Ohioana Library Association

Congratulations to Juliet Del Rio!

Juliet is the winner of the 2026 Ohioana Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant! Established in honor of Ohioana Library’s second director, Walter Rumsey Marvin, the grant is a $1,000 award given annually to an Ohio writer 30 years of age or younger (as of January 31) who has not yet published a book. The grant will be presented at the 85th annual Ohio Book Awards on October 15 (registration link coming soon).

Juliet holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Drexel University, teaches college composition, and works as a content strategist at a creative marketing agency. Her fiction was shortlisted for the 2023 Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction, and her children's play received a 2020 Story Medicine grant from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is also a trained master gardener.

Learn more about Juliet and all of the 2026 winners: https://www.ohioana.org/programs/ohio-book-awards/

The Ohioana Library is pleased to announce the winners of the 85th annual Ohio Book Awards. First given in 1942, the awards are the second oldest state literary prizes in the nation and honor outstanding works by Ohio authors and illustrators in six categories: Fiction, Poetry, Juvenile Literature, Middle Grade Literature, Young Adult Literature, and Nonfiction. The seventh category, Book About Ohio or an Ohioan, may include books by non-Ohio authors.

About Ohio/An Ohioan:
John U. Bacon. The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. New York, NY: Liveright Publishing, 2025.

Fiction:
Patrick Ryan. Buckeye. New York, NY: Penguin Random House, 2025.

Juvenile:
Jashar Awan. Every Monday Mabel. New York, NY: SimonKIDS, 2025.

Middle Grade
Rosalyn Ransaw. Smoke & Mirrors. New York, NY: Amulet Books, 2025.

Nonfiction
John Green. Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection. New York, NY: Crash Course Books, 2025.

Poetry:
Arah Ko. Brine Orchid: Poems. Portland, OR: YesYes Books, 2025.

Young Adult:
Mindy McGinnis. How Girls are Made. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2025.

Readers’ Choice:
Marty Ross-Dolen. Always There, Always Gone: A Daughter's Search for Truth. Berkeley, CA: She Writes Press, 2025.

The 2026 Ohio Book Awards will take place online on Zoom, on Thursday, October 15 at 7:00pm, and is free to attend. Details to come! https://www.ohioana.org/programs/ohio-book-awards/

Congratulations to all of our winners!

On August 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM, join us for a special tribute to the incredible works of Toni Morrison, in celebration of Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison . In partnership with Ohio Poetry Association , we'll dive into Morrison's powerful poetry and discuss the impact of her words on literature and society. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow poets and honor a literary legend. There will be an Open Mic following this event!

Registration closes on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 5 p.m. EDT. The Zoom link and any handouts will be sent to registrants at that time.

Register here for this free event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-the-poetry-of-toni-morrison-virtual-event-tickets-1981814479457?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

for more information, visit OPC online: https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/events

IN CASE YOU READ THIS by Edward Underhill is a 2026 Ohio Book Award Finalist, in the Young Adult Literature category!

Arden isn’t excited about moving. Los Angeles was an easy place to fit in and find a supportive q***r community. But Winifred, Michigan? That sounds like a much more difficult place to exist.

Pasadena, California, is the perfect city for Gabe’s reinvention. Everyone knew everything about him in small-town Shelby, Illinois. Gabe, who wants to be out and proud, can’t wait to relocate.

When Arden and Gabe randomly meet in the lobby of a motel in Nebraska, it feels like fate. Both are trans, but more importantly, both are huge fans of the band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. Clearly, the universe is trying to tell them something. Right?

But after an incredible evening of hanging out, the pair part ways only knowing the other’s first name. And as both boys struggle to adjust to their new homes, their thoughts keep being drawn back to their time together. Is one perfect night enough to bring Arden and Gabe back to each other, or will the boys need some help to find each other again?

Edward Underhill grew up in the suburbs of Wisconsin, where he could not walk to anything, so he had to make up his own adventures. He studied music in college at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio , spent several years living in very small apartments in New York, and currently resides in California with his partner and a talkative black cat. He is the author of THE IN-BETWEEN BOOKSTORE as well the YA novels ALWAYS THE ALMOST, THIS DAY CHANGES EVERYTHING, AND IN CASE YOU READ THIS. His books have earned starred reviews, been named Indie Next and ALA Rainbow List selections and LibraryReads Top 10 picks, and been included on numerous “best of the year” lists, including from YALSA, School Library Journal, and Booklist.

