And now, the 2013 National Book Award SHORTlists...

...have been announced.

The Young People's contenders are:

Kathi Appelt, The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp

Cynthia Kadohata, The Thing About Luck

Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

Meg Rosoff, Picture Me Gone

Gene Luen Yang, Boxers & Saints

As of yet, the only one I've read is Far Far Away, which I LOVED. You?

See the full longlist here, and the whole shebang—including all of the other categories—here.

ETA: Oh, and the NBA has offered up free ebooks with excerpts from all of 'em!