NEWBERY MEDAL - HONOR BOOK 👍

AUTHOR - MILDRED D. TAYLOR

GRADES - 5 AND UP

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES (VOYA) - A PERFECT TEN - 👍🏿

This magazine is the leading library journal dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, the advocacy of young adults, and the promotion of young adult literature and reading. Its most prestigious award is a Perfect Ten. This is given to a book that gets a five star rating for quality and a five star rating for popularity.  

CORETTA SCOTT KING - AUTHOR AWARD - WINNER ☮️

The Award is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY AWARD☮️

This is an annual list of 25 books created by the International Literacy Association which enhance student understanding of people and cultures.


L.A. TIMES AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE👍🏿 

SCOTT O'DELL HISTORIC FICTION AWARD👍🏿 

PARENTS CHOICE AWARD - GOLD 👍🏿

The Logan Family saga begins shortly after the Civil War with The Land and ends three books later with The Road to Memphis. The author, who was raised in the South, combines story telling and history to weave an engrossing tale of black life in Mississippi   during a span of about 100 years.  In this prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Taylor explains how the feuds began between the Logans and the other families. During the post Civil War period, Paul, the son of a white father and black mother, dreams about becoming a landowner. This turns out to be more complicated and dangerous than he expected as he has to overcome betrayal and prejudice to realize his dream. This family story will give readers an accurate picture of what life in the South was like during this time period. An exceptional storyteller writes this amazing historical piece. Teachers of American history should make this set of books required reading. 

1. Why do you think Paul took the blame for Mitchell when the horse was injured?

    What would you have done?
    

    He didn’t want Mitchell to get a whipping. 

2. Do you think Paul’s father loves his older boys more than Paul? Explain. 

3. What do you think was the worst experience Paul ever had? Explain. 

4. What do you think Paul’s life will be like in ten years?     

    He will probably marry Caroline and have children. He will
 sell the forty 

    acres and buy the land that he always wanted to own. 

AUTHOR - ANDREA DAVIS PINKNEY

GRADES - MATURE 6TH AND UP

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - ☮️

The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people. 

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE BEST BOOKS ☮️ 

a committee of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) identifies the best in multicultural books.

VOYA - A PERFECT TEN - Voice of Youth Advocates, or (VOYA)👍🏿

This magazine is the leading library journal dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, the advocacy of young adults, and the promotion of young adult literature and reading. Its most prestigious award is a Perfect Ten. This is given to a book that gets a five star rating for quality and a five star rating for popularity.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

WASHINGTON POST - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍🏿

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍🏿

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍🏿

SHELF AWARENESS - STARRED REVIEW

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

This unique collection of poems centers on the final days of Martin Luther King Jr. and the sanitation worker’s strike in Memphis, Tennessee. Readers will learn about his eerie "I've been to the mountaintop" speech. Outstanding text and illustrations. This is an awesome book. Not only a must read, but a must read-aloud. 

1. Why did the author divide the book into Daylight, Darkness and Dawn? 

2. How do the illustrations enhance the meaning of the text? 

3. What message is the author trying to deliver? 

AUTHOR - BARBARA PARK

GRADES  5-7

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -  BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 👍🏿

GEORGIA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 

KANSAS WILLIAM WHITE AWARD 👍🏿

RHODE ISLAND CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 

SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD  

VERMONT DOROTHY CANFIELD FISCHER BOOK AWARD 

ILLINOIS REBECCA CAUDILL YOUNG READERS' AWARD 

INDIANA YOUNG HOOSIER AWARD 

IOWA CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD   

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSN. - YOUNG ADULTS CHOICE AWARD

WYOMING INDIAN PAINTBRUSH AWARD

Mick Harte Was Here is a novel about coping with the loss of a loved one. It is a story of love and death as told by Phoebe Harte, Mick’s sister. She is twelve years old, ten months older than her brother. On the day of his death, he asked her if she would ride his bike home from school because he had to go to a meeting. She couldn’t do it because she had soccer practice and she would be carrying many books. He was hit by a truck and killed that afternoon. Phoebe deals with his death by remembering the good times they had together. She has to deal with guilt, her friends, her parents, and the people at school. In spite of the tragedy, the author brings a great deal of humor to the situation without being insensitive. I have found this book to be very popular with my students. As a matter of fact, it was brought to my attention by a sixth grade girl who told me it was the best book she had ever read.  

1. As Phoebe remembers her brother, you can tell that he had a good
 sense of 

    humor. What evidence can you find to support this personality 
trait?      

