NEWBERY MEDAL - HONOR BOOK

AUTHOR - ADAM GIDWITZ

GRADES - 5-7

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”.


MYTHOPOEIC FANTASY AWARD

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

NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD - FINALIST -

Inau­gu­rat­ed in 1950, the Nation­al Jew­ish Book Awards is the longest-run­ning North Amer­i­can awards pro­gram of its kind and is rec­og­nized as the most pres­ti­gious. The Awards are intend­ed to rec­og­nize authors, and encour­age read­ing, of out­stand­ing Eng­lish-lan­guage books of Jew­ish interest.  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - STARRED REVIEW

HORN BOOK - STARRED REVIEW

E. B. WHITE READ-ALOUD AWARD - FINALIST

BOOKLIST 2016 TOP TEN BOOKS FOR YOUTH,RELIGION AND 

        SPIRITUALITY

THE WASHINGTON POST BEST CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS OF 2016 

THE NEW YORK TIMES  NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK 0F 2016

Three children with special gifts are being chased through the French countryside during the thirteenth century to escape prejudice and persecution. The big boy, William, has super strength. He is on a mission from his monastery. The peasant girl, Jeanne, can see into the future. The third child, Jacob, can heal all wounds. He is a Jewish boy who escaped his burning village. He is trying to save a Talmud from being burned. All three have been taught to distrust one another because they are of different races, religions, and classes. However, they overcome these differences in order to survive and continue their quest. Their story is told by a group of travelers who meet in a French inn. The author illustrates the dangers of zealotry and narrow-mindedness. Many of the lessons learned in this tale can be applied to the difficult times we experience today. 

1. Which child had the most valuable gift? Explain. 

2. What would be a good theme for this story?
 

    Possible answers - 

    People should be judged by their behavior rather than their looks.      

   People should be judged by their behavior rather than their looks.      

    Good triumphs over evil 

3. Which character would you like to have for a friend? Why? 

4. If William, Jeanne and Jacob lived today, what would they be doing  when they 

    became adults? 

AUTHOR - MARTIN W. SANDLER

GRADES - 5 AND UP

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES )VOYA) - NONFICTION HONOR LIST 

JEFFERSON CUP - HONOR BOOK - 

The Jefferson Cup honors a distinguished biography, historical fiction, or American history book for young people. 

BOOKLIST – STARRED REVIEW

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – STARRED REVIEW

BANK STREETS CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR 

NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 

     (NCSS/CBC) 

ORBIS PICTUS RECOMMENDED BOOK - NATIONAL COUNCIL

    OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH

This is truly an extraordinary book. It is filled with rare photographs as the author traces Lincoln’s life from 1839, when photography first burst upon the scene, to the period following his assassination. Readers will learn about his family life, the stress of the war, and the impact photography had on his life and the way Americans perceived him. Each two-page chapter contains a quote from Lincoln on the top of the page, and focuses on his thoughts and feelings about himself and the people around him. The second page provides a thought-provoking photograph describing the text. Readers will learn how agonizing the war was for Lincoln and the rest of the country. Just perfect for middle school and up. 

1. What is your favorite photo? Explain.


2. During his lifetime, more photographs were taken of Lincoln than
 any other 

    person. Why?


3. On page 34, Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you 
want 

    to test a man’s character, give him power.” What does that mean? 

4. Some people say that Abraham Lincoln was our greatest president.
 What do 

    you think? Explain. 

AUTHOR - JAMES PATTERSON

GRADES -  6-8

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER 

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES - (VOYA) EDITORS' CHOICE

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - QUICK PICK FOR YOUNG ADULTS

A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY "BOOKS FOR THE TEENAGE"

A CHILDREN'S CHOICE BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR OF THE YEAR 

A BOOK SENSE SUMMER 2007 CHILDREN'S PICK 

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. AND VOYA -'TEENS TOP PICK"

A group of genetically enhanced kids who can fly and have other unique talents are on the run from part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers, in this SF thriller. Max, 14, and her adopted family–Fang and Iggy, both 13, Nudge, 11, Gazzy, 8, and Angel, 6–were all created as experiments in a lab called the School. Jeb, a sympathetic scientist, helped them escape and, since then, they've been living on their own. The Erasers have orders to kill them so the world will never find out they exist. Max's old childhood friend, Ari, now an Eraser leader, tracks them down, kidnaps Angel, and transports her back to the School to live like a lab rat again. The youngsters are forced to use their special talents to rescue her as they attempt to learn about their pasts and their destinies. This good vs. evil novel reinforces the belief that all living creatures should be free. Maximum Ride is the first of a trilogy which includes - School’s Out Forever and Saving the World. 

