10 Great Books to Read for Your Next Virtual Book Club

What is the Newbery Medal?

The Newberry Medal is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children on a yearly basis. The American Library Association (ALA) gave the very first Newbery Medal to Hendrik Willem van Loon, author of "The Story of Mankind," in 1922.

This honor, named after John Newbery, an English children's book publisher, ultimately became the world's first children's book award.

Since its inception, the Newbery Medal has been awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children. Numerous revered works have been given this honor, ranging from The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle in 1923 to Summer of the Swans in 1971 and The Tale of Despereaux in 2004.

Who won the 2025 Newbery Medal?

The honor was given to The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. The book, which came out on March 5, 2024, is set in 1999 and follows a 12-year-old boy named Michael Rosario, who is consumed by anxiety as he prepares for a potential Y2K disaster.

Then, one day, Michael encounters a teenager named Ridge, who stands out with his unusual clothing and strange way of speaking. It turns out that Ridge traveled back in time from the year 2199 with the help of his mom's scientific experiments following a dare from his siblings.

Michael is tempted by the opportunity to find out about the future. However, he realizes that his priority is helping Ridge return to his own time.

This feat represents Erin Entrada Kelly's second Newbery Medal win. She previously won the honor for the first time in 2018 with her book, Hello, Universe.

Along with this prestigious award, the committee also awarded Newbery Honors to other books deemed attention-worthy. These titles included Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller, One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, and The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy.

While the Newbery Medal is perhaps the most famous children's book award, the ALA also recognizes outstanding literature across a variety of categories. These awards, including the Randolph Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Book Award, the William C. Morris Award, and the Michael L. Printz Award, are determined by committees of children's librarians and other literary experts.

This year, the Randolph Caldecott Medal was presented to Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers and illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz. It's awarded to the most distinguished American picture book for kids.

Twenty-four Seconds from Now... by Jason Reynolds received the Coretta Scott King Book Award, which honors African American authors and illustrators who create exceptional books for both children and young adults. My Daddy Is a Cowboy, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award.

The William C. Morris Award, given to books by debut authors writing for teen audiences, was presented to Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo. Finally, the Michael L. Printz Award, which recognizes excellent works across YA fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and anthologies, was awarded to Brownstone by Samuel Teer and illustrated by Mar Julia.

Order 'The First State of Being' Here!

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

March 2025

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

The Dream Hotel starts off with oppressed women being held against their will and ends with a revolutionary act that dismantles the very system meant to keep them locked away. Readers will meet Sara, the main protagonist, and other women who have been detained by the Risk Assessment Administration for being possible "threats" to society. In her case, she's charged with the fact she might put her husband's life in danger.

As readers can surmise, the rules aren't consistent at the center they're being held and their "sentences" stretch out to the point it's impossible for them to ever leave. But the RAA makes a miscalculation when they bring a new face to the center. Soon, the women they held back will expose them and others.

February 2025

This Is a Love Storyby Jessica Soffer

January 2025 

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

Penn should be excited about advancing her education at the University of Edinburgh, but she can't stop thinking about the secret her parents have been keeping from her. For some reason, she believes she'll uncover it while she's in Scotland because Lord Lennox — her father's friend — is in the area.

Her hunger for the truth leads her to Lord Lennox's estate where she she starts mingling with his family and even discovers love in this moving novel.

Jenna Bush Hager thinks readers will love The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus because "it's a rich novel" with themes of "friendship and motherhood" (via Instagram). It's so good, she's sure "it will sweep you off your feet (via Instagram).

Leighton Meester's kids understand the Hollywood of it all.

While recording a Vogue Beauty Secrets video, Leighton Meester revealed that her kids are pretty used to traveling for her and Adam Brody's work.

“My kids, they get what we do," she says. "They come on location a lot." And while both Leighton and Adam have worked on some pretty big projects (and Leighton just joined Nobody Wants This season 2!), the Gossip Girl actress doesn't "think they're fazed at all."

"They get a lot of us off set and a lot of us not working, which has been always a really big benefit for both of us," she continues.

She also revealed to Brit + Co exclusively that Arlo is pretty helpful in the kitchen. “What I try to do is meal prep as much as I can. Sometimes that doesn't work out for me, but for my kids — I'll make things ahead of time," she says, adding that she's in “one of the luckiest positions that a mom could be.”

“When I was still nursing or my babies were still young, I had plenty of space and time to [be with my kids]," she continues. "And I know most women who are mothers don't have that opportunity at all.”

What has Adam Brody said about his parenting style?

When asked about his parenting style with Leighton Meester, Adam Brody told Today's Hoda & Jenna that he feels like their parenting is the "perfect" balance. "Of course, I’m going to feel like it’s the perfect balance of all of it," he says, adding that they're "very honest."

"We have some very truthful conversations, for better or worse. But other than that, I wouldn’t say overly strict," he continues. "There is a helicopter, you know, to keep them safe. I’m not overly strict but I see the sharp edges, literally...I want to keep those heads maintained."

What has Leighton Meester said about their family traditions?

When it comes to spending time together during the holidays, Leighton also opened up to Brit + Co exclusively about their go-to activities in an interview for her 2023 rom-com EXmas.

"We do a lot of hanging out," Leighton says in our conversation. "It's infuriating to people who live in cold weather but we go to the beach or we go in our pool or jacuzzi. We have snacks by the jacuzzi — we call it jajuterie!" Can I get in on that?

How many children does Leighton Meester have?

Adam Brody and Leighton Meester have two children, a daughter named Arlo, and a son whose name they haven't told us yet.

What are Leighton Meester's kids ages?

Arlo is 9 years old and was born on August 4, 2015. Leighton Meester and Adam Brody's son was born in 2020 and is 4 years old.

How old was Leighton Meester when she had her first child?

Leighton Meester was 27 years old when she had Arlo in 2015.