Audiobooks
Out of Abaton, Book 1 (Library Edition): The Wooden Prince
John Claude Bemis
Oasis Audio
Nominated by: Lauren Snell
This surprising & original retelling of Pinocchio takes place in a magical steampunk version of 15th century Italy. The title character is an "automa," a wooden robot powered by alchemy. He seeks to be reunited with Geppetto & the musical cricket Maestro as they all race to save Prestor John, ruler of the Magical Kingdom of Abaton, from the wicked Doge of Venice. Pinocchio's discoveries about family, friendship, and free will are deftly woven in with episodes of high adventure. The audiobook is truly a movie for your mind, with a full sound track that includes music & sound effects.
Raymie Nightingale
Kate DiCamillo
Listening Library
Nominated by: Sondra Eklund
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. Narrated by Jenna Lamia. Listening library. 2016 Raymie Nightingale has one goal, to win the 1975 Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition. Her father left town with the local dental hygienist and Raymie’s plan is for him to read about her win in the paper and to come home to her. While preparing for the competition, she befriends Louisiana Elefante and Beverly Tapinski as they all take baton twirling lessons from Ida Nee, the town expert. The Three Rancheros, as they call themselves, help each other to solve the problems they are facing. While Raymie wants to win back her father, Beverly is determined to sabotage the pageant and Louisiana hopes to get her cat Archie back. These underlying motivations lead to some unlikely and amusing adventures for the quirky friends. Lamia effectively conveys the emotions and personality of three distinctly different characters; single-minded, yet sensitive Raymie, ethereal and swooning Louisiana, and the tough and ardent Beverly. Lamia’s expert storytelling brings this this poignant tale of love and loss to life.
The Best Man
by Richard Peck; narrated by Michael Crouch
Listening Library
Publisher/ Author Submission
A classic Peck tale, this is the story of Archer and his grandfather, uncle, and teacher. Told through his years as a fourth, fifth, and sixth grade student, we see the influence these individuals and others have had on his life during this bildungsroman story. Crouch strikes a balance between Archer aging through the grades, bring a sense of wisdom to the grandfather, and a general relatability to all the characters portrayed. Balancing both humor and touching moments, this audiobook is a fit for families and middle graders alike.
The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog
Adam Gidwitz
Listening Library
Nominated by: Katy Kramp
On a dark night in 1242, a group of travellers gathers in an inn in France to exchange stories of three remarkable children: Jacob, Jeanne, and William. With flavors of The Canturbury Tales, each tale teller adds a unique slant to the collection, slowly building on each others' version to build a complete picture. This is a book that's perfectly done as a full cast production, as each narrator gives a spin to their section that makes the characters come to life. With plenty of topics that middle grade readers will relate to today, this is a historical book with just the right amount of humor and magical realism to give it a wide audience appeal.
When the Sea Turned to Silver
Grace Lin
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Jennie
Traditional Chinese tales are interwoven with an adventure story in this book that follows the pattern of Lin’s award-winning books Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky. There are some characters in common with the earlier two books, but readers stepping in for the first time won’t feel out of place. Young Pinmei has grown up with her grandmother, the Storyteller, on a remote mountain. But one year when the winter has gone on far longer than it should, her grandmother is kidnapped by a threatening stranger Pinmei can tell is only disguised as a common soldier. She and Yishan, the boy who lives alone up the mountain, set out to rescue her. Kim Mai Guest’s narration portrays Pinmei’s journey to confidence, as well as the full cast of characters. The audio format highlights the interconnected details and the poetic language in this book that’s destined to be a classic.
Board Books
Cityblock (Alphablock)
Christopher Franceschelli
Harry N Abrams
Nominated by: Becky L.
Cityblock by Christopher Francheschelli and Peskimo
Harry N. Abrams
Your little one will have fun while learning as he/she travels through a generic city in this quality board book with engaging lift flaps and cut page turns via a variety of city transportation methods. Fabulous city destinations await, including a museum, a carousel, a sports stadium and more! And that is not all – in this “big city – all you can eat city,” there are many cultural treats to discover. This fabulous book slices up the essence of a big city in manageable bites, just perfect for a little one’s mind to chew on. Chock full of art to enjoy, words to learn, details to savor and most importantly, it’s a city block little ones will want to revisit again and again.
Cuauhtemoc: Shapes/Formas (English and Spanish Edition)
Patty Rodriguez
Lil' Libros
Nominated by: PragmaticMom
Cuauhtémoc: Shapes – Formas: A Bilingual Book of Shapes by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein
Lil' Libros
What in the world is Cuauhtémoc? And what is it doing in a child's board book?
The charm of this little board book is the surprising variety of learning the author and illustrator have included in twenty-two pages. Cuauhtémoc is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces the youngest of our future readers to shapes. But that's not all: it also names the shapes in both English and Spanish. And this book has still more: it focuses on one of the most neglected groups in children’s literature, indigenous American culture. You can find this all in a package that is perfect for 0-2 year olds, with simple text and large bright pictures. Cuauhtémoc is a wonderful book for your baby or your library system.
Dinosaur Dance!
Sandra Boynton
Little Simon
Nominated by: Alysa Stewart
Dinosaur Dance! by Sandra Boynton
Little Simon
Filled with pitch perfect rhymes and onomatopoeia, Dinosaur Dance waltzes from one page to the next with daring illustrations and colorful dinosaurs. The words are fun to say and create a rhythm that encourages small children to dance with the dinosaurs. Reading this board book provides the ideal environment for learning, laughing, and of course, dancing.
Follow the Yarn: A Book of Colors
Emily Sper
Jump Press
Nominated by: ediew
Follow the Yarn: A Book of Colors by Emily Sper
Jump Press
Follow the Yarn is a creative new take on the basic color board book. Each page shows yarn of a different color being unraveled by a cat, and the featured color is written in big, bold, color appropriate text. On each subsequent page, the previous colors are still displayed in what creates a fun web of colors by the end of the book. The yarns crisscross each other, so toddlers will enjoy following each color's yarn to the end. The last page, white, is stunning with the colors contrasted against a black background. This book will make the task of teaching colors a delightful experience for both parents and children.
LOOK, LOOK AGAIN
Agnese Baruzzi
Minedition
Publisher/ Author Submission
Look, a donut! Or is it? Unfold the (sturdily constructed) flap, and you find those are actually the curves of a lounging cat. A green apples becomes two crocodiles, and so on, in this playful counting book.
The counting part of it is almost an extra. The real fun comes in learning to look at each shape differently, and in guessing what else it might be. Adults may remember similar photo games in magazines like National Geographic for Kids, or in the back pages of Reader's Digest. The pages are easily manipulated by little hands, and while younger readers will enjoy marveling at the transformation, older children can be led in games of, "What else could this shape be?"
Easy Readers
Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! The Cookie Fiasco
Mo Willems
Disney-Hyperion
Nominated by: Sara Ralph
The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat is a small book with a lot of personality. Four relatable critters have three cookies to share, and inadvertently, comically, discover an underlying math lesson. From the expressively drawn faces to the memorable-yet-simple dialogue between the nervous hippo and her friends, this vibrantly illustrated, fun-to-read story will appeal to teachers and children alike.
Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! We Are Growing!
Mo Willems
Disney-Hyperion
Nominated by: Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
Piggie and Elephant Like Reading: We are Growing by Mo Willems and Laurie Keller is a hoot and perfect for early readers. Piggie and Elephant make a fun appearance at the beginning and end of the book. Laurie Keller makes grass growing entertaining! Students will cheer for every blade of grass.
Rabbit and Robot and Ribbit
Cece Bell
Candlewick Press
Publisher/ Author Submission
Cece Bell, author and illustrator of the magnificent Newbery honor-winning El Deafo, has provided the early reader community with another gem in this sequel to last year's Geisel winner. Rabbit arrives at Robot's house to find him visiting with a new friend, Ribbit. Rabbit is less than thrilled about sharing his friend, but with Robot's support, they find a degree of equilibrium. With empathy and humor, Rabbit and Robot provide young readers characters they can both identify with and aspire to be like.
Snail and Worm: Three Stories About Two Friends
Tina Kugler
HMH Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: LindsayHM
It's not easy to write a clever book for very beginning readers, but with Snail & Worm: Three Stories About Two Friends, Tina Kügler has done it. The simple, colorful comic-style panel illustrations and the expressions on Snail and Worm's faces enhance the simple text. Readers will relate with both characters and find humor in their gentle misconceptions. This easiest of easy readers will find a wide range of readers.
The Great Antonio
Elise Gravel
Toon Books
Publisher/ Author Submission
Antonio Barichievich was a Canadian strong man who performed amazing feats of strength. Elise Gravel blends fact and myth to bring this enormous man to life. She uses a series of spreads to illustrate his size (he weighed as much as a horse) and his quirky behavior which included pulling a 443 ton train, singing Italian opera songs, wrestling a bear and becoming a human merry-go-round by twirling children from his braids. The tragic parts of his life are explained simply and the cartoony graphic illustrations will make this “almost true” biography a fun title for beginning readers.
