NEWBERY MEDAL - HONOR BOOK 👍

AUTHOR - AVI

GRADES - 5-8

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”.


GOLDEN KITE AWARD - FICTION WINNER👍

given annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international children's writing organization, to recognize excellence in children’s literature. 


NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST BOOK FOR TEENS👍

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - BOSTON GLOBE AWARD 👍

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - 100 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

ENGLISH JOURNAL - HONOR LIST

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

NCTE NOTABLE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOK IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS  

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK

FLORIDA'S YOUNG READERS' AWARD 

MASSACHUSETTS CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD

The year is 1832. Charlotte Doyle, a thirteen-year-old, plans to sail across the Atlantic Ocean from England to the United States. As she boards the ship, she learns that her traveling companions will not be making the trip, leaving Charlotte the only female on board. She writes a journal describing what was to become quite an ordeal as the crew mutinies and she gets caught in the middle. Upon arriving in America, she must deal with her authoritarian father which leaves the reader with a totally unexpected ending. The author is a superstar and he delivers big time in this thrilling adventure. 

1. Charlotte had several terrible experiences as she
 traveled across the ocean.

    What do you think was the 
worst thing that happened to her? Explain your 

    answer.
   

    Possible answers
   

    She learns that the crew is preparing a mutiny. 
 She tells the captain 

    and informs the crew. The
 captain asks Charlotte to decide who should 

    take 
the punishment. She can’t decide, so the captain 
chooses Mr. 

    Zachariah. Charlotte grabs the whip  from Mr. Hollybrass and 

    accidentally scratches the
 captain’s face. He becomes angry and gives 

    Mr.
 Zachariah a terrible beating.
 

    Charlotte wants to become part of the crew. The  men refuse to accept 

    her unless she climbs to the 
top of the sails. It is a torturous climb.
  

    The captain charges Charlotte with the murder of
 Mr. Hollybrass. She is 

     put in the brig. She is told that she will be dead by hanging in twenty 

     four hours.
  

     Charlotte sneaks into the captain’s cabin to steal 
a key. He catches her

     and tries to kill her. He fires 
his pistol several times. Fortunately for her, 

     he slips
 and falls overboard. 

2 . Did Charlotte make the right decision by returning to the crew? Explain. 
  

     What would you have done?
    

     Answers will vary.


AUTHOR - KIMBERLY BRUBAKER BRADLEY

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”.

SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD - ☮️

Winner The Schneider Family Book Award is an award given by the American Library Association (ALA) recognizing authors and illustrators for the excellence of portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth.  

JOSETTE FRANK BOOK AWARD - WINNER - ☮️

The Josette Frank Award This award for fiction honors a book or books of outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally.  

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY -  100  TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING

WALL STREET JOURNAL - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2015

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY - BEST OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2015 👍

HORN BOOK - FANFARE BOOK

KIRKUS REVIEWS - BEST BOOKS OF 2015 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST BOOKS OF 2015

During WW11, children who lived in London were sent to the country for safety. While separating from their parents was difficult, it was a blessing in disguise for Ada. This eleven year-old was born with a club foot and was rejected by her mother who kept her locked in the house every day. The war ended this abuse as Ada suddenly discovered the world she had been missing. Her overriding fear is knowing that she will have to return when the war is over. 

1. What do you think Ada will do when she grows up?


    She could do something that is related to horses.       

    She could also work for the government. She is smart and a 
fast learner. 

2. Do you think she will ever see her Mam again? Explain.
      Answers will vary. 

3. How did the war save her life?
     

    She had nothing to live for while she was living with her 
abusive mother. 

    In her new life, she made friends and was allowed to grow as a normal 

    child.

AUTHOR -RUSSELL FREEDMAN

GRADES - 5 AND UP

JANE ADDAMS PEACE 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. 

