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READING STYLE GUIDE

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction

6/24/2015

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This year I am serving on the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award committee. As I prepare for the upcoming meetings, I have been reviewing both the criteria for book selection and the award rules. 
"YALSA's Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year. The winner is announced annually at the ALA Youth Media Awards, with a shortlist of up to five titles named the first week of December."
To suggest a title for consideration:
 The 2016 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults committee will consider books published between November 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015. Publishers, authors, or editors may not nominate their own titles.  Field nominations will be accepted for books that meet the published criteria. Field nominations must be seconded by a committee member. Click here to access the online Field Nomination form.
Take a look at the previous Excellence in Nonfiction award winners:
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2015 
Popular:Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek
Maya Van Wagenen

This memoir of Maya Van Wagenen’s eighth grade year is one part 1950s popularity guidebook mixed with two parts courage and one truly modern geek girl. She uses Betty Cornell’s Teenage Popularity Guide to take on the social hierarchy of her school and manages to achieve acceptance and understanding.

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2014 
The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi
Neal Bascom
At the end of World War II, Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi leader responsible for organizing the deportation and imprisonment of millions of Holocaust victims, went into hiding under an assumed identity.  Eventually he fled to Argentina where he lived and worked under a false name for 10 years.  Bascomb tells the story of Eichmann’s crimes, his years in hiding, and his eventual capture and trial with rich detail and riveting suspense.  At the same time, Bascomb introduces readers to the courageous Israeli agents, Holocaust survivors, and their families who worked together to track down, capture, and bring Eichmann to justice.

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2013 
Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon 
Steve Sheinkin
In this suspenseful combination of science and history, Sheinkin masterfully exposes the international race to develop an atomic weapon and bring an end to World War II.  This true-life spy thriller features an international cast of characters and will keep readers on the edge of their seats.  Period photographs of key players and an abundance of primary sources bring this well-researched story to life.  Sheinkin gives readers insight into what happened with all of the major players after the end of the war.  A thought-provoking epilogue on the long term implications of atomic weaponry reminds readers that the results of scientific inquiry have long term implications for everyone.

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2012 
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery
Steve Sheinkin

Treating history as mystery, Sheinkin takes readers through means, motive, and opportunity as he outlines Arnold’s path towards treason. This well researched (with liberal use of primary sources) cradle to grave biography emphasizes the political, social, and military issues within the Colonial army and how Arnold ambitiously maneuvered his own career through grit and determination.

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2011
 Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing
Ann Angel

From her humble beginnings in a small town in Texas to her marquee life as a superstar of '60s rock, Janis Joplin remains an icon of music. Despite her short life, she left an indelible impression on the music of an era.

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2010 
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith 
Deborah Heiligman

After creating a list of the pros and cons of marriage, science-minded Charles Darwin chooses to marry his strictly religious first cousin. Little does he know that he is about to embark upon the most loving, creative, and intellectually important relationship of his life.

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"You made me feel good about reading."

6/21/2015

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Remembering this school year.
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"I like having you as our library teacher because your (sic) helpful, careful and really nice, you make me feel good about reading"

No matter how crazy the staff request. No matter how many books are damaged or lost.  No matter which student went off into webworld, instead of searching for the assigned material. No matter how massive the reshelving stack. At the end of the day, at the end of the year, being a school librarian is still the best job ever!


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Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

6/14/2015

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No one spins a story quite the way that Katherine Rundell does.  She has taken me on journeys across the rooftops of Paris, deep into the Zimbabwe veldt, and inside the terrorizing tactics of an English boarding school. 
Now she sends readers into the vast and frigid Russian forest. 
Her stories are based in the real world.  But she takes elements from fairy tales and weaves them into a story that is totally fresh and  real and somehow magical. Real and yet magical: how is that possible? 
The magic is in the wolves, the deep winter snow, and a brave young girl.
"Once upon a time, many years ago there was a dark and stormy girl."  
Meet young Feodora, known to all as Feo, who lives with her mother in Tsarist Russia. Their woodland cottage is a sanctuary for wolves. These wild animals serve as temporary pets for the wealthy but are ultimately discarded. Feo and her mother, known as the Wolf Wilders, help these abandoned animals return to their true nature. 
Wolves became Feo's strongest ally in her quest to find her mother and to restore the dignity of her people. They help her find the the courage to achieve this momentous task.