The Infamous Ratsos (Ratso Brothers)
Kara LaReau
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Charlotte
The story surrounding the Ratso brothers is hilarious. The two fellows want to be tough like their dad but find they've been mistaken regarding what being tough really means. This fun read is great for boys who won't pick up a book. It's a fast-paced read that is lively and full of interesting characters. In this case, trying to be tough turns out to be a good thing.
Early Chapter Books
Dory Fantasmagory: Dory Dory Black Sheep
Abby Hanlon
Dial Books
Nominated by: Melissa Fox
Early chapter book readers love humor and Dory Fantasmagory: Dory Dory Black Sheep delivers. Young readers know that reading can be tough and in this story, Dory experiences that reading challenge too.
Juana and Lucas
Juana Medina
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Cecilia Cackley
Juana is a spunky character who loves her home in Bogata, drawing, and Lucas, her “amazing perro.” What she doesn’t like is learning to speak English. It’s too hard! Juana & Lucas shares the struggle a child has in learning a new language but shows how doors are opened when one can communicate with others. The book is sprinkled with Spanish vocabulary that is easily understood through the context and illustrations. The kid friendly drawings make this early chapter book lively and fun. Juana & Lucas will appeal to multicultural readers who are interested in learning about children from other countries.
Mango & Bambang: The Not-a-Pig (Book One)
Polly Faber;
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Amanda Snow
Mango & Bambang: The Not-a-Pig is a quirky and lovable story. Mango is a strong girl with pluck, determination, and wisdom beyond her years. Bambang is a skittish and endearing tapir far from home. With perfectly balanced character development and plot, a classic, reassuring storytelling voice, and lovely language, this charming story will delight readers of all ages.
The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde
Shannon Hale
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Flowering Minds
The panel found this story to be equally as entertaining as the prequels in the series and appealing to the young chapter book crowd. Princess Magnolia has to transform into the Princess in Black and head to a field of bunnies. Boys and girls will all be engaged with the story.
Weekends with Max and His Dad
Linda Urban
HMH Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Ashley Martin
Weekends with Max and his Dad by Linda Urban is about Max and his dad enjoying their weekends together. Max and his dad are both adjusting to their new family situation and growing closer in the process. This is an important book that deals with divorce and family changes in a kid friendly way.
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Three
Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Sara Ralph
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? by Kate DiCamillo is about the character Baby Lincoln who is usually bossed around by her older sister Eugenia. But this time Baby Lincoln is going by herself on necessary journey. This touching story is about meeting new friends and Baby Lincoln's journey to find herself and where she belongs. We loved the writing and sweet moments between Baby Lincoln and the characters she meets on her journey
Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction
Shadow Magic
Joshua Khan
Disney-Hyperion
Nominated by: Sussu Leclerc
13-year-old Thorn was just sold as a slave to the executioner of Gehanna, a kingdom famous for its dark magic. Lillith Shadow, also 13, has just become Gehenna’s queen when her parents and brother were mysteriously killed, and must learn to rule the land of the undead. When Thorn and Lily's path cross in Gehenna, the two join forces to find the killer of Lily’s parents, while also trying to stop an assassin targeting Lily. Shadow Magic an action-packed fantasy filled with all manner of creepy characters (dead and alive), including an enormous, and rather helpful, bat. It’s a captivating mystery full of magic, with touches of humor and characters to cheer for. It’s perfect for those who like fantasy with a delightfully Gothic twist.
The Evil Wizard Smallbone
Delia Sherman
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Lizjonesbooks
In fierce Maine winter, with werewolves on the prowl, 12 year old Nick runs from him abusive family and finds himself at the bookstore of the Evil Wizard Smallbone. The wizard won’t let him go, but when he’s not being forced to do chores, he secretly learns magic with the help of the bookstore (it offers him just the right books). Nick’s new magical skills are put the test when the evil leader of the werewolves launches an attack on the town Smallbone is sworn to protect. While Nick’s powers have been growing, Smallbone hasn’t been getting any younger, and the werewolves are formidable foes. This is a tremendously fun, imaginative and captivating story. There are lots of enchantments (including some that go wrong), magical dueling, and a beautifully satisfying twist at the end. Though Smallbone might be an “Evil Wizard,” his bookstore and the snowy Maine landscape around it are lovely places to spend some time (if you don’t mind a few hostile werewolfs….)
The Firefly Code
Megan Frazer Blakemore
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: Sarah Sammis
The Firefly Code tells the story of five friends and one summer that irrevocably changes all of their lives. Set in the future in a fairly idyllic community protected from the ravages of the outside world, the Firefly Five have reached that age when they are beginning to question their reality and the place each of them has in it. Asking questions about ethics in science, the power of community, when it is appropriate to rebel, and what it means to live, The Firefly Code does what truly good science-fiction does best. A mystery, a friendship story, and a quest story all in one, this book will give readers a wonderful thought-provoking journey where they will meet characters they will love and think about long after they close the pages of the book.
The Goblin's Puzzle: Being the Adventures of a Boy with No Name and Two Girls Called Alice
Andrew Chilton
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: E.B.
As a kid Mr. Chilton “gobbled up fantasy novels and logic puzzles.” The Goblin’s Puzzle combines these two interests in a delightful story of goblins, girls named Alice, a nameless boy, and dragons. The Boy is running for his life; the goblin, Mennofar, is a tricky sidekick; and the two Alices, one a princess and the other a commoner, are just trying to keep from being mistaken for one another—because one Alice is going to be kidnapped by the dragon, Ludwig. It’s a rollicking good read with loads of humor, a little bit of logic, and some tricky puzzles. Read it and learn why it’s “hard for a goblin and a human to be friends.”
The Memory Thief
Bryce Moore
Adaptive Books
Nominated by: Kristen
What if you had the opportunity to erase, add or replace memories? Benji discovers a man named Louis at the fair who can do just that. When Benji gets the power to change memories himself, he tries to “fix” his parents, who have decided to divorce. When things go horribly wrong, Benji tries to find Louis again, only to discover he is missing. Instead, he finds himself in the middle of the schemes of Louis’ old apprentice, a woman who wants to use memories for evil and selfish purposes. Benji must use his new skills as a memory thief and random abilities picked up from other people’s memories to stop her, and save his family. It’s a fascinating premise, and though there are light moments (like Benji’s memories of yoga expertise) the overall tone is suspenseful and chilling. The tension keeps growing as the pages turn, driving home the point of the saying of “be careful what you wish for”.
The Voyage to Magical North
Claire Fayers
Henry Holt
Nominated by: Sheila Ruth
If you want to sail on seas full of magic and monsters, looking for a legendary place that might not exist, take a Voyage to Magical North. Two kids, Brine, servant to a very unpleasant wizard, and Peter, the wizard’s apprentice, are captured by pirates and become part of a harrowing effort to reach Magical North, a place of extraordinary dangers and enchantments. Making things even more exciting (in a bad way) is the seriously evil wizard brought on board the pirate ship because he’s needed to help them get to their destination. It’s not just a story of magical voyaging, but also a more universal story of two young people moving past their intense dislike for each other to work together, and to find truths about who they are and what they are capable of. The vivid descriptions of the places and people encountered are enchanting and haunting, and the brisk pace of the adventure keeps the pages turning very nicely indeed.
When the Sea Turned to Silver
Grace Lin
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: PragmaticMom
The final installment in Grace Lin’s loosely connected trio of books based in Chinese folklore, When the Sea Turned to Silver is a beautifully told story that takes the reader on a magical journey through China from mountains to the sea. Told in Lin’s deceptively simple, evocative prose, this is a quest full of adventure and action accompanied by gorgeous, colorful illustrations. The characters come to vivid life and experience friendship, love, community, and power-both good and bad. An excellent read aloud for younger children and equally engrossing as an independent read, When the Sea Turned to Silver is sure to captivate readers of all ages.
Fiction Picture Books
A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals
Lucy Ruth Cummins
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Sondra Eklund
A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
"Once upon a time there was a hungry lion" the book begins, and then lists all the other adorable animals surrounding him. Oh wait, that's not quite right. Let's try listing those animals again. And again. And... where did everybody go? Surprise! Of course the lion didn't eat them all! It's a party! Um....they're going to eat the cake, right? Well....maybe not....
There are quite a few "a hungry animal is going to eat you, no, wait, it's just a party" books, but this one stands out with its triple-twist and giggle-worthy ending. Cummins' bright, colorful illustrations feature an adorable assortment of animals - and a stoic lion with a glare that fits his naughty personality perfectly. Cummins has a perfect sense of timing as she plays out the joke and surprises readers on every page. A Hungry Lion will keep your storytime audience and classes laughing hysterically as they request multiple readings so they can catch every detail.
Ida, Always
Caron Levis
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Jennifer Rumberger
Ida, Always by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Filled with lyrical language and vivid verbs, this book reads like poetry. The story of Gus and Ida touches on death and friendship in a peaceful and hopeful way. The illustrations add depth and power to the well chosen words. The unmistakable bond between Ida and Gus creates an emotional resonance that stays with you long after you’ve read it. You’re reminded that those you’ve lost are right there with with you. Always.
One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree
Daniel Bernstrom
HarperCollins
Nominated by: Heidi G.
One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom and Brendan Wenzel
HarperCollins
"One day in the leaves
of the eucalyptus tree
hung a scare in the air
where no eye could see,
when along skipped a boy
with a whirly-twirly toy,
to the shade of the eucalyptus,
eucalyptus tree."