ROBERT F. SIBERT AWARD - HONOR - 👍

This award is presented annually to the writer and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year. 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY -  BEST OF 2016 👍

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS  WEEKLY -  STARRED REVIEW

While Hitler was committing his crimes against humanity, a student led group known as the White Rose movement conducted non-violent protests in Germany. Many Germans disagreed with Hitler, but they were afraid to speak up. But these college students decided to denounce Hitler by publishing leaflets knowing that if they got caught, they would be beheaded. Their devotion and sacrifice is brilliantly documented for mature fifth graders and up. The author is one of the superstars in young adult nonfiction literature. 

1. Members of the Hitler Youth were forbidden to read many books. Should any 

    books be forbidden? 

2. Read the song on page 9. What do you think the Nazi Youth thought the words

    meant? 

3. On page 41, Inge said that they could have chosen to throw bombs. 
Would this 

    have been a more productive method of convincing people 
that Hitler

    was evil?

4. If you knew that you would put your family in danger, would you join
 a 

    resistance group like The White Rose? 

AUTHOR -KIMBERLY WILLIS HOLT

GRADES - 5 -7

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - WINNER 👍

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

BOOKLIST - EDITORS' CHOICE

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR👍

BOSTON GLOBE - HORN BOOK  - STARRED REVIEW

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

The story centers on Toby Wilson who is experiencing the toughest summer of his life. His mother left home to become a country singer, his dad can’t cook, his best friend’s older brother is fighting in Vietnam, and the girl of his dreams is interested in someone else. However, his life is about to change, as Zachary Beaver, the fattest boy in the world, has just come to town. This is a tale of love, death, and acceptance. 

1.What is your opinion of Toby? Would he make a good friend?
 Give three 

   reasons to support your answer.
 

   It is hard to imagine anyone not liking Toby because he is so 

   considerate. When Zachary is left alone, he brings him food.
 He is also

   responsible for getting Zachary baptized. 

   
When Scarlett asks him to babysit for her sister, he does so even 

   
though he knows Scarlett likes Juan. 


   When Juan comes to Toby for advice on how to make Scarlett 
happy,

   he decides to play matchmaker.
 

   Toby realizes that Juan couldn’t go to the party in honor of 
Scarlett’s 

   grandfather, because he didn’t own any nice  clothes. 

   He rides his bike to Charlotte's house and blindfolds her. Then 

   he
 takes her to Juan’s house and drops her off. He rides away, 
forcing 

   them to work out their differences. 

   When Toby doesn’t go to Wayne’s funeral, he realizes that he hurt 

   Cal’s feelings. Toby apologizes and the boys become good friends 

   again. 


3.Do you think Toby’s mom will come back? Explain. 

4.What do you think will happen to Zachary? 

AUTHOR -COLIN MELOY

GRADES - 5 - 7

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.  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

NEW YORK TIMES -  BESTSELLER

INDIE - BESTSELLER

E.B. WHITE -  READ-ALOUD MIDDLE READER AWARD

While a twelve-year-old girl is baby-sitting her brother, he is kidnapped by a group of crows who take him into a place called the Impassable Wilderness, which borders Portland, Oregon. This area is so thick with vegetation, that no one ever goes there. The girl and her friend Curtis decide to rescue her brother and find themselves in a world filled with animal bandits, warring coyotes, military birds and a power struggle for control of this secret world. This is Book one of The Wildwood Chronicles. It is followed by Under Wildwood and Wildwood Imperium.

1. After Prue’s brother was taken, she waited a day before deciding to go into the 

    Wilderness alone without consulting her parents. What would you have done? 

    Answers will vary. 

2. Why do you think Curtis decided to stay in the Wilderness, rather than 

    return to his home? 

    Curtis felt important here. The other bandits respected him. He

    made many friends. In Portland, he was a loner. 

3. Why would Prue and Curtis be good people to have as friends? 

    They were very loyal. Prue was loyal to her brother and Curtis was

    loyal to the bandits. They were caring. They cared about each other

    and the animals in the woods. They were likable. The woodland

    creatures became good friends with both of them. 

