2008-2009 Virginia Reader’s Choice for Middle School

1. 2008-2009 Virginia Reader’s Choice for Middle School and new National Media Award Books Overview

2. Virginia Reader’s Choicefor 2008-2009

3. H A T T I E B I G S K Yby Kirby Larson • 2007 Children’s Book of the Year • 2007 Newbery Honor • 2007 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People • Montana Book Award • Homesteading Act of 1910 • Orphans • Montana History • WWI • Journalism / Newspapers • Spanish Influenza • Anti-German bigotry & discrimination • Small Town USA • Genealogy / Ancestors • Missing Adult Household Head • Death

4. 2007 Children’s Book of the Year Draydon, Virginia Foster home care Death Extended Families Traditional / Nontraditional Families Small Town USA Vietnam War Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Letter Writing Genealogy / Ancestry Missing Adult Household Head The Mailboxby Audrey Shafer

5. BL UEby Joyce Hostetter • Polio Epidemic • Racial Discrimination • North Carolina • Hickory’s Camp • WWII • Victory Gardens • Youth as household head • FDR • Death • The color / symbolism of Blue

6. The Loud Silence ofFRANCINE GREENby Karen Cushman • Conformity • Catholic School Experience • Los Angeles, CA • Hollywood Stars of Yesteryears: Montgomery Clift, Hopalong Cassidy, • Joseph McCarthy • The Red Scare / Blacklisting • Freedom of Speech • Five and Dime Stores • Malt Shops • The Cold War

7. SURVIVING ANTARCTICAby Andrea White • 2007 Young Adult Choices • Public School Systems / DOE • School Choice • School Funding Issues • Robert F. Scott’s Antarctica Exploration • Survival • 21st Century Learner • Reality TV • New World Orders • Environmental Disasters • Overpopulation • Couch Potatoes / power of TV • Distant Learning • Ecology • Eskimo Tribal Groups • Wizard of Ozisms

8. ADAMCANFIELDof theSLASHby Michael Winerip • 2008 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award • Journalism • Public School Funding & misuse • Freedom of Speech • Morality: Social/Ethical Qs • Rights/Responsibility Rules • Deception • Standardized Testing • Socio-Economic Groupings • Magnet Schools

9. HitleR’SCANARby Sandi Toksvig Y • Danish Resistance Movement • 1943 Exodus • WWII • Concentration Camps • Racism • Nonviolent vs. Violent Resistance • Jewish Holidays • Rosh Hashanah • Yom Kippur

10. BLACK DUCKby Janet Taylor Lisle • 2007 Best Book for Young Adults • 2007 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People • 2007 Rhode Island Children’s Book of the Year • 2007 Julie Ward Howe Young Readers Award • America’s Privilege Class • Gangster • Prohibition • Rumrunners • Journalism • Economics • Overspending • Stock market Crash

11. AIRBORNby Kenneth Oppel • Canada’s Governor General Award • School Library Journal Best Book • ALA Notable Children's Book • NY Public Library Books for the Teen Age • 2005 Michal L. Printz Honor Award • Bulletin Blue Ribbon • ALA Best Books for Young Adults • Airships / Blimps • The Hindenburg • The Goodyear Blimp • Hot Air Balloons • Trade winds • Altitude (600 feet / 75 miles per hour) • Pirates • Fairies • Darwinism • Theory of Evolution • Unknown Species • Geographic Regions • Victorian-like etiquette, mannerisms, and references • Feature length film, under the direction of Stephen Sommers, slated for 2008 release (3/16/08)

12. LA LÍNEAby Ann Jaramillo • 2007 America’s Honor Award for Children’s YA Literature • 2007 Children’s Books of the Year • 2007 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People • Immigration • Illegal Aliens • Mexican/American Border Issues • North American Economics

13. 2008-2009 ALA National Media Awards

14. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz Thirteenth-century England 21 dramatic individual narratives that introduce young inhabitants of medieval village and manor Uses monologues and dialogues to tell the story Theatrical-like presentation John Newbery Award Medal Most Distinguished Young Adult Book

15. The Wednesday Warsby Gary Schmidt 7th Grader Hollin Hoodhood Thinks his teachers hate him Wednesday Shakespeare Sessions – “To thine own self be true.” Elijah of Buxton by Paul Curtis 1860 1st free-born child in Buxton, Canada Hero Newbery Honor Awards Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson • 6th Grade • Breaking down the barriers that separate people

16. The Caldecott Award for Distinguished illustration in Children’s Fiction The Invention of Hugo Cabret By Brian Selznick • A story in words and pictures • Paris, 1931 • Orphan • Paris Underground • Secret Invention

17. The Batchelder Award for outstanding foreign books translated to English Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe • Graphic Novel format • Main character falls into electronic game world • Experiences causes him to change his real world

18. Belpré Award for outstanding Latino story by Latino writer /illustrator The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls   • a collection of haunting poems • illuminates the daily terror and hypocrisy of the slave system • Punishment for reading and writing

19. Schneider Family Award for the most outstanding book that expresses the disability experience of a child/adolescent Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer • Written in lyrical free verse • Josie’s thirteenth year • Cerebral palsy • Interpersonal relationships

20. Printz Award for outstanding portrayal of diversity in race, culture, socio-economics, and religion The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean • Shy fourteen-year-old Sym • misfit weirdo • Imaginary friend • Peer Bullying • Survival Thriller • a love story • unsentimental portrait of present day Antarctica society • Orphan • Polar Exploration

21. Printz Honor Awards Dreamquake (Frances Foster) by Elizabeth Knox • Government involvement in manipulation of dreams for control and/or brainwashing Your Own,Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath (Knopf) by Stephanie Hemphill • Poetry based on the life of the poet Sylvia Plath Repossessed (HarperCollins) by A. M. Jenkins • Fallen angel leaves Hades • Possesses 17 year old One Whole and Perfect Day (Front Street) by Judith Clarke • Family relations • Prejudices • Aussie culture

22. Coretta Scott King Award for outstanding books by African American authors and illustrators Elijah of Buxton by Paul Curtis • 1860 • Slavery • The Underground Railroad • Blacks in Canada • 1st free-born child in Buxton (Ontario), Canada • Hero • Genealogy

23. Coretta Scott King Honor Awards November Blues by Sharon M. Draper • Sequel to “The Battle of Jericho” • Teen Pregnancy • Hazing in fraternity and gang initiation • High School graduation • Quest for college scholarships Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali written by Charles R. Smith Jr. illustrated by Bryan Collier • The life of Muhammad Ali told in rhyme • Includes direct Ali quotes

24. These books are not yet available for use in the Marie Holland Library… but all titles have been ordered.

25. Any Questions?