Are your toes tapping? There's a definite rhythm going that makes this book a natural read-aloud. Children can of course see the snake peeking out of the eucalyptus tree, and that snake gobbles up that boy with the whirly-twirly toy. The boy keeps calm and immediately hatches a plan, convincing the snake to swallow more and more adorably illustrated creatures, until he is finally so full, he...er...burps them all out. Early literacy skills, a feeling of empowerment, fun illustrations, science and social studies extensions, and just plain fun make this a well-rounded addition to the list.
Strictly No Elephants
Lisa Mantchev
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Flowering Minds
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo
Simon and Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
When one little boy and his tiny pet elephant try to participate in Pet Club Day, they are met with a sign that says: Strictly No Elephants. Despite their sadness, they push forward together and ultimately travel from the realization that they do not fit in that club, to a joyful accomplishment and a place where they can celebrate their differences with friends. This well-written and aptly-illustrated book conveys the sadness and sweet success often found in the process of finding true friends and subtly suggests the meaning of friendship.
The Night Gardener
Terry Fan
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Betsy
The Night Gardener by Terry and Eric Fan
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
The Night Gardener is a magical book. A small town is forever changed by the works of the Night Gardener, a mysterious man who creates new topiaries out of the local trees each night. One little boy, William, is impacted a bit more. One night after celebrating with the neighbors late into the night, William comes upon the Night Gardener and gets to help him create many creations in the local park. Though the trees only last until fall, the community is never the same again. And a small gift from the Night Gardener inspires William for a life time.
The text in this book is fairly minimal, with no more than a few sentences per two-page spread. The illustrations begin in muted tones with only the topiaries in color. But as the story progresses and the people in the neighborhood are impacted by the Night Gardener's sculptures, they begin to appear in color as well. By the end of the book, the whole town is in full color, appearing as vibrant and alive as the people of the town. This book is perfect for kids ages 4-8.
There's a Bear on My Chair
Ross Collins
Nosy Crow Books
Publisher/ Author Submission
There’s a Bear on My Chair written and illustrated by Ross Collins
Nosy Crow (Candlewick)
"There's a bear on my chair!"
Where?
On my chair!
I declare! A bear on my chair!
A mouse arrives home and discovers an enormous polar bear is sitting on his chair. How far will the mouse go to remove that bear from his chair?
There's a Bear on My Chair is a exuberant tale filled with surprising rhyme and unexpected plot twists and wild mouse mood swings. This is a book children will ask to hear over and over again, with side benefits: you will love reading it over and over, and it will soon be a book children will find they can read solo.
Dare to ensnare this rare and extraordinaire bear-chair affair, There's a Bear on My Chair.
They All Saw a Cat
Chronicle Books
Nominated by: PragmaticMom
They All Saw a Cat by Brian Wenzel
Chronicle Books
“The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . .”
When you see a cat, what do you see? A child sees a cute calico cat and wants to pet the kitty. But a mouse sees a large black cat with yellow crazed eyes, large pointed teeth, and long sharp claws ready to pounce. It is all a matter of perspective in Brendan Wenzel’s debut. He gives children twelve animals' vision of the cat. The beautiful images will have children thinking about size and perspective, giving them a new view of their world.
Graphic Novels
Elementary/Middle Grade
Bera the One-Headed Troll
Eric Orchard
First Second Books
Nominated by: Sarah Sammis
Bera the one-headed troll lives peacefully on a lonely island, growing pumpkins for the king, but when she finds a human baby, she sets out to find the troll heroes of legend to help her deliver the infant to a human village, all the while attempting to escape the witch Cloote, who wants the baby for her own. The lovely art, full of fascinating details, draws the reader in, and the cast of unique characters keeps the reader engrossed. Bera is a character to love and to cheer for. The implied lore of the world is also vast and exciting, giving the depth to the story at hand.
Compass South (Four Points)
Hope Larson
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Nominated by: Amy
The start of an exciting new series, Compass South follows twins Alex and Cleo on an epic adventure. From street gangs to pirate ships, jungles to the wild frontier we get to see Alex and Cleo set off in search of gold and find treasures much more valuable: good friends, clues about their mysterious past, and appreciation for family. Full color art, quick pacing, and interesting characters make this book a pleasure to read. The setup for the next book is solid, but the end of this volume is happy and satisfying.
Lowriders to the Center of the Earth (Book 2) (Lowriders in Space)
Cathy Camper
Chronicle Books
Nominated by: Lwad
There's so much to love about the Lowriders series-- the unique art style, the opportunity for readers to pick up casual Spanish with the bilingual-lite conversations, and the sheer craziness of a world in which the three main characters are a mosquito, an octopus named El Chavo Flapjack, and a female impala who's a mechanical genius. Lowriders to the Center of the Earth takes the quest for a lost cat and weaves it into a grand adventure, introducing readers to Hispanic cultural figures such as La Llorna, Mictlantecuhtli the god of the underworld, the chupacabra, lucha libres, and Genie the cat's legendary alter ego. This book is one wild and crazy ride, with obvious educational merits. Well done, Lowriders.
Mighty Jack
Ben Hatke
First Second Books
Nominated by: Charlotte
Ever read the fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk” and have a child immediately question why Jack was acting so foolish? Ben Hatke’s take on Jack is occasionally foolish—what kid isn’t?—but more often thoughtful and mature as he navigates watching his autistic younger sister Maddy and helping his thoroughly overworked mother during summer break. As the first book, Hatke gives readers a glimpse into the magical while staying firmly rooted in the realistic obstacles Jack’s family faces. The artwork is beautiful and simple, matching the tone of the story perfectly while the book itself moves at a brisk pace. Full of wonder and engaging characters, Mighty Jack is the solution for anyone who ever thought Jack was too foolish.
Princess Princess Ever After
Katie O'Neill
Oni Press
Nominated by: Stormy
Originally a web comic, Princess Princess Ever After is a fantasy about Amira and Sadie, two princesses who don’t quite fit the role they’re cast in. O’Neill’s story features swashbuckling, magic, romance and bravery as the two come upon a hapless prince with no clue how to rescue a damsel, a misunderstood rampaging giant and how to deal with their insecurities about who they are. The graphic novel shines as it explores gender identity and societal norms without ever casting judgement on the choices the characters make. Filled with humor, bright colors and relatable issues, Princess Princess Ever After is a delightful read for all ages.
The Nameless City
Faith Erin Hicks
First Second Books
Nominated by: Compass Book Ratings
The Nameless City has the feeling of an epic novel, with unique but ancient settings and the implication of uncountable untold stories surrounding its main characters, Kaiyu and Rat. However, it doesn't present the usual two sides of good and evil in battle-- rather we see the complexity of the situation where one group occupies a place and tries to make it their own, whether or not its residents are cooperative. Both sides are presented in a realistic and compassionate light, and the peaceful resolution at the end is both believable and heartening. The worldbuilding is also superb in this story-. We hope there will be others in this series, as there's a lot of room to grow.
The Wolves of Currumpaw
Flying Eye Books
Nominated by: Julie Rowan-Zoch
With its narrative prose instead of dialogue, large pages, and use of wordless images Wolves of Currumpaw could best be described as a picture book for teens. It's the story of Ernest Thompson Seton chase and capture of Old Lobo, a wolf who was terrorizing cattle ranchers in New Mexico. Some of the most poignant parts of this story are depicted in l postage-stamp size images, such as the duplicitous relationship between European settlers and Native American tribes and the development of bridges and railways to facilitate movement into nature. Readers are reminded that our if we change nature, we too will be changed. While this story ends on a redemptive note, readers of all ages will be able to ask questions about whether we're doing enough to protect nature.
Young Adult
Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey
Ozge Samanci
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Nominated by: Linda Baie
Dare to Disappoint follows the main character Ozge as she grows up in Turkey. This autobiographical graphic novel has an interesting art style that feels a lot like a scrapbook. It captures Ozge’s spirit as she faces the challenges of her life. She is struggling to figure out who she wants to be, while also fighting the expectations of her family and society. She a strong character brought vividly to life. Perfect for fans of Persepolis, and any reader looking for a fresh perspective on life.
Faith Volume 1: Hollywood and Vine
Jody Houser
Valiant books
Nominated by: Tiffa
Faith features a diverse, likable cast with an interesting premise. The titular character is very human, characterized with flaws and believable motivations. The story starts in medias res, when we meet Faith as an established superhero. She has to gather her friends back together to defeat a mysterious alien threat. Fortunately, she is plucky and powerful enough to do what it takes. Faith is a great addition to the ranks of strong women superheros!
Lucky Penny
Ananth Hirsh & Yuko Ota
Oni Press
Publisher/ Author Submission
"If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all" pretty much Describe's Penny's view of her life when this story opens. But what she lacks in luck she more than makes up for in determination, adaptability and imagination, as well as a wicked sense of humor. With clear, engaging artwork, surreal humor, and a character that readers will cheer for, Lucky Penny is a winner.
March: Book Three
John Lewis
Top Shelf Productions
Nominated by: Becky L.