1. Compare and contrast Max to you. Use physical features, personality, and 

   examples of  behavior.
   

   Fourteen-year-old Max is the oldest of the six children. She has  taken

   the responsibility to raise them care for them.  She is 
intensely loyal 

   and will do anything to protect her family, especially little Angel.
   

     She is caring. On one occasion, she saved a girl from being 
attacked by 

     a group of boys. She often hugs family members and 
treats them in a 

     kind manner. When Nudge wanted to go to a 
 concert, Max decided to 

    give him a treat and they all attended the 
show. Another time she took 

     give him a treat and they all attended the 
show. Another time she took  

     like it. 
    

     She enjoys being with her family. When they were in Central 
 Park, she 

     was  thankful that they were all together and safe. 
    

     She is a smart leader. When the Erasers were chasing them, she

     
directed the family to join a group of school children so that they 

     would not be seen. Throughout the story she guides her family 
 out of 

     trouble and out of harms way. When the police were 
 chasing them, she

     guided them into St. Patrick’s Cathedral where they blended in with the

     crowd. Another time, when they 
were chased by a

     security guard, Max jammed a pen into a 
revolving door, causing it to 

     jam and allowing them to escape.
    

     She is determined  to find Angel. During the second half, she was 
 

     determined to find the Institute. 
    

    She likes being with families. After she saved the girl, she was  envious

    of the fact that the girl lived with a loving mother who 
 made chocolate 

    chip cookies. She wished she could be part of 
 a family like that.  

    She is compassionate. When  Gasman became depressed, Max learned

    that he wanted to sit down and eat a big dinner 
without being in a hurry. 

    Max took everyone into a fancy 
restaurant where they ordered huge 

    amounts of food. 

2.What do you think is the theme of this novel?
   

   No one should be controlled. People should be free to live and make 

   their own decisions. 

3. In this story, characters have special powers. What special power would  you

    like  have? Explain. 

AUTHOR - JERRY SPINELLI

GRADES - 5 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.  

NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD - FINALIST

GOLDEN KITE AWARD FOR FICTION  - STARRED REVIEW

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED REVIEW

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION - STARRED REVIEW

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSN. - BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

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.

1. What do you think was the worst part about living in the Ghetto?
  

    Answer will vary. Fear, hunger, death are some possibilities.
2

2. What do you think would have happened to Misha if he never met Uri? 
   

   Answers will vary.


3. What do you think was the best moment in Misha’s life?
   

    Answers will vary. Probably when he met his daughter and 

    granddaughter. 

AUTHOR - ELIZABETH ACEVEDO

GRADES - 8 AND UP

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD - 

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

WALTER AWARD  - WINNER 👍🏿

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.

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD - FINALIST 👍🏿

Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys", are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary to recognize the crucial role LGBTQ writers play in shaping the world. The Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ literature.

WALDEN AWARD - WINNER 

The Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award, presented by The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English (ALAN), is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence, widespread appeal, and a positive approach to life in young adult literature.

PURA BELPRE - WINNER 👍🏿

This award is named after Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

BOSTON GLOBE -HORN BOOK AWARD - WINNER

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE - 

WINNER

WE ARE KID LIT COLLECTIVE SUMMER READING LISTS - SELECTION👍🏿

recognizing the humanity of Indigenous and People of Color (IPOC) in youth literature, people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities

This powerful novel centers on a mid-teen named Xiomara who has a lot on her plate. She is physically mature and has to constantly fend off boys who want to take advantage of her. When she finally meets a boy that appeals to her, they must meet secretly or face the wrath of her mother whose strong religious convictions say no-no to boyfriends.

Xiomara is an angry young lady who is living in an abusive, dysfunctional family. She is able to cope by writing poetry in her journal. Her savior is her teacher who encourages Xiomara to join the Slam Club where she discovers her hidden talent as a poet. This is a deeply moving story that just keeps pounding away at your emotions. The message is clear - have faith in yourself and follow the beat of your own drum. This book has earned a ton of awards, the most prominent are listed above.