What Feo learns about courage:
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The courage of wolves: what one young girl learns

  • Value what you can do. Value what you know. "There will always be things that money cannot buy, things that you have to earn."
  • Sometimes the real is more fantastic than the imaginary. "That" said Alexei, surveying their handiwork, "is the stuff that fairy tales are made of."
  • A girl on a mission is not to be trifled with. "The set of her chin suggested she might have slain a dragon before breakfast. The look in her eyes suggested she might, in fact, have eaten it."
  • Becoming brave is a process. "I don't know where courage comes from. But I do know that if you can scrape together just a bit, more if it comes to you without your trying."
  • Think long range. "The future needs our protections: It's a fragile thing."
  • Allies can be found in the most unusual places. "It helps to have wolves on your side."
  • Always work for what matters the most. "We have the land in our blood and fire in our feet, and we're coming to change our stories forever."
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Follow Feo on a daring journey of mythical proportions. 
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Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan illustrated by John Rocco

6/7/2015

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Beginning with the title page, readers are in for an epic adventure. The ship, headed into stormy seas, portends of what awaits our heroes.
Maps are helpful in understanding both the "what" and the "where of each tale.
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This stunning new collection of stories of Greek Heroes is the perfect starting point for planning a Greek mythology unit. Rick Riordan returns with just the right touch of clever, engaging writing to keep readers fascinated with these timeless sagas.  John Rocco's art gives a mythic larger-than-life perspective to these heroic tales. It's a can't miss combination. 
Back matter includes an index, list of illustrations, books and websites for background information.  Below are two small samples from "Hercules Does Twelve Stupid Things" and "Phaethon Fails Driver's Ed" chapters.  EPIC reading!
From the chapter "Hercules Does Twelve Stupid Things" Hercules and his nephew Iolaus go in search of the Hydra. 
"Nine serpentine heads undulated hypnotically on long necks, occasionally striking at the water to snap up fish, frogs, and small crocodiles." 
"Stay here," Hercules told his nephew, as Iolaus tried to keep the horses from bolting. "By the way, can I borrow your sword? Mine broke."
Hercules grabbed the boy's blade and leaped out of the chariot.
"Hey spaghetti head!" he yelled at Hydra. "Over here!"
The Hydra's nine heads hissed in unison. The monster didn't appreciate being compared to pasta.
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Anyone who has been near a student driver will appreciate the chapter titled "Phaeton Fails Driver's Ed".
"I'll be fine, Dad! Jeez! I'll bring your chariot back, not a scratch."
"No loud music. And keep your hands on the reins. And if you have to parallel park_"
"See you Dad! Thanks!" Phaethon flicked the reins. "Giddyap!"
The horses lurched forward, pulling Phaethon and the chariot into the sky as Helios yelled after him, "The insurance card is in the glove compartment!"
The ride was even more awesome than Phaethon had imaged. 
He whooped and hollered and did his happy dance as the chariot shot upward at a billion miles an hour.
"YEAH, BABY!" he shouted. "Who's the sun? I'm the sun!"
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Resting proudly on a personal bookshelf: 
Three dynamic duos

Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple
Rick Riordan and John Rocco
Joe Kelly and J. M. Ken Niimura

These three books are always noticed by those who visit my personal library.  


This book has inspired me to put together a "dream team" selection of Greek mythology books. This display of resources is going to be colossal.
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Treasury of Greek Mythology
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D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths audiobook
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First book in The Olympians series
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The Odyssey graphic novel
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Greek mythology trivia
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First in Olympians graphic novel series
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Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
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More Greek Goddesses
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Marvel Illustrated: The Illiad
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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