Georgia Congressman John Lewis's memoir about his time as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement uses stark black and white artistry to evoke painful emotions about a pressing time in our nation's history and the fight that continues today. The three volumes in the series use President Obama's 2009 inauguration as an opportunity for John Lewis to reflect on how much progress our country has made, but even that optimism doesn't quite soften the blow for the unnecessary deaths and inconceivable injustices participants on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement faced. Police violence, elected officials who turn a blind eye, allies who think of politics before justice, and in-group fighting among the protesters -- this book feels more like a how-to manual for ethical protest in today's world than a history of what was.
Monstress Volume 1: Awakening
Marjorie Liu
image comics
Nominated by: Charlotte
At first look Monstress is a beautiful, terrifying comic that blends Asian mythology, fantasy and elements of horror. The world is richly detailed by artist Sana Takeda’s steampunk meets art-deco style (pay special attention to the detailing on the clothing) while writer Marjorie Liu offers a tale of racism, war and violent magic. Maika’s struggles to control her power and find answers as to why her mother was murdered are just the tip of the iceberg as Liu explores the difficulties of surviving in a post-war era. As an opening volume to the series this book draws you in to learn the secrets of the world vast in scope and imagination.
Ms. Marvel Vol. 5: Super Famous
G. Willow Wilson
Marvel Books
Nominated by: Sussu Leclerc
Packed with mad science, superhero action, humor and heart, Super Famous can stand alone. Despite the fact that it is volume 5 in the series, new readers will have enough context to enjoy Kamala's adventure and fans of the series will enjoy this installment even more. Now that Ms. Marvel has joined the Avengers, she is finding herself pressed for time. Can she take her superhero skills to the next level and still keep her grades up? What about when her brother and her best friend both announce they have girlfriends she knew nothing about? Character growth, solid art, and themes that teens can relate to make Super Famous stand out. The fun of this series is that it mixes genre tropes with Muslim-American life, and Super Famous delivers that fun in a big way.
Trashed
Derf Backderf
Harry N Abrams
Nominated by: Gary Anderson
Part infographic, part memoir, part Beavis-and-Butthead style grossout, Trashed raises issues about the important civil service work of trash collecting in a relatively uncivil way. Backderf's long-nosed, narrow, and awkwardly lumpy protagonists are vaguely turd-shaped, which makes sense given their line of work and their proclivity for potty-mouthed language. However, trash isn't the only filthy thing going on in this volume: what's even more disgusting is the way the men in desk jobs treat those on active curbside duty. (Duty... get it?)
This book is bound to appeal to a range of teen readers, either because Backderf takes an ordinary copy and makes us care about it or because it's a tale with no clear hero in sight. It should also serves as a model for future authors and artists who want to create narrative nonfiction or hybrid nonfiction.
Middle-Grade Fiction
Full of Beans
Jennifer L. Holm
Random House Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: PragmaticMom
Beans Curry is going to give it to you straight. He knows that when grown-ups don’t always tell the truth. So when his mom says everything is going to be okay even though there are no jobs for anyone on the island of Key West, he knows she’s lying to make him feel better. He can hardly blame her for it seeing as how he lies to make his little brothers feel better. The truth is life isn’t easy in Key West, Florida in 1934. No one has a lot of money, but Beans is enterprising enough to come up with his own ways of making a little extra money for his family. Though some of his monkey-making efforts have unexpected consequences that leave Beans looking to make amends by way of cleaning up Key West with the New Dealers.
From the very first sentence in which Beans declares all grown-ups liars, Full of Beans draws readers in with humor and heart as it brings a charming cast of characters to life in a fascinating time and place. An author’s note with historical details and photographs closes out this entertaining novel.
Ghost (Track)
Jason Reynolds
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Abby Johnson
Castle “Ghost” Crenshaw can run. He may not have any formal training, but he’s counting on his natural talent to get him where he wants to be. Track isn’t a real sport anyway, he thinks. It’s just a way for him to show off. When an attempt to show off lands him a spot on an elite youth track team, he assumes he’ll be a star. After all, he’s been running for years. That’s what kept him safe when his father came after Ghost and his mother with a gun three years ago. His father may be in jail now, but that doesn’t mean that the trauma of that night is past for Ghost. He’s still running away from the memories and the anger he feels, but being on the track team shows him that there may be a way forward for him. There may be something worth running toward.
Ghost is a candid coming of age story starring an endearing but imperfect character that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse
Joseph Marshall
Amulet
Nominated by: Sussu Leclerc
The road trip is an American tradition. Road trip stories most often are treated as a rite of passage for young white men. Here, though, it's a chance for a Lakota grandfather to help his bullied grandson, Jimmy, to learn his people’s history and gain the self confidence he needs to face his bullies. Woven into the modern day trip through historic sites is the tale of Light Hair who faced his own adversity to become the leader and hero, Crazy Horse. Superior writing, great place descriptions of historical sites and a warm and supportive relationship with a grandfather make In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse a welcome addition to the list of road trip books.
Ms. Bixby's Last Day
John David Anderson
Walden Pond Press
Nominated by: Brenda
Ms. Bixby is the type of teacher that students remember long after the school year has ended. She is the type of teacher that makes kids feel like they matter, and when she falls ill and is unable to complete the school year, her students are left without the opportunity to say goodbye. In this touching, powerful book, three students (Topher, Brand, and Steve) set out to make sure that their one-of-a kind teacher, Ms. Bixby, knows exactly how much she means to them. And she means a lot. The boys embark on a risky, often hilarious day-long journey to give her the “last day” she had wished for. The writing in this novel is authentic, and has the perfect marriage of humor and heart. A reader will not get through this remarkable story of a teacher’s impact without a box of tissues nearby.
Save Me a Seat
Sarah Weeks
Scholastic
Nominated by: Maria Gianferrari
Joe has lived in New Jersey his entire life. Ravi has just moved to New Jersey from Bangalore. As they start grade five, both face new challenges. Ravi discovers he is no longer a star pupil as he was in India. His attempts to befriend Dillon Samreen (an American-born Indian) don’t go over as he expects. Joe’s best friends have moved away and his mom now supervises lunch, giving Dillon an additional excuse to pick on Joe beyond his auditory processing disorder. Over the course of one hectic week, Joe and Ravi move beyond misunderstandings and snap judgements to overcome their common challenge - Dillon. Narrated in alternating chapters by the very real voices of Ravi and Joe, Save Me a Seat offers a fresh take on bullying and friendship narratives.
Slacker
Gordon Korman
Scholastic
Nominated by: Amy
Cameron is an avid video gamer, but when he is so concentrated on a game that he doesn't take a casserole out of the oven and the local firemen respond and ax through the front door, his parents are NOT pleased. They insist that Cameron participate in other activities and get out of the basement. His attempt to get around this develops into a huge community project and lots of laughs. Video gaming is big with students, but there are few books that portray tweens with this interest. The brilliance of Slacker is that it includes the subtle message that kids can change the world, delivered with a large dose of humor that includes an elderly beaver and immolating ziti . Korman’s many years of middle grade writing are evident in Slacker’s great balance of knee-slapping humor and social issues.
Some Kind of Happiness
Claire Legrand
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: CDwivedi
There’s no denying that anxiety and depression is prevalent in the lives of our young people today, which makes Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand both a timely and important novel. Beyond this, it is simply a exquisitely-crafted work that deals with secrets, new-found friends, and a longing for a place within one’s own family. Finley, a young girl who often finds herself sad, finds solace by writing in her notebook about a magical world called the Everwood. She is sent away to her grandparents’ home for the summer while her parents work out their marital problems. Upon arrival, she is thrust into an extended family, people she barely knows. During the summer, Finley makes new friends, explores the mysterious woods behind her grandparents’ home, and helps uncover a family secret that allows her to better understand both herself and her family. The novel weaves between the events in Finley’s life and her imaginative writings about the Everwood. This is simply some of the most beautiful writing of the year.
Poetry
Booked
Kwame Alexander
HMH Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: PragmaticMom
Booked by Kwame Alexander
HMH Books for Young Readers
Nick Hall is a typical eighth grader who loves soccer and hates school. Unfortunately, he has a father who is a linguistics professor afflicted with chronic verbomania.* Nick's father loves words so much that he has written a dictionary, Weird and Wonderful Words, which he is forcing Nick to read, one letter at a time. And of course, his father is much more interested in developing his son's cognitive abilities than in supporting Nick's passion for soccer.
Most of Nick's problems are typical middle school dilemmas-- boring classes, budding interest in a girl, and dealing with the school bullies, twins who steal Nick's bike. And of course the book has a couple of caring adults- one of whom happens to be a former Grammy-winning rapper turned school librarian, Mr. MacDonald. Nick's life takes an unexpected turn when his parents inform him they are separating and his mother is moving out of state to return to her first love, training horses.
What's not typical about this book are Kwame Alexander's poems. Alexander uses a variety of poetic forms- including free verse, acrostics, found poems, and many others. And thanks to Nick's father, there's tons of interesting and unusual vocabulary- codswalloped, limerence, cacchinate, to name a few.
A novel-in-verse that's sure to engage even the most reluctant reader.