    When he was in kindergarten he and Phoebe scratched the word
 F-A-R-T 

    in wet cement. Mick told his parents that a monkey named Zippy did it 

    and they chased him all the way back to Africa. He once put a ceramic 

    eyeball in a defrosted chicken his mother  
was preparing for dinner. She 

    found a cigar, Mick named it Helen because on the 
top of the cigar was a 

    found a cigar, Mick named it Helen because on the 
top of the cigar was a 

    paper band that said, “It’s a girl”. While at a neighbor’s barbecue, he took 

    he took off his flip flop and hit his
 neighbor over the head to kill an 

    annoying fly.      

    At the funeral service, people related funny stories about Mick. 

2. Pretend you were a friend of Mick. Write a letter to Phoebe sharing your 

    
thoughts. 

3. Compare and contrast Phoebe with yourself. Use personality and 
examples of 

    behavior in your answer.     

    Although Phoebe fought a lot with her brother, she loved him very 
much.
  

    Phoebe was always getting into trouble as she did many 
mischievous 

    things with Mick.
    

    Phoebe enjoyed playing soccer.
    

    Phoebe was not afraid to tell people what she thought. When 
someone 

    referred to her brother as the dead kid, she told them that 
 they should 

    use the name Mick from now on.
    

    Phoebe was brave. After the death of Mick, she stood before the  entire 

    school and reminded everyone about wearing their bicycle helmets.


AUTHOR - JERRY SPINELLI

GRADES -  5 AND UP

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES - (VOYA) TOP SHELF FICTION FOR MIDDLE 

     SCHOOL READERS 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

MICHIGAN LIBRARY ASSN. - HONOR BOOK

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

Based on a true story, readers will learn about life in the Warsaw Ghetto from the narrator who is recalling his experiences. 
The protagonist is named Misha. We do not know where he came from. We do not even know his real name. He is an uneducated orphan who has to steal in order to survive. He thinks his name is Stopthief because that is what people are always yelling at him. During WW II, he was forced to live in the Warsaw Ghetto, where he witnessed torture and murder. His life was always in danger. Just perfect for middle schoolers who are studying The Holocaust.

    Contrast and compare Bobby with yourself. Use personality and examples of 

    behavior in your answer.     

    Bobby is outgoing. He is a good salesman. He speaks before the entire

    student body.     

    Bobby has had his share of problems and he appears to be dealing with 

    them. His mother died and he lives with his dad in a trailer. He has been 

    called many names because he is fat. However, he seems to have a good 

    outlook on life.    

    Although Bobby is an outgoing person, he becomes nervous when he 

    has to deal with girls. He has to work up enough nerve to ask Kelsey to

    help with the posters. When he talks to her on the phone, he begins to 

    stumble over his words.    

    He is a good listener. He always listens to Addie as she talks about the

    problems in the world. He walks home with Mr. Kellerman who practically 

    tells him his life story.    

    He is a good speaker. He gave a great election speech. When he was 

    nervous, he told a joke and everyone laughed. When he was done, he 

    received many compliments.    

    He is brave. He stands up for his beliefs. It took courage to discuss name 

    calling in front of the entire school.

AUTHOR - KAREN HESSE

GRADES - 5 AND UP

NEWBERY MEDAL - WINNER - 👍🏿

The Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.


PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BOOK OF THE YEAR

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍🏿

BOOKLIST -EDITORS' CHOICE

SCOTT O'DELL AWARD - HISTORICAL FICTION👍🏿

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY “100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING” 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

This is the story of The Dust Bowl as seen through the eyes of a fourteen year old girl. During W.W.1, the farmers of Oklahoma made much money selling wheat to Europe. They continued to break up the sod and plant more seed without realizing that sod held moisture. When the drought came, the land turned to dust, and the wind blew it away. The dust became so thick, that people had to place rags by their doors and windows. However, the dust still got into their homes. Dust was on and in everything. Dust was in their food and in their beds. When people sneezed, they blew out mud. Many people died of dust pneumonia. A fourteen-year-old girl named Billie Jo tells what happened to her family during this terrible time. You can taste the dust and feel the grime as you read this outstanding piece of historical fiction.  

1. Compare and contrast Billie Jo with yourself. Use personality and 
examples of 

    behavior.  

    She is not a very happy person. Her mother dies and living in
 the Dust 

    Bowl is very difficult.
    

    She is very lonely. Her best friend moves away.
    

    She has a crush on a local singer.
    

    She loves music and playing the piano.
    

    She is strong willed and determined. After she badly burns her  hands, 

    she enters an amateur contest playing the piano.
    

