist, writer, and illustrator based in Los Angeles. Wang has published several graphic novels including Stargazing, In Real Life (with Cory Doctorow) and The Prince and the Dressmaker. She is also a co-founder and organizer for Comic Arts LA. Follow her on X and Instagram @wangstagram.

Joy McCullough author of Everything Is Poison

Joy McCullough is a playwright and an American author of young adult fiction. The New York Times bestselling author of many books for children and young adults, she is best known for her verse novel Blood Water Paint. She studied theater at Northwestern University, met her husband while teaching theater in Guatemala, and is a mom to two teenagers. When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, sewing, gardening, crocheting, or snuggling with a dog. Check out her website at joymccullough.com, or follow her on Threads and Instagram as @jmcwrites.

Lynn Painter author of Fake Skating

Lynn Painter is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, The Do-Over, Betting on You, Mr. Wrong Number, The Love Wager, Nothing Like the Movies, and Fake Skating. She lives in Nebraska where she writes romantic comedies for tweens, teens, and adults, and when she isn’t reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms. You can find her at LynnPainter.com, on Instagram @lynnpainterbooks, on X @LAPainter, on TikTok @WesBennettsMom, and on Facebook.

Misty Wilson author of Falling Like Leaves

Misty Wilson (mistywilsonwrites.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of the YA romance Falling Like Leaves and the award-winning middle-grade graphic memoir Play Like a Girl. She is a teacher, registered nurse, and a voracious reader. She loves binge-watching television series and adores rom-coms. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband and their two daughters. Be sure to follow her on Instagram @mistywilsonwrires, TikTok and Bluesky.

Jaqueline Halsey author of Joe & the Wreck of the Tribune

Born in London, England, Jacqueline Halsey currently lives with her husband, Ray, and rescue cat, Piper, in a ninety-year-old house overlooking Halifax Harbour. For many years, she worked as a programmer in the youth services department of Alderney Gate Library, Halifax. She now spends her time renovating her old house, writing, hiking, and enjoying the local beaches. In the summer she is an interpretive guide on historic McNabs Island and takes part in the annual beach clean-ups. You can follow her on Facebook.

K. A. Cobell author of Looking for Smoke

K.A. Cobell (kacobell.com), Staa’tssipisstaakii, is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she spends her time writing books, chasing her kids through the never-ending rain, and scouring the inlet beaches for sand dollars and hermit crabs. Looking for Smoke is her debut novel. Be sure to connect with K.A. on X @KA_Cobell, Instagram @ka_cobell, and TikTok.

Alan Gratz author of Refugee: The Graphic Novel

Alan Gratz (alangratz.com) is an American author best known for writing historical fiction for young readers. His novels often focus on war, refugees, and social justice, showing major historical events through the eyes of children and teenagers. Gratz is known for fast-paced storytelling, emotional impact, and for drawing connections between past and present conflicts. Before becoming a full-time novelist, he worked as an English teacher. Follow Alan on X @AlanGratz and Instagram @alan.gratz.

Syd Fini illustrator of Refugee: The Graphic Novel

Syd Fini (artstation.com/sydfini) is a visual storyteller, illustrator, and storyboard artist originally from Iran. Born during the Iran-Iraq war, Syd spent most of his time indoors, drawing pictures from his favorite movies and animations. Syd, who works in both digital and traditional paper and ink. lives in Brooklyn with his wife, who is a painter and puppet maker. Follow Syd on Instagram and X @sydfini.

Candy J. Cooper author of Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town That Looked Away

Candy J. Cooper is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner of the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting. She has been a staff writer for four newspapers, including The Detroit Free Press and The San Francisco Examiner. Cooper’s writing focuses on social justice, legal and civic issues, and community activism. Through accessible nonfiction, especially for younger readers, she highlights systemic problems and the people directly affected by them. Be sure to check out her website at candyjcooper.com or connect with her on Instagram @candyj.cooper, and Facebook.

Suzanne Collins author of Sunrise on the Reaping

Suzanne Collins is an American author and former television writer, best known for creating The Hunger Games series, one of the most successful young-adult dystopian franchises in modern literature. Collins began her professional writing career in 1991, working on children’s television shows for networks like Nickelodeon and PBS. She moved into writing books in the early 2000s. Her first major work was the Underland Chronicles, a five-book middle-grade fantasy series beginning with Gregor the Overlander. Collins’s breakthrough came with The Hunger Games, the first book in her dystopian trilogy. Collins currently lives in Connecticut with her family. Although not on any social media platforms, further information regarding her life and work can be located on her website suzannecollinsbooks.com.

Ruta Sepetys author of The Bletchley Riddle

Ruta Sepetys (rutasepetys.com) is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Her novels Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, Salt to the Sea, The Fountains of Silence, and I Must Betray You have won or been shortlisted for more than forty book prizes. A Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is passionate about the power of history and literature to foster global awareness and connectivity. She has presented to NATO, to the European Parliament, in the United States Capitol, and at embassies worldwide. Ruta was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow her on X and Instagram @RutaSepetys, and on Facebook.

Steve Sheinkin author of The Bletchley Riddle

Steve Sheinkin (stevesheinkin.com) is an American author known for writing engaging narrative nonfiction for young adults. His books bring history to life by focusing on real people, high-stakes events, and dramatic storytelling, making complex historical topics accessible and exciting for students. Follow him on X @SteveSheinkin and on Facebook.