• Ages 13-19 are eligible to nominate and vote in the award selections.

• Eligible titles must have been published in 2024 or 2025.

• There is no limit to the number of books that are allowed to be nominated. When the initial voting ends, each category will be narrowed down to five finalists.

• If a book is chosen as a finalist, the author or publisher will be contacted requesting complimentary electronic copies of each book that can be shared with the finalist committee.

 

Nominations are accepted August 15-September 30

Finalists Announced October 5

Final voting opens October 15 - December 1

 

The Teen Readers’ Choice Awards winners will be announced at the Operation Literacy Gala in Salt Lake City on February 27, 2026 in conjunction with StoryCon.

 

All finalists will receive one complimentary ticket with premier guest seating to attend the awards gala. It will also be broadcast live if finalists are unable to attend. Additional tickets to the gala may be purchased by individual or by table and include dinner and a program honoring winning authors and recognizing unique accomplishments from some of our teen writers each year. 

 

Each finalist will each receive:

• A complimentary ticket to the in-person gala event and VIP reception.

• One digital award file for placement on a book cover or website.

• For each category, one winner and two finalists will receive an award trophy

 

In addition, each 1st place category winner will receive:​

• Interview inclusion in our online classroom with a bonus expert-created book guide for access by hundreds of schools, teachers, and librarians.

• Author promotion in a special edition of the StoryCon newsletter, sent to over 10,000 teen readers.