    She is a forgiving person. She forgives her dad for causing the fire
 which

    injured her mother.
   

    She is an accepting person. When her dad brings home a woman, 
Billie 

   Jo likes her and she stays with them. 

2. When Billie Jo ran away, why did she return? Do you think that was a 
good 

    idea? What would you have done?


3. Some people have bad luck. What do you think were the three worst 


    things that happened to Billie Jo? 
   

    Possible Answers.
    She accidentally burned her mother.
    

    Her hands got burned during the accident.
 

    Her best friend moved away.
 

    Her mother died.
    Her father stopped talking to her.

AUTHOR -MILDRED D. TAYLOR

GRADES -  5 AND UP

NEWBERY AWARD - WINNER - 👍🏿

The Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.


CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD - HONOR☮️

The Award is given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions. The Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream of a pluralistic society.The Award is further designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - HONOR☮️

The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - WINNER 👍🏿

BOSTON GLOBE -HORN BOOK AWARD 👍🏿

NEW YORK TIMES - BEST OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS  

BOOKLIST -STARRED REVIEW

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK 

The author takes advantage of stories she heard as a child to write four books describing the hardships faced by African-Americans in the South. In this book, the second in the series, readers will enter the mind of Cassie Logan, a young black girl who lives in rural Mississippi. She doesn’t understand why blacks are treated differently from whites, and she tries to fight the system. In the end, she realizes that life is not fair, particularly if you are black. The story takes place during The Depression. The prequel, The Land, does not need to be read first. Let the Circle be Unbroken and The Road to Memphis are the sequels. This classic has the unusual honor of winning the Newbery and the National Book Award - the two most prestigious awards for children's literature. 

1. The worst day of Cassie’s life was when she had to 
apologize to 

    Lillian Jean. 

    What was the worst day of 
 your life? Was your experience as bad as 

    Cassie’s 
experience? Explain.    

    Answers will vary. 

2. What do you think will happen to T.J.? Explain your 
 answer.
  

    T.J. gets blamed for killing Mr. Barnett, even though
 he didn’t do it.

    He will probably be charged with 
 murder because he is black and the

    police are white. Blacks have not been treated fairly, so this seems to 

    be the logical outcome.


3. Cassie’s mama gets fired for teaching the truth about
 slavery, rather than the 

    version presented in the 
textbook. She feels terrible because she always 

    wanted 
 to be a  teacher. Did she make the right decision? What 
would you 

    have done?    

    Answers will vary.


AUTHOR - INGRID LAW

GRADES -  4 - 7

NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR BOOK - 👍🏿

The Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children”.


CYBIL AWARD - NOMINEE - ☮️

seeks out and recognizes books that represent diversity, inclusion, and appropriate representation for children and teens 

MYTHOPOEIC FANTASY AWARD

Honoring a fantasy book or books in the traditions of The Hobbit of the Chronicles of Narnia

ANDREW NORTON AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION AND 

     FANTASY - FINALIST

BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK AWARD - HONOR 👍🏿

NEW YORK TIMES - BEST SELLER 

OPRAH READING LIST PICK 

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - “100 BEST BOOKS FOR READING AND SHARING”  

LAMPLIGHTER AWARD  

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST BOOK OF 2008 

MIDWEST BOOKSELLERS ASSN. - HONOR AWARD

CHICAGO TRIBUNE - "BOOK NOT TO MISS" 

BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR👍🏿

If you are a member of the Beaumont family, you will acquire a special power or savvy on your thirteenth birthday. One family member can control the weather. Another does everything perfectly. As Mibs turns thirteen, her father gets seriously injured in an automobile accident. In her attempt to use her new power to save his life, she sets a number of wheels in motion that lead to unexpected results. The author challenges readers to examine their own lives and use their strengths to make themselves better people.This is a powerful story as indicated by the praise listed above. Don't pass this one up!  

1. What do you think is the main message of this story?   

    We all have a “savvy” and we need to find it to become better people.  

    Sometimes bad things lead to happy endings - a blessing in disguise. 

2. If you could have a special power what would it be? How would you use it to 

    make the world a better place?   

    Answers will vary. 

3. What do you think would have happened if Lester decided not to take the 

    children to the hospital?     

    Answers will vary. 

4. Mibs believed that everyone has their own special “savvy.” Do you have one? 

    If yes, can you describe it? 

5. Whose life changed the most in this story? Explain.     

    Possible answers     

    Lester and Lill. They led boring, unhappy lives until fate brought 

    them together. 