1.The author uses Xiomara to deliver a message. What is she trying to 

       say?

2.   What do you think was the most difficult decision for Xiomara?

AUTHOR - KIM JOHNSON

GRADES - 7 AND UP

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.

TEACHER FAVORITE AWARD - SELECTION


SCOTT O’DELL AWARD- WINNER


The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is an annual American children's book award that recognizes historical fiction.


SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR


The School Library Journal is an American monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people.

In 1955, a seventeen year old Calvin, a light skinned black boy, moves into an all white neighborhood pretending to be white. He hates living the lie, however he must obey the wishes of his parents who do not reveal their ulterior motives until the end of the novel. 
Calvin gets involved with C.O.R.E. and works secretly to bring segregation to an end in his community. To make matters more dangerous, he falls in love with a black girl which, in those days was like signing your death warrant. Readers will learn how torturous it was to pass as white as well as the injustices suffered by blacks immediately after segregation became illegal. Emmett Till, Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall are all part of this page-turning historical novel.

1. Did the group do the right thing by keeping Darren’s death a secret? Explain.


2. Would you date a (girl, boy) that did not have the same color skin as you? 

    Why?

AUTHOR -ANN M. MARTIN

GRADES - 5-7

INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION - YOUNG ADULT CHOICE 

     AWARD 

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

CHILD MAGAZINE – BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

NUTMEG BOOK AWARD

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The story takes the reader to a small rural community in the South during the early sixties where Belle Teal Harper is introduced. She is a fifth grader in a town that is experiencing the turmoil caused by desegregation. In addition, a new girl moves into the neighborhood who thinks she is better than everyone else because she is rich. Belle becomes the champion for the black children, while dealing with the abusive behavior of the new girl.  

1.Write a paragraph using the following as a topic sentence:
   Belle was a kind, 

   loving, caring person. 

   She loves her Mama and Gran. She likes Little Boss even though

   he is not popular with the other children. 

   She sits next to Darryl in the lunchroom when she sees him sitting 

   by himself. 

   When Vanessa does not get the part of Mary in the school play, 

   Belle feels sorry for her and tries to be her friend. 

   Belle protects Darryl from people who try to hurt him. 

   She feels sad when she sees how poorly the adults are behaving with

   their racist attitudes. 

   She tries to get some of the boys to accept Darryl by

   tricking them. However, the plan backfires. 

   She feels bad when Little Boss and his father spit at Darryl. 

   She is very kind to Little Boss as she walks with him to his 

   father’s truck. She cares for him because she knows that his father 

   abuses him.  

   Belle accepts everyone regardless of skin color. She cannot 

   understand why  all people do not share that same point of view. 

   When Little Boss does not show up at school, Belle becomes worried. 

   She hopes nothing bad happened to him. 

2.  What do you think were the two worst things that happened to Daryl?
    

     a. Some white parents picket the school shouting hateful remarks as 

         Darryl enters the building.
    

     b. Little Boss hits Darryl on the back causing him to spill his milk.
     

     c. Little Boss’ father spits on Darryl and tells him to go back where he 

         came from.
  

     d. When Darryl enters the classroom for the first time, several students 
 

         make it known that they do not want anything to do with him.
     

     e. Vanessa brings a note from home asking that her seat be changed so

        
 that she does not sit next to Darryl.
     

     f. Little Boss’ father blames Darryl when Little Boss shoots himself

        in the foot.
    

    g. Vernon and his friends tell Darryl that he better not come to the 

        
Halloween party because it is not for his people.
    

    h. Little Boss tells Darryl that he has poisoned the school. 
     

    i. Vernon tells Darryl not to bring his cookies to the party because no 
 one

       is going to eat them. 
     

    j. Vernon tells Darryl that he will not be in the pageant because colored   

       people had nothing to do with the birth of Christ. 

AUTHOR - JASMINE WARGA

GRADES - 4-7

NOTABLE BOOKS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY - SELECTION 👍🏿

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


WALTER DEAN MYERS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S LITERATURE - HONOR
👍🏿

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.


