Each year Illinois students in grades 9-12 can vote for their favorite book from the Lincoln Award Master list of 20 titles. The Lincoln Award is given to the book that earns the highest number of student votes.

For a book to reach the master list, adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction titles must be nominated by teachers or librarians and vetted by the nominations committee. While the popularity of a particular title is important, the overall quality of the work is of primary importance. Each year, a panel of high school librarians, teachers, public librarians and students determines the final master list of twenty titles.

Check out the 2026 Abe Lincoln nominees and read one or all of these great books!  https://bfs.swanlibraries.net/MyAccount/MyList/74664

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

Plan A by Deb Caletti

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell

Rez Ball by Byron Graves

A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome Farrar by Ariel Henley

Shut Up, This is Serious by Carolina Ixta

This is My America by Kim Johnson

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kristen Miller

Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story by Sarah Myer

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyan Pham