On the morning of November 18, book-loving middle schoolers—all participants in the library’s Mock Newbery Committee—rode the 2 train to Symphony Space in Manhattan to hear the finalists for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature read from their work and answer questions (some from our students!). Afterwards, they lined up to have books signed and personally inscribed to them by finalist author Daniel Nayeri. Nayeri’s book, The Teacher of Nomad Land, is part of our Mock Newbery slate of contenders—and went on to win the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature the following day. Excitement reigns!
