Finalists in the 27th annual Minnesota Book Awards...

...have been announced.

The Young People's Literature list is:

Ambassador, by William Alexander

Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

West of the Moon, by Margi Preus:

She is, as I've said, perfectly willing to lie, to cheat, and to steal. She's also not just willing, but UNFLINCHING, when it comes to using violence to protect not just herself, but HER STUFF. She's wonderfully contradictory: On one hand, she's a loving girl with empathy for others, but on the other, she doesn't allow that empathy to override her practicality.

The Witch’s Boy, by Kelly Barnhill

Click on through for the full list of categories and other information.