SHE WAITS FOR YOU BEYOND THE DARK by Kristen Simmons is a 2026 Ohio Book Award Finalist, in the Young Adult Literature category!

It’s been one month since Ian’s reunited friends escaped the hellish game of Meido and saved him (in Simmons first Death Games novel, FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD). The survivors may have sealed the gate to the world of the dead shut and destroyed Empress Izanami, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still reeling over the challenges they endured. Trying to relax back in the world of the living, they take solace in the fact that they rescued Ian from the nightmare that tried to steal him away. But there’s just one problem―Ian didn’t come home alone.

The empress―now possessing Ian's heart―hitched a ride into their world and the only way to free Ian from her grasp is to find three artifacts for her, sacred objects which have been hidden across many realms. Unwilling to leave Ian behind a second time, his friends dive into a new deadly game, with terrifying challenges that not only test their mettle, but demand sacrifices―including their very lives.

If they don’t retrieve the empress’s artifacts, Ian will be lost forever, but if they do, it could be the end of their world as they know it.

Kristen Simmons is the critically-acclaimed young adult author of over twenty novels. Her work has received star reviews, librarian recognitions, and been short-listed for the Edgar, Anthony, and Bram Stoker Awards for horror and mystery. Several of her titles are included in junior high and high school reading curricula, and are used in reluctant reader programs nationwide. Kristen’s writing is inspired by her work with trauma survivors as a mental health therapist. She currently lives with her husband and son in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she spins stories, herds a small pack of semi-wild dogs, and teaches Jazzercise.

FALSE PROMISES: THE STRUGGLE FOR BLACK VOTING RIGHTS IN 1800S OHIO by Ric S. Sheffield is a 2026 Ohio Book Award Finalist, in our Book About Ohio or an Ohioan category!

In FALSE PROMISES, the fight for Black voting rights in Ohio comes alive through narratives of men of color who defied the state’s nineteenth-century restrictions on suffrage. Though ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment ostensibly extended the franchise, state election laws still forced men of color into a perilous struggle for full citizenship. Ric S. Sheffield depicts their courage and determination, revealing their humanity through stories of sacrifice, resistance, and hope.

Drawing on Saidiya Hartman’s concept of critical fabulation, Sheffield weaves together historical records with imaginative reconstructions of dialogue, setting, and descriptive elements beyond the dusty courthouse pages. Grounded in archival evidence yet reimagined to fill in the silences, these stories recount the lived experiences of those who risked everything to exercise their right to vote.

FALSE PROMISES also connects these historical battles to the present, illustrating how voter-suppression tactics in today’s Ohio have roots in the racial exclusions of the nineteenth century. By exposing the enduring legacy of white supremacist policies, the book challenges the widespread misconception that racial disenfranchisement was solely a southern problem. Ohio’s complex racial history—noted for its role in the Underground Railroad but also for its repressive Black Laws—also includes a fierce and ongoing struggle over the right to vote. Through compelling storytelling, historical analysis, and a reclamation of voices lost to history, FALSE PROMISES urges readers to reconsider their understanding of democracy and the right to vote.

Ric S. Sheffield is a professor emeritus of legal studies and sociology at Kenyon College. In addition to publishing articles, reviews, and book chapters on African American social and legal history, he is the author of WE GOT BY: A BLACK FAMILY'S JOURNEY IN THE HEARTLAND.

THE CRIMSON THRONE by Ohioan Sara Beth Raasch and Beth Revis is a 2026 Ohio Book Award Finalist, in the Young Adult Literature category!

Samson Calthorpe's curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he's picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen's own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.

As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley…and their undeniable pull towards each other.

Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still c**k concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures.

She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of multiple books for teens, including the historical romantasy duology WITCH AND HUNTER, cowritten with Beth Revis; as well as romances for adults, such as THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMAS and THE ENTANGLEMENT OF RIVAL WIZARDS.Raised and currently living in Ohio, she graduated from Wright State.