EL DIA DE LOS NINOS/EL DIA DE LOS LIBROS SELECTION - SELECTION
👍🏿Highlighting diverse children’s books to honor the culture and languages of all children👍


ARAB AMERICAN BOOK AWARD - HONOR👍🏿


is an annual literary award to celebrate and support the research of, and the written work of, Arab Americans and their culture. The Arab American Book Award encourages the publication and excellence of books that preserve and advance the understanding, knowledge, and resources of the Arab American community by celebrating the thoughts and lives of Arab Americans. The purpose of the Award is to inspire authors, educate readers and foster a respect and understanding of the Arab American culture.


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”.


CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE BEST BOOKS - SELECTION👍🏿


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


SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - SELECTION


The School Library Journal is an American monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people.

Jude is a twelve-year-old who moves to the United States with her pregnant mom to escape war-torn Syria. While living with her aunt and uncle, Jude becomes a victim of Islamophobia as she tries to adapt to a new culture. She continually struggles to find her identity as emotional turmoil is part of her everyday life. OTHER WORDS FOR HOME provides a a sense of understanding and compassion for Arab Americans who are just trying to fit into a society that is very different from what they have been accustomed to. This award winning story should be on every middle school bookshelf.

Why do you think Sarah finally apologized to Jude?

Answers will vary. Perhaps what happened to Layla and her family caused Sarah to change her ways.                                           

AUTHOR - MARJANE SATRAPI

GRADES - 7 AND UP

😪WARNING! THIS BOOK HAS BEEN BANNED!😪

THE ALEX AWARD

The Alex Awards annually recognize ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18 . Essentially, the award is a listing by the American Library Association parallel to its annual Best Books for Young Adults, a longer list of recommended books that have been promoted in the YA category.

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER (CCBC)

A best of the year list of Pre-K-12 books created annually by librarians.

NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

TIME MAGAZINE - BEST COMIX OF THE YEAR

LOS ANGELES TIMES - BESTSELLER

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - BEST COMICS OF 2003

This graphic autobiography portrays the author’s life as a young girl during the Islamic revolution.  This powerful tale takes readers from the overthrow of the Shah to the repressive regime that followed and the Iran-Iraq war. It is a witty, and also a heartbreaking account of a family who is struggling against tyranny. Teens will find that Satrapi’s emotions are not very different from their own. She loves her family and enjoys being free. Persepolis presents a child’s view of war in a most absorbing and informative manner.

1. What do you think was Marjane’s worst experience?

     Perhaps leaving her parents and her home at the end of the story.

2.  If you could talk to the author today, what would you ask her?

AUTHOR - CHRIS CRUTCHER

GRADES - 7 AND UP

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED REVIEW

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES (VOYA) “Every young adult who reads was dying to read it yesterday.”

PARENTS’ GUIDE TO CHILDREN’S MEDIA, INC. - OUTSTANDING 

      ACHIEVEMENT

ABC CHILDREN’S BOOKSELLERS - CHOICES AWARD

YOUNG ADULT LIBRARY SERVICES ASSOCIATION (YALSA) - BEST BOOKS

     FOR YOUNG ADULTS

PACIFIC NORTHWEST - BOOKSELLERS AWARD

WASHINGTON STATE - BOOK AWARD

Racism, abusive behavior and a host of negative teen attitudes are all woven together by one of the superstars of teen fiction. Chris Crutcher tells the story of a high school senior named T.J. Jones who is the product of a Black Japanese father and a white mother. However, they could not care for him. He was raised by two ex-hippies who showered him with love. Their beliefs rub off on T.J. as he becomes the defender of the underdog.

The novel focuses on two themes - the role of high school sports in our society and acceptance. T.J.’s refusal to participate in high school sports even though he is a great athlete, angers the coaches. He feels that the games are too organized and he doesn’t like the idea of jocks running the school. When one of his favorite teachers asks him for help starting a swim team, he decides to do it because he wanted to bring success to a boy who is at the bottom of the school’s pecking order. As things turn out, the entire swim team consists of loners, rejects and those outside the social scene. 

While helping others, T.J. has to deal with racial issues and adoption concerns. 

Whale Talk is a powerful story which encourages readers to treat others based on their behavior rather than race or physical ability.

1. If you had the opportunity to become a high school sports star, would you allow

    your personal beliefs to prevent that from happening? Explain.

2. What do you think T.J. will be doing in five years?