*a love of words
Fresh Delicious
Irene Latham
Wordsong
Nominated by: Linda Baie
Fresh Delicious - Poems from the Farmer’s Market by Irene Latham, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi WordSong Press Nominated by: Linda at TeacherDance Irene Latham’s poems and Mique Moriuchi’s illustrations bring to the reader one of the colorful pleasures of summer in this “fresh” and “delicious” poetry. Here we go into the farmer’s market, baskets on our arms. They might be filled with "a fleet of green submarines" (cucumbers), " a "mountain of mice-sized swords" (okra) or "rows upon rows/of tiny noses" (corn on the cob). The poems open the senses to new ideas about fruits and vegetables found. They are mouth-watering to imagine through the words, with illustrations that show the animals shopping in the happiest of ways. In the poem Wild Honey, Irene writes that it makes "our tongues/buzz/with pleasure." In this book of poetry, readers will do the same. Irene also shares recipes after the market shopping, just right for kids to help with the cooking.
Garvey's Choice
Nikki Grimes
Wordsong
Nominated by: MissRumphius
Grimes, Nikki. 2016. Garvey’s Choice. Boyds Mill/Wordsong. A middle grade verse novel that strikes at the heart of early adolescent angst, Grimes has given us a heartfelt, realistic portrayal of what it means for a young person to navigate school, friendships and family life. Garvey, who is overweight and not the athlete his father hoped he would be, has dreams of his own. Written in tanka, Grimes’ short verses pack an emotional punch, sharing the highs and lows of Garvey’s journey to figure out who he is, while simultaneously making himself happy and his father proud. Father and son eventually find that connection, and I dare you not to tear up when they do. Grimes has a gift for getting to the heart of middle school angst and gives readers a boy they will love and won’t soon forget.
Guess Who, Haiku
Deanna Caswell
Harry N Abrams
Nominated by: Kortney Garrison
Guess Who, Haiku by Deanna Caswell is a fun introduction to the puzzle of poetry. Each spread presents a farm animal's poem--a riddle in haiku form--on bright pages with simple, engaging illustrations by Bob Shea.
The familiar barnyard animals and the rhythm and rhyme of the repeating lines make this an excellent read-aloud. It's the perfect book for groups of mixed age children at library storytime or at home. The youngest children will enjoy the riddles while older children will want to take up the writing challenge.
Deanna Caswell plays with language, and then invites her readers to join the fun! The delightful end matter continues the game and helps to answer the last, most surprising riddle of all.
The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary
Laura Shovan
Wendy Lamb Books
Nominated by: Adrienne Gillespie
Shovan, Laura. 2016. The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary. New York: Random House Books. A teacher and her students work together to try to save their school from demolition in this novel in verse snapshot of one fifth grade class across a whole school year. Ms. Hill’s class of 18 students includes a mix of boys and girls, twins, Spanish speakers, children from a variety of cultural backgrounds, shy kids, leaders, friends, “frenemies,” all trying to express themselves through poetry. Each poem reflects an individual point of view that changes and grows over the year contributing to a complete narrative detailing their classroom dynamics as well as their struggle to take an active stand for their school. Shovan effectively employs 17 different forms of poems throughout this novel in verse including acrostic, concrete, diamante, epistolary, fib, found, free verse, haiku, limerick, list, narrative, ode, rap, rhyming, senryu, sonnet and tanka poems. This is an engaging school-based story in poems that can inspire young readers to become activists in their communities and to consider writing poetry as a vehicle for achieving some of their goals.
To Stay Alive: Mary Ann Graves and the Tragic Journey of the Donner Party
Skila Brown
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Jonemac
TO STAY ALIVE: Mary Ann Graves and the Tragic Journey of the Donner Party
by Skila Brown
Candlewick
Skila Brown brings to life one of the most fascinating and chilling stories in American History, the story of the Donner Party. This ill-fated party began their westward journey from Illinois to California in the spring of 1846. An ill advised detour proves deadly as less than half of the party actually survived.
Through the eyes of 19-year-old, Mary Ann Graves, readers travel on the trail with her family.
Skila’s poems match the mood of the party. In the beginning, they are light with a quick tempo. But as the travel slows, challenges surface along with danger, and so does the cadence and tone of Mary Ann’s voice. Readers are with her during that ominous snowstorm. when the entire party takes shelter and are forced into cannibalism to survive.
Skila captures a compelling story of adventure, despair and survival that readers will want to read again and again.
When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons
Julie Fogliano
Roaring Brook Press
Nominated by: Sara Ralph
When Green Becomes Tomatoes Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano
Roaring Brook Press
When Green Becomes Tomatoes Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano gently leads the reader through a year's worth of journal entry poems to celebrate the seasons. Written without capitalization or punctuation, the poems take advantage of caesuras and spacing on the page to draw the reader through the poems. There is a Zen like/haiku feeling of discovery in the short poems.
These poems frolic in nature and provide fresh language for young ones just learning language and for jaded old timers who need new ways of seeing and discovering their environment.
Elementary/Juvenile Nonfiction
Elementary Nonfiction
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
Lindsay Mattick
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: ktmgiorgio
Who hasn’t heard of Winnie-the-Pooh? He is one of the most popular characters in children’s literature. Finding Winnie presents a true account of the bear that inspired A.A. Milne’s stories set in the 100 Acre Wood. The source of the “silly old bear’s” namesake is a baby bear, rescued by veterinarian and WWI soldier, Harry Coleburn. This narrative nonfiction story pulls at the heartstrings of the reader, and everyone that has loved a pet will feel joy in response to the sweet relationship between Harry and Winnie. The author, Lindsay Mattick, reveals that she has named her own son, Cole, after Harry Coleburn, creating an interesting parallel. This makes Finding Winnie not just a historical story, but also a personal one. Sophie Blackall’s award-winning illustrations match the warmth of the text, and make readers want to linger over every page. Ultimately, Finding Winnie is not just a book for fans of Winnie-the-Pooh, but for anyone who is a fan of stories.
Giant Squid
Candace Fleming
Roaring Brook Press
Nominated by: Lackywanna
From the delay of the title page to Eric Rohmann’s murky, deep sea illustrations, Giant Squid is a mystery just like the creature represented in its pages. Candace Fleming’s choice of poetic text and the squirming, writhing layout of each line keeps the reader swaying as if being rocked by the ocean’s tides. More forceful spreads when the giant squid captures its prey are accompanied by thick, powerful paragraphs. A more traditionally labelled diagram following the story will help young readers identify each part of a giant squid and the author’s note goes into further detail about what we do and do not yet know about the giant squid. We loved the font choice of each back matter header and the inclusion of an extensive bibliography as well as other books about giant squid will keep young scientists busy. The acknowledgements indicate collaboration with experts in the field and the section “Searching for Giant Squid Online” includes websites, but more intriguing, some of the first ever captured video footage of giant squid by Dr. Edith Widder. Just as the giant squid has eluded predators and scientists, the squid portrayed on the pages by Eric Rohmann escapes us as well in a cloud of ink and a vanishing tentacle. Fortunately, readers will love to seize this book and not let go, learning more about this creature hidden from view and yet brought to life on these pages by Fleming and Rohmann.
Pink Is For Blobfish: Discovering the World's Perfectly Pink Animals (The World of Weird Animals)
Jess Keating
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Sondra Eklund
“The World of Weird Animals” says it all. I have never even heard of a blobfish, but there one is, right on the cover. The animals in this book are all fascinating and unusual, and oddly, they are all pink! But being pink is nearly the only trait they share - showing us all that the wild and weird diversity of the Animal Kingdom is truly remarkable. A slug, a bug, a dolphin, a rat, a fish and more are revealed in all their poisonous, slimy and prickly glory. If you think you know what each of these creatures looks and acts like, think again! Zoologist Jess Keating delivers every fascinating detail. Each featured animal has a full page picture making it easy to examine every nuance of their interesting and unusual bodies. Each animal also gets a page of nicely formatted interesting facts, kind of like a baseball card. The facts cover species name, size, diet, habitat and predator threats. Also included are surprising stories about how each animal lives - “A Day in the Life of a Blobfish” kind of stories. As if the pictures and the facts aren’t enough, these stories show the animals in all their unique, unusual and amazing glory. “Pink is for Blobfish” is a smile and an “Oh!….wow!” after every page turn!
Plants Can't Sit Still (Millbrook Picture Books)
Rebecca E. Hirsch
Millbrook Press
Nominated by: Joanne Roberts
Plants Can't Sit Still is a delightfully creative look at a characteristic of plants which is often overlooked...their movement. Plants can move. Blossoms grow toward the sun. Roots snake along the ground. Many plants react to their environment. Some flowers fold up for the night. Some fold up when touched. The author also highlights plants which move in more unusual ways, like the tumbleweed and the squirting cucumber. Lastly, the text explores how plants travel: their seeds floating, flying, hitchhiking, and whirling through the air. From cockleburs to coconuts, seeds are designed to travel to new places where conditions are good for growing new plants. The back matter contains a more detailed summary of plant behavior. Along with a glossary, descriptions of each species, and an author's note explaining how she researched the plants in the book, Rebecca Hirsch includes recommended reading, and links to venus fly trap videos and accelerated growth footage. Mia Posada's art is perfectly suited to the text. The illustrated plants climb, slither, and squirm their way across the pages in earthy watercolor collages. Plants Can't Sit Still is beautifully written, using active verbs and energetic fonts. The ending circles back to wording from the beginning, mimicking the plant life cycle. The text is lyrical and the author avoids rhyme in favor of vigorous prose, inviting readers themselves to move, through the pages and back again.
Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about Kindness
Donna Janell Bowman
Lee & Low Books, Inc.
Nominated by: AYW
Step Right Up is an extraordinary story about a horse who could read, write, spell and do math. This is also a story about William "Doc" Key, a formerly enslaved and later self-taught veterinarian who, through sheer kindness and compassion, stumbled upon this extraordinary horse, took care of it and later "educated" it. This is a relatively untold story, one that is unique in so many aspects. It highlights the many struggles faced by Doc during the 1800's, a period when segregation had a stronghold in many states. It showcases the uncanny patience and compassion of a man who experienced slavery firsthand. Finally, it highlights the importance of everyday kindness and generosity towards animals. The story unfolds through richly colored, bold-lined, high contrast illustrations which are perfect for a period book like this one. There is so much going on with this story, but it still feels easy to read. Step Right Up is a story that you will keep going back to read and recommend.
The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman (2016-01-05)
Susan E. Goodman
Bloomsbury USA
Nominated by: Jonemac
In 1847, a police officer escorted four-year-old Sarah Roberts home from her all-white Boston classroom. This scene launches the story of her family's legal, political, and social battles to gain equal educational opportunities for Sarah and all children of color. It’s an unfamiliar footnote to history, but laid the groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education more than a century later. Despite setbacks in Sarah’s case, in 1855 Boston became the first major American city to integrate its schools. "Every big change has to start somewhere". In the back matter Goodman directly addresses readers, discussing reliable research sources, making decisions about "cloudy" aspects of history, and modern language within historical context when the words used for people of color at the time were insulting and demeaning. A timeline of landmark desegregation events includes a challenge to readers to decide for themselves which are steps forward and which were steps back.The text is flawlessly written. Gorgeous illustrations convey the mood, the shifting perspectives, and details of the time period. Illustrator E. B. Lewis creates powerful images of a well-dressed, free, African American family, their urban setting, and aspects of their community that contrast starkly with Southern and slavery-based stereotypes. First steps, next steps, and the ones coming after form a chain of strength and hope.
Tortuga Squad: Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica
Cathleen Burnham
Crickhollow Books
Nominated by: Patricia Tilton
Presented as a photodocumentary, Tortuga Squad: Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica by Cathleen Burnham is a real-life story about a group of kids working together to save the endangered sea turtles that nest on the sandy beaches of their Caribbean island. The colorfully detailed photographs, enriched with maps, drawings, and turtle facts, keep readers engaged in the dramatic story and give them a taste of what life is like for children in Costa Rica. Traditionally, turtle meat and eggs have been a standard part of the local diet for generations, so even though hunting them is now technically illegal, there are still many people who kill turtles for food or take their eggs. The kids from Parismina Island have banded together to patrol the beaches in order to protect the turtles and their nests, and even to help escort hatchlings to the sea, protecting them from predators. With their actions and enthusiasm, the children have also helped to start changing the attitudes of their parents and grandparents, making them partners in saving the endangered animals. Cathleen Burnham’s book gives readers insight into the broader world and the power of kids to make a positive change.
Juvenile Nonfiction
Animal Planet Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals
Charles Ghigna and Animal Planet
Time Inc Books
Publisher/ Author Submission
Did you know the thorny dragon grows a false head to distract predators? Or that the Malayan Tapir can bend its flexible nose to use it as a snorkel while swimming? Fun factoids abound in Animal Planet’s “Strange Unusual Gross and Cool Animals!” The book is sectioned into four parts (for each part of the title) and each includes featured creatures, galleries, creature collections, and a macroview. Each featured creature spread includes a map highlighting the creature’s habitat. A number of experts are cited in the acknowledgements and the photo credits are extensive. The oversized format of this book makes it perfect for spreading out on the floor for an afternoon of exploration. Readers young and old will love being surprised by the vivid photography and fantastic facts. Pucker up to the red-lipped batfish (a fish that can’t swim…along with the psychedelic frog fish) and fall in love with “Strange Unusual Gross and Cool Animals”.
Floodwaters and Flames: The 1913 Disaster in Dayton, Ohio
Lois Miner Huey
Millbrook Press
Nominated by: Ami Jones
Hurricane Katrina, 2005. The Johnstown Pennsylvania Flood, 1889 The Great Dayton Flood of 1913. What? You haven’t heard of that last one? You should have. This book provides ample arguments to rank Dayton’s flood as one of the most significant disasters in American history. A confluence of forces created a flood of unimaginable proportions: a rogue and persistent weather system, the geography and topography of rivers and valleys, and the cautionary voice of one who had “cried wolf” once too often about impending floods and was ignored. Specific decisions and innovative thinking by key players from widely varied walks of life saved countless lives and spawned the federal agency now known as FEMA. Those individuals were diverse in experience, nature, location, and prominence, including Katharine and Wilbur Wright and Bill Sloan, a Negro League star. All are portrayed through archival photographs, quotations, clippings, and maps, woven into dramatic text that reads like a thriller. The well-researched story is a winner in itself, but is further enhanced by “water-stained” pages and comprehensive back matter: author’s note, timeline, source notes, glossary, index, and follow-up resources. This reads from first page to last as a docu-drama and has all the attraction of a blockbuster film. It doesn’t disappoint.
Masters of Disguise: Amazing Animal Tricksters
Rebecca L. Johnson
Millbrook Press
Nominated by: Gramma
Rebecca Johnson is back with another fascinating and engrossing book on certain peculiar animal behaviors. Masters of disguise is a book that explores the abilities of some very unique creatures in the way they deceive others to hunt, hide, or disguise themselves for survival. 8 chapters profile 8 interesting creatures. Whether it’s the Harlequin fish hiding in the coral reefs or assassin bug carrying a cloak of ant corpses on its back, kids will delight in the close up photography and the narrative in each chapter. Each chapter also has a section titled "The science behind the story" explaining how scientists discovered this particular animal behavior. The "Meet the Scientists" gallery at the back introduces the various people behind these discoveries. Masters of Disguise is clever and engrossing and reads like a page turner. This one is not to miss!
Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White
Melissa Sweet
Harcourt
Nominated by: Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
E.B. White is best known for his children’s books. Charlotte’s Web, the Newbery Honor winner from 1952, and Stuart Little are introduced to new groups of students each year and have gained popularity through successful film renditions. But how many readers know about his life and personal passions? Sweet’s biography, aided by White’s personal papers, gives insight into the man behind the stories. Using a scrapbook style of presenting illustrations and photographs, the reader can pore over the most intimate details of White’s life, including his love of the outdoors, his fear of public speaking, and the devoted relationship he had with his wife, Katharine. Sweet uses quotes from White’s entire body of work, from the essays he wrote in his childhood to his work at The New Yorker to his personal letters. These quotes reflect on White’s thoughts and experiences and illustrate how strongly his life and his work were intertwined. In the vast collection of biographies published this year, Some Writer glistens like the dew in Charlotte’s Web, and its contents will wonder and amaze readers of all ages.
The Inventors of LEGO Toys (Awesome Minds)
Erin Hagar
Duo Press Llc
Nominated by: Gary Anderson
Erin Hagar documents the story of the Lego company from its modest beginnings with young Ole Kirk, a shepherd wood carver, who went on to begin his business in carpentry and adjust to toy making following the Great Depression (and several other depressing events in his personal life, including a devastating fire and the loss of his wife and the mother to his four boys). The Lego Company’s most well-known creation, the Lego brick, was named the “toy of the century” in 2000. Each event between demonstrates the creativity and problem solving that made the Lego company (and this book) a global success.
Paige Garrison includes blueprints for both factory buildings and the bricks themselves and the visual of Lego bricks wrapping around the world is pretty impressive. The design of the book itself is blocky, utilizing the primary colors so well-known in the Lego system.
I’d love to say that I think young readers will love this book, but I can do better. I know it. Because in my library, they already do! A fifth grade student began research in late November for an informational writing piece on the inventors of Lego and his teacher emailed me to see if we might be able to point him in the right direction. Since I had a copy from the publisher, I was able to save the day and deliver just what he needed. This book flew off the shelves before I could even get it on one. Readers and builders young and old will love this story of ingenuity and cutting-edge thinking.
The Slowest Book Ever
April Pulley Sayre
Boyds Mills Press
Nominated by: Katy Manck
Sometimes it is nice to sit back and contemplate the slow things in life. The Slowest Book Ever by April Pulley Sayre, with illustrations by Kelly Murphy, is a celebration of those kinds of things. In a world where events are commonly measured in nanoseconds and we are obsessed with determining what’s the fastest, this book asks you to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and take the time to contemplate timely thoughts like the growth of a saguaro cactus, which takes roughly 15 years to reach the great height of 1 inch, and to consider chewy ideas, like the fact that the Atlantic Ocean is widening at roughly the same rate that your fingernails grow. A treasure trove of information about things slow—in nature, geology, art, outer space and inside our own bodies, the book is broken into short, thematic chunks that are enlivened by humorous and engaging illustrations. It also contains a glossary of chewy words and an exceptional compilation of endnotes that will allow the curious to pursue the slow things in life. All in all, this book is worth savoring.
