It’s awards season, people! The night of the Oscars is one of the only times of the year when we put down our books for a whole four hours so we can live tweet the entire award show, including the red carpet, of course.
We got to thinking, what if there were Academy Awards for YA books? Well, now there are! Check out our 2017–2018 winners in all of their red carpet glory!
Best Actress
The award for best actress goes to Lada in Now I Rise by Kiersten White. Don’t mess with this warrior princess. She is smart, ruthless, and fierce—all the traits we love in our leading ladies.
Best Actor
The award for best actor goes to Justyce McAllister in Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Justyce is one of those characters who stay with you forever. We admire his strength and bravery, and we need more characters like him in YA.
Best Visual Effects
The award for best visual effects goes to Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller. This novel immerses readers in a virtual reality in which players can indulge any fantasy and live life to the fullest. It paints a terrifying view of the potential future of technology, but it’s an incredibly fun reading adventure.
Best Supporting Actor/Actress
The award for best supporting actor/actress goes to the ensemble cast in Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo. Talk about #SquadGoals. Diana, Princess of the Amazons, teams up with a diverse, complex, and lovable cast to save the day (and the world).
Best Cinematography
The award for best cinematography goes to Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Considering that this book actually did get made into a movie—and an awesome movie, we might add—we thought this one was a no-brainer. There’s nothing like seeing one of your favorite books come to life on screen, especially when it’s so beautifully done!
Best Director
The award for best director, or in this case, best author, goes to Erika L. Sánchez for I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. A National Book Award finalist and instant bestseller, this timely novel tells the story of one girl’s journey to find herself while dealing with family pressure, stereotypes, and the loss of her sister.
Best Picture
The award for best picture, aka book of the year, goes to One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. No surprise here. This is THE book that everyone is talking about, and for good reason. It’s smart and fast-paced, and combines the twists and turns of Pretty Little Liars with the classic setup of The Breakfast Club.
