The Nebula Award
The nominees for this year's award were announced by The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The winner will be announced May 19, 2012. Here's some of the candidates:

 
Akata Witch (Viking) by Nnedi Ikora

 
Chime (Dial) by Franny Billingsley
Young Briony, who can see the spirits that haunt the marshes around her town of Swampsea, believes she is responsible for her twin sister's horrible injury. A handsome young man comes to live with her family and exposes their dark secrets to her.

 
The Boy at the End of the World (Bloomsbury) by Greg van Eekhout

Spellbinder by Helen Stringer (Viking).

 
 Belladonna like other members of her family, is able to see ghosts. Often this causes much embarrassment, but after her parents are killed in a car accident, her gift becomes a blessing.  However, when all ghosts, including her parents, start to disappear, Belladonna, her friend, Steve, and even Elsie, a friendly ghost who haunts Belladona's school, set out on a dangerous quest to discover the truth. In the Land of the Dead, they meet a creepy and evil alchemist who's up to no good. Monsters and magical creatures, quirky characters, powerful amulets, and cryptic clues are all a part of this humorous and spine-tingly adventure. Highly recommended (for grades 5-8). The saga continues in the Midnight Gate.