4. Do you think Prue will return to the Wilderness? Explain.

    Probably. At the end of the story, Curtis‘ parents told her to say hello to 

    him the next time she saw him. 

5. Do you think Curtis will leave the Wilderness? Explain. Answers will vary. 

6. How did Curtis’ parents feel at the end of the story? 

    They seemed to be happy because they knew their son was happy. They

    told Pru to say hello to him. 

AUTHOR -CAROLL PLUM-UCCI

GRADES - 7 - 12

MICHAEL L. PRINZ AWARD - HONOR 👍

an American Library Association literary award that annually recognizes the "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit".  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION - CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD

When Christopher Creed, the class freak, disappeared, it tore the town apart. Suicide, murder, kidnapping - everyone had an opinion. Readers will identify with the teen world of the haves and the have-nots. This suspenseful story will not only hold its intended audience, but it will illustrate how dangerous preconceived notions can be regarding people. A perfect book for the teen who doesn’t like to read.

1. What do you think happened to Christopher Creed?

2. This book received an award for the best book written for teens in 2002.

    How would you rate it? Explain.

AUTHOR CAROL PLUM-UCCI

GRADES - 7 - 12

YOUNG ADULT LIBRARY SERVICES ASSOCIATION (YALSA) - BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

The question is not only what happened to Lani, but also, who is Lani? When Lani arrives on Hackett Island, Claire and her cheerleader friends do not know if she is a male or a female. Meanwhile, Claire has also been hiding her identity. She doesn’t reveal her bouts with leukemia or her alcoholic mother until Lani pries these secrets out of her. Lani becomes the one person Claire can talk to about her deepest, darkest fears. The “in crowd” on the island becomes intolerant of Lani when he and Claire become close. Since Lani is somewhat effeminate, Claire’s former friends decide that he is gay. Whatever, he is, he is someone special to Claire who thinks he may be a floating angel. Prejudice, homophobia, friendship, tolerance, and individuality are all woven into a powerful story, which should appeal to most teens.  While this novel is one of the best I have ever read, the author does readers a disservice by revealing the end in the prologue. I suggest that this part should be omitted as it does nothing to enhance the story, but does remove some of the suspense that makes the last fifty pages totally riveting. 

1.What lesson did you learn from this story?

   Value individuality not blind conformity

2. Is Lani a boy or a girl? Explain.

3. Would you accept Lani as a friend? Why?

AUTHOR PHILLIP HOOSE

GRADES - 5 AND UP

JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD - HONOR BOOK ☮️

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 👍

NEWBERY AWARD - HONOR 👍

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”.

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.

ROBERT F. SIBERT BOOK AWARD - HONOR 👍

This award is presented annually to the writer and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW 

WASHINGTON POST - BEST BOOK OF 2009 👍

THE HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW 

BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS - STARRED REVIEW

Most people connect Rosa Parks with the Montgomery bus boycott as a result of her refusal to give her seat to a white person. However, this incident was ignited by a teen-age girl named Claudette Colvin, who was dragged off a bus by two policemen, and taken to jail where she was fingerprinted. This rebellious act was repeated by another teen a few months later. However, these two children were not considered mature enough to be the test case. Unfortunately for Colvin, she was considered to be a pariah by some and she lost just about all of her friends who regarded her as a troublemaker. To complicate matters, she became pregnant by a white man and gave birth to a white boy. 
Although Parks is given much of the credit for ending bus segregation, it was the legal system that decided the matter. It is interesting to note that two of the plaintiffs were Colvin and the other teen. Parks was not involved in the lawsuit.  
One basic message of this book is that history is often unfair. On the one hand we have Colvin, a young teen, who decided on her own to stand up to a horrible system. She had no plan or support at the time. On the other hand we have Parks, who was not only hand picked, but she worked for the NAACP and she had the confidence of knowing that once she was arrested, a support group would be waiting for her. While the author recognizes Parks for her courage, he makes it clear that Colvin should have received more credit for trying to beat the system single-handed. Although Colvin was somewhat miffed at the time, and felt that she should have received her share of positive publicity, she later realized that Parks was better suited for the role as the barrier buster. 
As noted below, this book is a National Book Award winner and rightfully so. The compelling narrative accompanied by dozens of great pictures make this story very appealing and informative. 

