🤩 Among The Stars: October Update
- Jennifer LaGarde
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
It's that time again. For the moment, anyway, our curated starred review spreadsheet is up to date, y'all.
As a reminder, Martha Hickson and I curate and collate the starred reviews from six trade journals:
We realize, of course, that other sites/blogs award stars, too... but these are the journals we've chosen to focus on.
You May Have Noticed...
I can't keep up, y'all! While Martha has managed to add updates to our spreadsheet on a regular basis, I'm finding it challenging to carve out the time. This happens every year, though not at particular intervals, so I shouldn't be surprised. Still... it's frustrating, if only to me! That said, thank you for being patient with me. Every time I login, I see dozens of anonymous Google-assigned animals perusing the columns and rows, so I know you rely on this resource - which serves as motivation for me to get my act together and record the data I'm responsible for!
The Stars So Far!
Long time followers of this work will remember that this is the time of year when Martha and I do a lot of toggling as journals start publishing reviews for books that won't be published until the next calendar year. This means that for the next couple of months, at least I'll be sharing data from both the 2025 and 2026 tabs. With that in mind, here's the current distribution of 2025 stars so far:
You can take a closer look at all the spreadsheet related data I'm collecting by checking out the tab labeled "statistics" at the bottom of the spreadsheet.
What's On My Radar?
Since my last update, the National Book Award Committee has announced both its long-list for 2025 and the finalists. I anticipate these announcements every year, because the NBA committee always manages to surprise me! And this year is no exception! And, as usual, I decided to do a little digging to see how many stars each of this year's finalists earned. As always, I want to add a giant caveat to these kinds of comparisons: not only do thousands and thousands of incredible books go unreviewed each year, but like any review, starred ones are to some degree subjective. One of the big reasons I curate this info is because I love books and I love data - so combining the two is an exceptionally joyful experience for me. Still, even I recognize that a starred review is but one data point in any book's story... so take all of this with the proverbial grain of salt. Happy reading, y'all!
A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff
Why might this book be an NBA finalist? Well, putting aside that Kyle Lukoff is a genius, in A World Worth Saving he weaves together Jewish mythology, vivid fantasy, and a contemporary trans protagonist to create something both bold and intimate. The book stands out for layering identity, politics, faith, and resistance in a way that invites empathy and celebration of difference. In the best way, it reminds me of how I felt about Too Bright To See, Lukoff's 2021 Newbery Honor Winner: it is the kind of story that feels both timely and timeless. That rich layering plus the emotional stakes for young people navigating identity likely helped it land a finalist spot.
The Leaving Room by Amber McBride
Is there anything Amber McBride can't write? I'm guessing the answer is no! Gone Wolf, was one of my favorite books of 2023, and in many ways, The Leaving Room reminds me of that book. In this novel in verse, McBride uses a haunting metaphoric space (the “Leaving Room” where young souls transition) to explore grief, memory, queerness, Black life, and love. The tight verse form, emotional resonance, and willingness to move through big themes gently but firmly make it stand out for young readers and librarians alike. This is a total aside, but I'm in love with the cover for this one, which was designed by Rich Deas. Chef's kiss!
The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri
Just when I think I have a handle on the kind of writer Daniel Nayeri is, he manages to surprise me! In The Teacher of Nomad Land, readers are dropped into the lives of Babak and his younger sister, Roza, two Iranian kids who must find a way to survive after their father becomes a casualty of World War Two. Finding a home with the Bakhtiari nomads, Babak searches for a way to honor his father, heal his homeland, and unite cultures. It is a heavy burden for such a young protagonist. Still, what makes this story stand out is the mix of adventure, humor, and heart. You can feel the dust of the trails and the weight of every choice these kids have to make. It is tender, thoughtful, and full of moments that help readers see a thoroughly examined period in history through a woefully underexplored lens, which I'm guessing helped it rise to the top for National Book Award judges.
Truth Is by Hannah V Sawyerr
This novel in verse follows a seventeen-year-old poet dealing with unintended pregnancy, abortion, and the hard work of finding her voice through slam poetry. The combination of urgent contemporary social themes and a poetic structure already makes it a standout. But what really pulls this book into the spotlight right now is how directly it speaks to the current political moment. With reproductive rights restricted in many states, and teens often caught in the middle of policies that ignore their realities, this story offers a powerful counterweight. It centers the lived experience of a Black teen navigating choices that are both deeply personal and at the heart of many public debates. I am not at all surprised it is one of this year's finalists.
(S)kin by Ibi Zoboi
In this contemporary fantasy in verse, set in Brooklyn, Zoboi uses the supernatural to explore issues of identity, colorism and immigration. The story follows fifteen year old Marisol, the daughter of a soucouyant who sheds her skin every new moon, and seventeen year old Genevieve, a girl wrestling with a mysterious hunger and an estranged mother. When a secret links their families, the girls begin to uncover the magic and danger layered into their histories and into the very skins they inhabit. In what I think is one of the best books of the year, Zoboi uses the metaphor of skin as a conduit for exploring tough, but necessary, topics which solidifies its place among an especially powerful group of finalists this year.
What Did I Miss?
As you might imagine, this project takes a lot of time and it's easy to make mistakes. Martha and I appreciate your help as we do our best to make sure the final product is as accurate as possible. Just to be clear, we are not taking notes on misspellings, etc., but If, after at least a month**, you notice that we have missed a starred review from one of the journals we curate, please use this form to let us know.
** Why do we ask you to wait a month? Some reviews appear online before that journal's official issue has been released. Waiting the month helps me avoid duplicating reviews.
