This view shows all of the books in this age group that have been selected in years past and nominated for the current year (but not yet selected). The nominations are marked by a "Nomination(not yet selected):" label.
This episodic, funny graphic memoir recounts Lucy Knisley's childhood, youth and her schooling and love of all things "foodie". The delightful bright drawings are a perfect match for the intelligent text. Solid recipes are included at the end of each chapter, you will want to try some out. Relish is not only about food, but about family, life, growth and of course food- wonderful food. You'll want to head to your favorite little restaurant after this read. Ten to Fourteen. María E. Gentle
Letters slipped through a crack connect residents of two very different worlds. Fourteen-year-old Madeleine has lived in poverty in Cambridge, England, since she and her mother ran away from their jet-setting life. Madeleine worries about her mother's increasingly bizarre behavior and wonders why her father hasn't come to find them. Elliot lives in the fantastical kingdom of Cello. He's trying to track down his missing father while surviving the attacks of vicious Colors. Madeleine and Elliot's correspondence provides them with insight and support. Characters are fully developed and both worlds are vividly drawn in this original fantasy about missing persons and finding one's place in the world. Ten to Fourteen. Lisa Cosgrove-Davies
This is a sequel that more than measures up! Delphine and her two sisters return, this time back home in Brooklyn where life has changed, including a new girlfriend for their Pa and the return of their beloved uncle from Vietnam. The girls are all growing up and Delphine's grip on her sisters is lessening. Best of all, though Delphine has a relationship with her mother, albeit a long distance one. Williams-Garcia reeates the tenor and the rhythms of the sixties and once again the girls' jaunty personalities and snappy dialogue will endear them to readers again. Ten to Fourteen. Deborah Taylor
Six years. Ten concentration camps. Through the cruelty, starvation and hard labor, Yanek Gruener was determined to survive. Without his family, all he had to cling to was hope and a vision of freedom. Based on a true story. From the last two paragraphs of Chapter 1, I was hooked. Chapter after chapter I found myself marveling at Gratz’s writing, as he described the horrors of the Holocaust as seen through one young man’s eyes. Without using overly graphic details or belaboring the harshness of the world in which Yanek was quietly fighting for survival, Gratz conveys the realities of Nazi cruelty in a way that is disturbing, riveting and appropriate for a younger teen audience. His language is stark and honest, enabling the reader to create a vivid picture of the scenes in their head, showing, instead of telling. Though a very intense read (have tissues ready), it is also a quick read with short chapters, and the subject matter of the Holocaust is sure to attract droves of teen readers. Broken down by Yanek’s location (i.e. the Krakow ghetto, Birkenau Concentration Camp, Death March to Dachau), the story is very easy to follow. Each chapter holds horrifying acts of cruelty, astonishing acts of desperation and heroic acts of bravery. Though a work of fiction, Gratz incorporates many factual details and true stories from Jack (Yanek) Gruener’s experiences. Ten to Fourteen. Alicia Blowers
Paul Farmer's commitment to bringing quality health care to the forgotten poor of Haiti and the world has changed global health care delivery and the lives of millions. His preferential option for the poor and dedication to curing infectious diseases is itself infectious. Dr. Farmer's quirky, impassioned character is brought to life in Michael French's adaptation of Tracy Kidder's book. This inspiring, detailed story traces Farmer's life from his unusual upbringing to his first transformative trip to Haiti, and from his years at Harvard Medical School to his position of renowned visionary leader of global medicine. Ten to Fourteen. Lisa Cosgrove-Davies
If the secret to your father's identity was written in the margins of a poetry book...would you do anything to track down that book? Eleven year old Emily Elizabeth Davis answers with a hearty "YES!" Her mother named her Emily after the famed poet Dickinson and believes it is her destiny to be a poet. Emily has her own plans. The sadness of a missing father is compensated by the antics of a hilarious little brother, and the quirkiness of Emily's brainiac best friend. With enough twists and turns to keep it exciting, this novel opens young reader's eyes to how one small decision can unexpectedly change your destiny. Ten to Fourteen. Anne Womack
An intriguing window to how historical research about a "Great Man" can shed light on those upon who he trod. This book tells about George Washington's slaves, cleverly combining primary sources, photographs of Mount Vernon's historical interpreters, and rich descriptions of how the researchers used evidence to draw their conclusions. Ten to Fourteen. Rhona Campbell
Almond's powerful text and McKean's other-wordly caricatures create a magic that is all-absorbing in this original creation myth set "long ago and far away, in a world rather like this one." The gods have grown lazy, yet there "places that are filled with emptiness." When three bored children take matters into their own hands, well, let's just say Pandora could relate. Moved to Ten to Fourteen. Wendy Lukehart.
Raised in foster homes, Jayna finally has a taste of real family life when her older brother Rob rescues her. When Rob is called up for duty in the Navy, Jayna is again left alone. Not one to languish in self-pity for too long, Jayna sets out on an adventure to New York City to track down the woman in an old family photograph. Will it be her grandmother? Urged on by a ghost and accompanied by her pet turtle, Jayna takes us into a world where family is loosely defined but love and comfort is abounding. Ten to Fourteen. Anne Womack
Mexican artist Diego Rivera’s seemingly simple, somewhat primitive style belies the rigorous artistic training that he obtained during his early life. While studying in Europe, he discovered Italian frescoes, a medieval form for public wall paintings, and knew that he had found the form for the murals that he wanted to paint for his poor countrymen. His desire was exterior art, available for all to see at any time. The biography also covers Rivera's loves and infidelities including his two marriages to Frida Kahlo. Carefully chosen photographs complement the text, and the thorough backmatter enhances it. Ten to Fourteen. Lynda Adamson