Chapter Five - When Claudette returned to school, many of her classmates made fun of her. Why didn't they respect her for what she did?


They could have been afraid. Claudette challenged white authority, and 

that usually meant that some African-American was going to get hurt.                                                                                                                     

Chapter Six - Sometimes it takes a great deal of courage to do the right thing. Explain how Claudette made her feelings known without breaking the law.


She braided her hair and told everyone that she was proud to be African.



Chapter Eight - At the end of the chapter, Claudette feels as though she was being thrown to the lions. What do you think that means?


She was going to be a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city of Montgomery. This meant that she would face hostile lawyers and resentment from the people who did not want the Jim Crow laws changed. 

AUTHOR - PADMA VENKATRAMAN

GRADES - 5 AND UP

NOTABLE BOOK FOR THE GLOBAL SOCIETY ☮️

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

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.

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. 

BOOKLIST - STARRED REVIEW 

KIRKUS - STARRED REVIEW 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW 

INTERNATIONAL BOARD ON BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE -

   OUTSTANDING BOOK  FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. A NOTABLE BOOK FOR CHILDREN 

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY  - BOOK FOR THE TEEN

A young teen’s determination to realize her dream as dancer, and the inspiration she receives from others after losing her leg, provides page turning reading regardless of your interest in dancing. Get ready for an emotional roller coaster ride - buckle  up.

1. Do you have a passion in your life that is similar to Veda’s?
 Can you describe 

    it?


2. At the end of the chapter called In the Eye, page 93 hardcover, Veda 
 says that 

    she now understands the proverb - Beauty is in the eye of the 
beholder. What 

    do you think it means?
   

    She is referring to the way her grandmother sees her.


3. In the chapter called Acting Anger, page 100 hardcover, Veda acts 
 differently 

    toward the lady on the bus. Do you agree with what she did? 
 What would you 

    have done?


4. In the chapter called Flight of Feeling, page 204 hardcover, Veda says,
  “You’d 

    prefer to be a demon like me.” What does that mean?
  

    Veda is somewhat rebellious, while Govinda tries to get along with
 

    everyone. He needs to be a bit more assertive. He needs to tell his 

    
parents that he wants to be a dancer, not an engineer.

AUTHOR -JEWELL PARKER RHODES

GRADES - 4 - 7

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

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.

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.

WALTER AWARD☮️ 

The Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children's Literature recognize diverse authors whose works feature diverse main characters and address diversity in a meaningful way.

CHILDREN’S FAVORITES AWARD

Recognizing books evaluated and voted on by children as books they really enjoy reading

E.B. WHITE - READ-ALOUD MIDDLE READER AWARD 

CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR AWARD - HONOR BOOK 

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSN. - READ ACROSS AMERICA SELECTION AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - QUICK PICK FOR RELUCTANT READERS 

CHARLOTTE HUCK HONOR AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S FICTION 

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 

HUFFINGTON POST - THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF 2018 GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS - FINALIST - BEST MIDDLE GRADE AND CHILDREN'S BOOKS 

AMAZON - BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR

Jerome Rogers was a twelve-year-old black boy who was shot and killed by a Chicago policeman. The boy was carrying a toy gun. He was shot in the back while running away. He comes back as a ghost who tries to heal a wounded community. The only person who can see him is Sarah, the daughter of the cop who killed him.

1. What do you think Sarah will be doing when she grows up?
        

   The author suggests that she might be fighting for justice.  

2. What do you think should have happened to Sarah’s father?  

3. Why do you think the ghost boys were all black?