We’re shaking things up with this episode: rather than highlight a specific title or genre, we’re taking a closer look at one of very few literary awards given with the reader in mind. Every January, the American Library Association holds its Youth Media Awards, which include eighteen individual awards: fifteen awards for excellence in writing for youth, two for lifetime achievement in writing and supporting children’s literature, and lastly, one special award that considers the readers of books and what works for them, rather than awarding the merit of the creator.

The Alex Awards, which were first handed out in 1998, celebrate novels written for adults but that have “special appeal” for readers ages 12-18. The Alex Awards are named annually by a committee of the Young Adult Library Services Association, and the 2021 winners were recently announced. So why do the Alex Awards matter? What is their purpose, and how can we as librarians and as readers use these winners (and nominees) to navigate the immense amount of books published every year? In addition to discussing the history of the Alex Awards and their use in librarianship, we talk about our favorite winners and nominees, and we throw out some suggestions (just in case YALSA is listening!) of possible retrospective Alex Award winners.