Will's Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk
Jane Sutcliffe
Charlesbridge
Nominated by: Nancy Tandon
Will's Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk starts out as a history of the Globe Theatre, but ends up as a witty introduction to the wordplay of the Bard. Author Jane Sutcliffe organizes her text into a narrative snapshot of Elizabethan London centered around the playgoers at the Globe, but into this structure, she layers facts about Shakespeare's plays and details about the time period. Each time the author uses a phrase which William Shakespeare originated or popularized, it appears in bold print. Sidebars containing Will's words, their meaning, and how they're used in his plays, invite readers to further investigation. The story is bookended by author's notes. The back matter includes a timeline of Shakespeare's life and extensive bibliography. Sutcliffe subtly demonstrates how a living language evolves and how popular media stimulates that change. The text's jaunty rhythm is infused with humor. She introduces the origins of the "wild-goose chase", explains what it means to get your "money's worth", and how "too much of a good thing" (like gummy worms) does not lead to our "heart's content." John Shelley's illustrations pair lively ink lines with jewel tone watercolors reminiscent of stained glass. His accurately detailed drawings switch point of view, first high above the city, then down in the Pit with the commoners, from intricate backstage dressing rooms to scenes of bustling London looking like a page from Where's Waldo. The author shows how a heavy subject, handled lightly, can connect with modern readers. While she planned to write the history of one place and time, she instead accomplishes the remarkable task of making kids notice and care about words. And that's the short and the long of it.
Middle Grade Nonfiction
A Storm Too Soon: A Remarkable True Survival Story in 80 Foot Seas (True Storm Rescues)
Michael J. Tougias
Henry Holt
Nominated by: MotherReader
From the author of The Finest Hours, comes another true survival tale. This young readers’ edition is the account three sailors caught in a devastating storm. The book features the perspectives of both the rescuers and the sailors which helps to fill in gaps in the narrative. The book was compelling, full of action, and a real page turner. Fans of “on the edge of your seat” adventures are sure to eat this up.
Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded America
Gail Jarrow
Calkins Creek Books
Nominated by: Deb Nance at Readerbuzz
The plague didn’t go away with the middle ages. Jarrow’s in-depth look at the third plague pandemic includes its visit to the US and how politics and racism stymied doctor’s best efforts to prevent its spread. A fascinating introduction to the medical and social history of a disease we often think is in the distant past, but is still with us today.
Fashion Rebels: Style Icons Who Changed the World through Fashion
Carlyn Cerniglia Beccia
Aladdin
Nominated by: Becky L.
When we think of fashion we might not think of it as a way to rebel or change the world. Yet, in this book, we find twenty five women who used fashion to make their mark. From hairstyles to accessories and everything in between, these women, from Cleopatra to Madonna, changed perceptions and created revolutions. The layout of the book is bright and colorful and the “do it yourself” sections will appeal to budding fashionistas.
Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story
Caren Stelson
Carolrhoda Books
Nominated by: Amanda Snow
On August 9, 1945, Sachiko Yasui’s life changed forever. She was a survivor of the nuclear bomb dropped on Nagasaki. Stelson’s book is the story of Sachiko’s life before, during, and after the disaster, wrapped in an appealing, at times breath-taking, package. Where so many books focus on the damage done by Germany during World War II, this one takes a look at the impact of the US’s involvement. This survivor’s story is engaging, compelling, and will stick with readers long after they turn the last page.
Ten Days a Madwoman: The Daring Life and Turbulent Times of the Original "Girl" Reporter, Nellie Bly
Deborah Noyes
Viking Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Kelly Jensen
Nellie Bly was not a “madwoman,” despite what many who came to know her during her life may have thought. Bly rose to fame during a time women weren’t given the same opportunities as men in most career fields, and in her trade of choice, journalism, women were rarely ever seen, let alone heard. But when Bly takes on a story, wherein she investigates Blackwell’s Island, her name become more and more known in the world of print -- and it was from there that this book showcases some of the wildest adventures she had and the hardest stories on which she reported. This book is packed with appealing sidebars and further insights into Bly, including letters from contemporaries who did and did not think she was doing women good in her career. Readers will find this story of a woman defying the odds, as well as her round-the-world adventures, exciting and compelling. For as far as we’ve come socially, the number of challenges Bly encountered that mirror today’s challenges for so many women and people of color is hard to overlook.
This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration
Linda Barret Osborne
Harry N Abrams
Nominated by: VikingAcademy
An unbiased look that is sometimes hard to read about America and her actions towards immigrants and refugees. This overview focuses on the years between 1800 and 1965 although the issues discussed are still very much at the forefront of the news cycle today. America has a history of exclusion, discrimination, and strife and we repeat the cycle over and over with each new wave of immigrants despite calling ourselves a melting pot. An excellent overview of our entire history it contains a timeline, endnotes and an extensive bibliography which makes this a great research tool.
We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler
Russell Freedman
Clarion Books
Nominated by: Linda Baie
Growing suspicious of Hitler and his regime the Scholl siblings along with a few friends formed the White Rose. Like all young Germans they had joined Hitler’s youth and soon were disillusioned by the Nazi’s controlling ways. They wrote pamphlets of resistance in secret all while going about their daily lives knowing that the penalty if caught would be death. The many photos add to this engaging story that seems more like fiction than the true story of bravery that it is.
Young Adult Nonfiction
Blood Brother: Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights
Rich Wallace
Calkins Creek Books
Nominated by: Sherry Early
On August 20, 1965 Jonathan Daniels was murdered in Lowndes County Alabama, protecting fellow civil-rights activist Ruby Sales. This gorgeously designed book tells of the theology student’s life and the conviction he felt to fight the injustices he saw in his own country. With several other clergy members, Daniels went to Selma for the March to Montgomery but when others returned North, Daniels stayed to work and became part of the community. An inspirational look at a surprisingly little known civil rights martyr.
Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science from Sherlock Holmes to DNA
Bridget Heos
Balzer + Bray
Nominated by: Becky L.
Not just for fans of police procedurals, this engaging look at the history of forensic science is filled with examples covering the late nineteenth century to the present day. A fascinating exploration of how forensics developed and how they’ve been used, and misused, throughout history. Readers will gain a new appreciation and insight into how we solve crimes in real life and on TV.
Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea
Sungju Lee
Amulet
Nominated by: Patricia Tilton
In this intense and at times violent memoir, Sungju Lee takes readers into the heart of being a child living in North Korea, as well as the lengths one will go to find freedom. This part-war, part-survival story is fast paced, heartbreaking, and a powerful look inside one of today’s most tyrannical governments. Sungju’s experiences and insights into life as a refugee are frighteningly timely and powerfully insightful.
In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives
Kenneth C. Davis
Henry Holt
Nominated by: Stephanie Charlefour
Many of our founding fathers were slave owners. This book tells the stories of some of the slaves that were in the households of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson. These men that were well known for their beliefs of equality and independence enslaved other human beings. This well researched book contains some of the only surviving interviews with these slaves. People that should have had their stories told long ago.
Radioactive!: How Irène Curie and Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World
Winifred Conkling
Algonquin Young Readers
Nominated by: Adrienne Gillespie
We might be familiar with The Manhattan Project and other nuclear physics happening on this side of the world during World War II, but what do we know about Europe? Conkling’s excellent dual biography highlights the achievements of two females that science can too easily overlook: Iréne Curie and Lise Meitner. While both women were brilliant and contributed to the world’s understanding of radioactivity and nuclear fission, the way their stories intersect and diverge from one another make this a fascinating and engaging read. These women’s stories are being shared and reclaimed in this book, but more, these women’s stories are being told without shying away from the ways that their accomplishments were overshadowed by men. A powerful read about history, about two important female scientists, all wrapped in a beautiful, appealing package.
The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century
Sarah Miller
Schwartz and Wade Books
Nominated by: Sara Ralph
Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
An infamous crime from over 100 years ago can still captivate a reader. Did she or didn’t she? Though acquitted, no one still really knows whether Lizzie Borden killed her parents. This well-balanced and well-researched account presents the facts and follows the story from the event itself and on through the trial and aftermath. The pacing, photographs, and formatting draw the reader in. The fact that we will probably never know for sure keeps the reader thinking.
The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero
Patricia McCormick
Balzer + Bray
Nominated by: Heidi G.
Why would an avowed pacifist be involved in a plot to assassinate a world leader? Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor who believed the church could be a force for good and should be involved in the problems facing ordinary people. It was this faith that led him urge his fellow clergymen to speak out against Hitler. He then became a spy and helped Jewish people escape before being arrested and executed by the Gestapo. Short chapters help draw the reader into this fascinating story about a man determined to do everything he could to save his country from an evil government.
Young Adult Fiction
A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes Novel)
Brittany Cavallaro
Katherine Tegen Books
Nominated by: Stephanie Burgis
The great-great-great-grandchildren of the infamous Baker Street detective duo, Holmes and Watson, continue the family legacy of unraveling mysteries by…let’s just say non-traditional means. In A Study in Charlotte, Cavallaro delivers a true mystery that offers a unique, twisty plot with elegant nods to Conan Doyle’s creation as well as modern iterations of the idiosyncratic pair. Full of suspense and broadly appealing, A Study in Charlotte stands out from the YA crowd as a genuine tale of mystery.
