Three debut novels made the longlist: Vesper Stamper’s illustrated “What the Night Sings” and two written in verse — Elizabeth Acevedo’s "The Poet X" and Joy McCullough's "Blood Water Paint.” The National Book Foundation has honored young people's literature in verse before, most notably Jacqueline Woodson's memoir "Brown Girl Dreaming," which won the 2014 prize.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 12, 2018 14:15 UTC