    Mibs. She was confused about her life and as time passed she

    began to understand who she was and how everyone had their own 

    version of a savvy. 

AUTHOR - BRIAN JAQUES

GRADES -  4 AND UP

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES (VOYA) A Perfect Ten VOYA  👍🏿

Founded in 1978, Voice of Youth Advocates, or (VOYA),This magazine is the leading library journal dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, the advocacy of young adults, and the promotion of young adult literature and reading. Its most prestigious award is a Perfect Ten. This is given to a book that gets a five star rating for quality and a five star rating for popularity.  

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. -TOP TEN FANTASY BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

SMARTWRITERS.COM- “ONE OF THE BEST OF THE REDWALL BOOKS”  

BOOK CRITICS SOCIETY - TOP TEN CHILDREN'S BOOK - FANTASY

Triss is the 15th book in the REDWALL series.   The entire collection was written for mature readers starting at fourth grade. There are 22 books and they do not have to be read in chronological order. These books have a common theme of love, peace, and living in harmony with each other and nature. They feature advanced vocabulary, subtle humor, subplots, accents, and descriptions. In this novel, Triss, a squirrel warrior, and her two friends escape from slavery at Riftgard and are pursued across the sea toward Redwall by Princess Kurdah, Prince Bladd, and a band of freebooters who seek the rumored treasure of Brockhall. Although there is fighting and killing throughout this adventure/fantasy, the author takes great pains to portray the heroine, Triss, as a humane warrior. She is determined to do whatever it takes to destroy the Pure Ferret dynasty, however she is not a killer. In addition, the creatures, who inhabit Redwall are depicted as fun-loving and friendly. There are no gray areas in terms of characterization. Everyone is either a force of evil or a force of good. A message of peace and living in harmony is clearly delivered by Triss. 

1. What would you like most if you were living in Redwall?
   Answers will vary. 

2. In chapter 1, the old squirrel, Drufo, told Triss not to escape because it was too

    dangerous. In chapter 4, he helps her to 
escape. Why did he change his mind?


   Answers will vary. Perhaps he realized that she would die as
   a prisoner, 

   and that she had nothing to lose by escaping. 

3. What are some of the characteristics that make Princess Kurda so 
unlikable?
    

    She loses her temper very easily.
  

    She has slaves and is very cruel to them. 

    She will do anything to become queen, even if it means 
humiliating her 

    brother and getting rid of him.
    

    She is selfish and arrogant.
    

    She is a braggart. 

    She claims to be a great sword fighter but
 she loses her nerve when Triss 

    comes after her.
 

    She is a spoiled brat.     

4. When Triss returned home, she gave the queen’s crown to a child. 
 She said 

    that it could be thrown into the sea if he gets tired of it. 
Why didn’t Triss 

    become the new queen?
   

    She knew how that kingdoms did not treat animals fairly. She wanted the

    animals to be free.                                          

AUTHOR - KIM JOHNSON

GRADES -  7 - 12

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY AWARD☮️

This is an annual list of 25 books created by the International Literacy Association which enhance student understanding of people and cultures.

NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE


BEST FICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS - 2011 - 2023 - TOP TEN 
SELECTION

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD - YOUNG ADULT FICTION NOMINEE

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO - BOOK OF THE YEAR

Seventeen year old Tracy Beaumont is on a mission. She wants to save her father, an innocent black man, who is on death row. She contacts an organization called Innocence X for assistance. During this time, her high school friend gets murdered and her brother was set up to take the blame. Not trusting the police, Tracy investigates the crime and uncovers some dark history as racial tensions begin to rise in this small Texas town. Throughout the novel, the author explores the unjust treatment of black people by our justice system.

1. What do you think Tracy will be doing in ten years? 

    She could be a lawyer or someone working on behalf of 
black people 

    who need legal advice.

2. Should Tracy have shared her father’s problem and ruined 
Jamal’s day on the 

    television show? 

AUTHOR - DENNIS BRINDELL FRADIN

GRADES -  5 AND UP

YOUNG ADULT LIBRARY SERVICES ASSOCIATION - BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

You will not find this book in Florida schools, as the author provides gut punching experiences of slaves who tried to escape. These breathtaking escapes will capture the attention of students in middle and high school. All data was supplied by the escapees and/or witnesses. The author clearly delivers the message of the horrors of slavery, as well as the high value of freedom. These twelve thought provoking stories are combined with the author’s message about modern day violations of human rights. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.

 If you could go back in time, which escapee would you like 
to visit? Why?

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