Beast
Brie Spangler
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Kim Baccellia
In the simplest terms, Beast is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. But there's nothing simple about Brie Spangler's wrenching, heartfelt novel. It deals with body images from a teen boy's perspective--a rarity--and with transgender issues, but it never feels preachy. Dylan is nicknamed Beast due to his size and his rough features, and he lets that nickname (and his own self-loathing) affect his personality, too. When he is required to attend group therapy after falling off the roof--an incident which may not have been entirely accidental--he meets Jamie, a vibrant girl whose sharp wit wins Dylan's affections. His problems with himself are soon compounded by his feelings about Jamie and her identity. The book shows a journey to self-acceptance without becoming saccharine or overwrought. These characters will break your heart and then fix it. Beast is the kind of novel you never forget.
Run
Kody Keplinger
Scholastic Press
Nominated by: Cecilia Cackley
Good girl Agnes has always followed her parents’ rules, knowing they are trying to protect their legally blind daughter in a dangerous world. Agnes has been warned to stay away from Bo, whose mother struggles with addiction and whose family has a reputation for causing trouble. Bo and Agnes become friends and decide to run away before Bo can be trapped in the foster system again. Bo’s bisexuality plays into the plot of the story, but this is not a coming out story or a lesson on bisexuality. Authentic, distinct voices tell each side of this story of a flawed escape plan and a less-than-perfect friendship. Teens and adults will be drawn into this story of an escape from a tough life into something possibly harder.
Salt to the Sea
Ruta Sepetys
Philomel
Nominated by: Compass Book Ratings
As the Nazi Reich collapses and the Soviet army sweeps across the East Prussian countryside in the winter of 1945, three young refugees find themselves thrown together among the crowds of desperate, uprooted travellers. The distinctive voices and histories of Joana ("the nurse"), Florian ("the knight"), and Emilia ("the Polish girl")—each guarding painful secrets—create a harrowing picture of the lives thrown into tumult by the war. A fourth narrative voice, the self-aggrandizing declarations of a young Nazi soldier named Alfred, adds an unsettling counterpoint to the narrative. The fates of the four narrators will converge at the doomed MV Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ship targeted by Russian submarines. Ruta Sepetys brings authenticity and heart to this moving, gorgeously realized work of historical fiction.
The Serpent King
Jeff Zentner
Crown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Esther Braithwaite
Where we come from is part of who we are, but not all of who we can be—this is the hard truth that drew us to The Serpent King. With lambent prose, Jeff Zentner gives us the story of Dill, Travis, and Lydia, three friends looking for a way out of their small Tennessee town and into their true selves. A story of hope and possibility, as Lydia, destined for bigger and brighter things, seeks to help Dill and Travis find their own light. A story of grace and redemption, as Dill and Travis learn that not all the sins of the father are visited upon the son. We loved The Serpent King for its searing portrayal of friendship and its emotional reminder that growth is always loss.
The Weight of Zero
Karen Fortunati
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: MarisaR
Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows it's only a matter of time before she's visited again by Zero, the depression part of her bipolar disorder. She knows there is no cure for her disorder and she doesn't want to continue to be an outcast, so she prepares to take her own life the next time Zero returns. In the meantime, she makes a bucket list to help ease her sense of isolation. Fortunati nails the topic of bipolar disorder and gives a realistic portrayal of the depression side without falling back on stereotypes. An honest voice with a cast of memorable supportive characters make this story a stand-out, along with its overall message of hope.
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp (2016-01-05)
Marieke Nijkamp
Sourcebooks Fire
Nominated by: Katharine Manning
The principal of a small-town high school dismisses students from a start-of-semester assembly, but the students find all the doors have been locked. A masked gunman appears and opens fire. Told through four alternating points of view over fifty-four riveting minutes, This is Where it Ends details the horrific emotional and physical trauma of every parent and student's worse nightmare: a school shooting. Their stories are told in the present with flashbacks that slowly begin to explain their connection to the shooter, Tyler Browne. The four narrators find themselves in different parts of the school when the shooting commences, and each must decide if they should save themselves or attempt to help others. Authentic teen voices and compelling emotional reactions from the four narrators draw the reader into a scene of terror, loss, and heroism.
Young Adult Speculative Fiction
Illuminae
Amie Kaufman
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Maria Gianferrari
ILLUMINAE is a space thriller told in a creative format suitable for the future, containing intership communications, ships’ logs, schematics, and the apparently insane ramblings of artificial intelligence controlling a ship. The book begins with interview transcripts as Kady Grant and Ezra Mason are debriefed after their mining colony was attacked by a rival corporation – the day after they broke up. But escaping the colony didn’t necessarily mean escaping with their lives, and the novel is about the evacuation ships trying to get to safety, with Kady and Ezra on separate ships trying to piece together what’s going on. Obstacles include corporate greed, a zombie-creating virus on an enclosed space ship, military types incompetently trying to keep secrets, artificial intelligence damaged yet gaining power, and an enemy space ship quickly approaching to blow them out of the sky. Mystery, imminent danger, and a touch of romance all come to a satisfying conclusion that will still leave you anxious to read Book Two.
Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas)
Zoraida Cordova
Sourcebooks Fire
Nominated by: Cecilia Cackley
Alex wants nothing more than to be normal. Too bad normal was never in the cards for her, considering she comes from a long line of powerful brujas.
This YA Urban Fantasy never falters in capturing the core struggle of identity, the power of family, or losing its voice for the youth.
Labyrinth Lost takes a teenage Latinx heroine preparing for her Deathday--a fictional coming of age ceremony to come into power--and blends the backdrop of Brooklyn, NY without ever losing its strong cultural influences.
Exploring culture, race and gender would've been a difficult task for any other book except Labyrinth Lost.
Still Life with Tornado
A.S. King
Dutton Books for Young Readers
Publisher/ Author Submission
Sixteen-year-old Sarah is searching for answers about how to live a meaningful, artistic life when nothing original ever happens. No one in her family communicates with each other, and she stops going to school. Eventually, with the help of a ten-year-old version of herself, Sarah discovers that she is a survivor of her family’s dark secrets. Swirling bits of information surrealistically combine to reveal Sarah’s past as readers simultaneously experience a literary tornado. A. S. King’s STILL LIFE WITH TORNADO provides the powerful realization that even though life may throw incomprehensible difficulties at us, we can find ways to cope and understand if we act courageously and think artistically.
The Door at the Crossroads
Zetta Elliott
Rosetta Press
Nominated by: Sheila Ruth
With elements of time travel and magic realism framing strong historical and contemporary narratives, The Door at the Crossroads is a compelling story sure to appeal to a wide variety of readers. Through interesting and well-written characters, it provides a much-needed mirror and window book on contemporary African-American and Afro-Latinx stories, while also depicting the history of slavery that still impacts our society today. Although the harsh reality of slavery is unflinchingly shown, the 19th Century free black community of Weeksville, in Brooklyn, is also vividly and lovingly depicted, showing a depth, resilience, and sense of community that has helped black people to survive centuries of violence. Post-9/11 New York is also depicted, including touching on Islamophobia.
The Keeper of the Mist
Rachel Neumeier
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Charlotte
Rachel Neumeier's KEEPER OF THE MIST brings together a land which chooses its own ruler, a woefully unprepared baker, and an abruptly imperiled kingdom to create a fairytale with a classic-yet-fresh feel. Neumeier avoids characterization stereotypes as the narrative places responsibility for saving the day with those typically considered unsuitable - the flighty young, the working class, the loutish grumps, and the odd and elderly. No superheroes here, the kingdom is saved by the hard work and sheer luck. The novel has the additional bonus of an understated romantic attraction which doesn't overwhelm the plot. Especially right now, novels with themes of Ragtag Band Defeats Incredible Odds By Sticking Together And Combining Their Strengths are incredibly uplifting. If you're looking for a little guidance for how to go on once your kingdom has been exposed to power-hungry predators, KEEPER OF THE MIST might be right up your alley.
This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity)
Victoria Schwab
Greenwillow Books
Nominated by: Whinkz
In a moment of violence, a monster is born. Now monsters proliferate the Earth just as much as humans. An uneasy treaty exists between two towns, but a girl named Kate and a monster named August may be pawns to bring that treaty to an end. Filled with beautiful prose and delightfully horrific moments, Schwab asks readers to ponder who the real monsters are in this exquisitely captivating look at what it means to be a monster and what it means to be human.
When the Moon was Ours: A Novel
Anna-Marie McLemore
Thomas Dunne Books
Nominated by: Kelly Jensen
Once there was a girl who fell from the sky and a boy who painted the moon for her. Since then Miel, who's Latina, and Sam, who's Pakistani, have been best friends. But their town is also full of secrets, as dangerous as the rose thorns that grow from Miel's wrist. When the secrets of Miel's mysterious past and Sam's identity as a trans boy are threatened, how will they find a way to remain themselves? Anna-Marie McLemore's WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS is full of descriptions that are both lush and vividly sharp. The story of identity, family, and love shows the weight of past generations and the complex characters will resonate deeply.