Category Archives: National Book Award Finalist

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

“Sometimes you get caught.  Caught up in moments, in the whirlwind of events.  Caught unawares.  It’s just not you but wrong place, wrong time, wrong company can really easily add up to giving people the wrong idea about yourself.  And … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under ALA/YALSA Best Book, National Book Award Finalist, Realistic Fiction, Sports, YA Lit

Shine by Lauren Myracle

“I closed the crawl space door.  I got to my feet and brushed myself off.  My chest was tight, but I looked at the blue sky, clear and pale above the tree line, and said out loud, ‘Fine, I’ll do … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under GLBT, Mystery, National Book Award Finalist, Realistic Fiction, YA Lit

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

“Miss O’Brien looked at me-I didn’t see her looking at me but I knew she was.  She wanted to know who I was.  Who was Steve Harmon?  I wanted to open my shirt and tell her to look into my … Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under ALA Best Book for Reluctant Readers, ALA Quick Pick, ALA/YALSA Best Book, Coretta Scott King Honor, Margaret Edwards Award (to honor author's lifetime achievement), Michael L. Printz, National Book Award Finalist, Realistic Fiction

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

“When the day came, Eduardo received the newborn into his hands as though it were his own child.  His eyes blurred as he laid it in a crib and reached for the needle that would blunt its intelligence. ‘Don’t fix … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Adventure, ALA/YALSA Best Book, Dystopian, Futuristic, National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor, Printz Honor Book, YA Lit

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

    “My brother was a black hole in my universe.  He was sucking the life right out of me.  It seemed as if I was being pulled into this crater by a force I couldn’t fight.  Liam was already … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Fiction, GLBT, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, National Book Award Finalist, Realistic Fiction, Stonewall Book Award Finalist, YA Lit

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

“It’s easy to become anything you wish…so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul.” This graphic novel is a super-award winner (the heavy hitters- the Printz Award and a National Book Award finalist nomination).  It is composed of three … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Graphic Novel, Michael L. Printz, National Book Award Finalist, Uncategorized

Feed by M. T. Anderson

‘”No one with feeds thinks about it,’ she said. ‘When you have the feed all your life, you’re brought up not to think about things.  Like them never telling you that it’s a republic and not a democracy.  It’s something … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under ALA/YALSA Best Book, Futuristic, National Book Award Finalist, YA Lit

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

“Hugo quickly realized he had to make it seem like his uncle was still around.  He would keep the clocks running as precisely as possible, and he’d take his uncle’s paychecks from the office when no one was looking (although … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Caldecott Medal, Graphic Novel, National Book Award Finalist

Sold by Patricia McCormick

“I hurt. I am torn and bleeding where the men have been. I pray to the gods to make the hurting go away… Music and laughter come from the room next door. Horns and shouting come from the street below. … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under Award Winners, Fiction, National Book Award Finalist, YA Lit