BANNED TOGETHER: OUR FIGHT FOR READERS' RIGHTS, edited by
Ashley Hope Pérez, is a 2026 Ohio Book Award Finalist, in the Young Adult Literature category!

Books are disappearing from shelves across the country. What does this mean for authors, illustrators, and—most crucially—for young readers?

This bold collection of fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and other genres explores book bans through various lenses, and empowers teens to fight back. From moving personal accounts to clever comebacks aimed at censorship, fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators confront the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens. Striking illustrations from Ignatz-nominated artist Debbie Fong pair perfectly with the searing, impactful narrative. Resources include tips from the Vandegrift Banned Book Club and other teen activists, as well as extensive recommended book lists, a How to Start Your Own Little Free Library flier, and more.

Ashley Hope Pérez grew up in Texas and is the author of three award-winning novels for young adults, including OUT OF DARKNESS, which received a Printz Honor and the Tomás Rivera Book Award—and was one of the top ten most banned books of 2021. Ashley is a former high school teacher and an assistant professor of world literatures at The Ohio State University. In 2023, Ashley was a part of PEN America’s lawsuit against Escambia County, Florida. She lives in Columbus with her two sons; find her online at www.ashleyperez.com.

HOW GIRLS ARE MADE by Mindy McGinnis is a 2026 Ohio Book Award Finalist, in the Young Adult Literature category!

Fallon is a fixer. From planning prom to organizing her college applications, she’s got it all figured out…except for when her younger sister comes to her with very basic questions about s*x. Shocked that she knows so little—and her fellow classmates even less—Fallon decides some practical education is in order. And Fallon isn’t above practicing a little civil disobedience by creating a secret underground off-campus group.

Shelby is a fighter. Having her nose broken is nothing new in her semiprofessional career…but this time it’s her boyfriend who threw the punch. Now her phone is blowing up with texts from a new guy who tells her she’s perfect, she’s special, she’s everything he’s ever wanted…except for a few small details. Shelby’s happy to adjust for him, because isn’t that what a healthy relationship is about?

Jobie is a failure. She doesn’t have enough followers and her posts never go viral, no matter how hard she crushes challenges and applies exactly the right filter. But a friendly DM from a good girl just like her points her in the direction of a whole new audience of admirers. Guys who just want to talk. Guys who give her the attention she’s always wanted.

The lives of all three girls intersect in Fallon’s secret class, rumors of which have parents up in arms. Fallon needs to keep herself anonymous, Shelby needs to keep her new boyfriend happy, and Jobie needs to keep her followers…who keep asking for more. Each girl finds herself trapped in an inescapable situation—that will leave one of them dead.

Mindy McGinnis is the author of several young adult novels, including UNDER THIS RED ROCK, A LONG STRETCH OF BAD DAYS, THE LAST LAUGH, THE INITIAL INSULT, HEROINE, THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES, and A MADNESS SO DISCREET, winner of an Edgar Award. While her settings may change, you can always count on her books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us. Mindy lives in Ohio. You can visit her online at mindymcginnis.com.

THE ATLAS OF LANGUAGES: WORDS AROUND THE WORLD, written by Rachel Lancashire and illustrated by Ohioan Jenny Zemanek, is a 2026 Ohio Book Award Finalist, in the Middle Grade Literature category!

A beautifully illustrated overview of the history of languages around the world, filled with maps, sidebars, and unusual facts that will satisfy curious kids.

Where did the word "banana" originate? What is the world's most secret language? Which word is universally understood?

This book answers all these questions and more, taking the reader on a journey across the globe to explore the complexity, beauty, and variety of languages.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Jenny Zemanek is a lifelong lover of all things creative. What started with happy scribbles at a young age grew into a pursuit of photography and graphic design before she found a home with illustration and hand-lettering. Jenny revels in the joys of small decorative details and finding ways to add personality to her work. She also illustrated the 2024 Midwest Book Award winner, MIDDLE SCHOOL IS NO PLACE FOR MAGIC.