The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the five finalists for the inaugural William C. Morris Award, which honors a book written by a first-time author for young adults.

The finalists are:

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce YFIC BUN

Graceling by Kristin Cashore YSF CAS

Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne YFIC LEC

Madapple by Christina Meldrum YFIC MEL

Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine YFIC VAL