The anticipation has reached a fever pitch. Today is now my first official day on duty as chairperson for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award committee. I couldn’t be more eager to start. This will be my fourth committee and first as chair. Luckily, the wisdom and leadership that the chairs of the previous committees I’ve served on will serve me well.

I’m anxious for the challenge ahead. I’m excited to get to know each member of the committee. I’m pumped to put my organizational skills to good use. I’m eager to read fabulous YA nonfiction all year. I’m nervous to do the best job to serve YALSA, ALA, and the committee.

And as the year unfolds, there will be plenty of Zoom meetings, emails and spreadsheets, Post-its, stacks of books, but the reward comes as the Youth Media Awards near when we narrow down the reading to five finalists before we name one Excellence in Nonfiction winner.