The 2025 In the Margins Book Awards have been announced, and this year’s selections continue to amplify the voices of youth who are often unheard in mainstream publishing. Each book on this year’s list embodies resilience, authenticity, and the unfiltered realities faced by marginalized young people.
This year’s top fiction title, The Accomplice by Curtis Jackson with Philip Clark, is a gripping novel that delves into themes of loyalty, survival, and the cost of choices in communities impacted by systemic challenges. On the nonfiction side, Nephew by MK Asante offers a deeply personal and powerful reflection on family, violence, and healing, written as letters to a nephew fighting for his life. These books, along with the full ITM list, provide critical representation and narratives that resonate with system-impacted youth, educators, and librarians seeking books that reflect real-world struggles and triumphs.
At In the Margins, we recognize the power of literature to inspire and validate young readers who often do not see themselves in books. This year’s selections remind us why it is so important to curate stories that speak truth to power and offer young people a sense of agency and hope.
Explore the full list of honorees here and consider how these books can support the youth in your community. Let us know which titles resonate with you and how you are using them in classrooms, libraries, or programs.
What book has spoken to you the most this year? Join the conversation in the comments or on social media using #ITMBookAwards2025.
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