RI Teen Book Awards: Your Vote COUNTS!

Hey there my teenage readers! (I do have some teens reading this blog, right?) Looking for some great winter reads? Well the Rhode Island Teen Book Award Committee has just posted it's list of the 20 best teen titles published between 2006-2008, and now they are looking to you to vote on which book is truly deserving of the title Best Book!

Wait a second...who are these people? The Rhode Island Teen Book Award is a collaborative project of the Rhode Island Education Media Association (RIEMA) and the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA). The goal of the Rhode Island Teen Book Award is to promote quality literature for teens by highlighting well-written books that will be of interest to those between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age.

To vote simply come to the Library, pick up a form, fill it out and hand it to one of the Reference Librarians (that would be either Heather or yours truly, Christina). All votes must be in before February 13th.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

*Recommended for Middle School Students*

Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel
Set during a dynamic era of earth’s history and changing species, Dusk, the world's first bat, must lead his colony to safety and a new home after a massacre from carnivores.

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages
In 1943, Dewey moves to Los Alamos to live with her father, a scientist working on "the gadget"- the first atomic bomb.

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
Kek survives a war in the Sudan that claims the lives of both his father and brother but can he adapt to a new life in the US and still remain true to his own beliefs?

Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen
This is a touching and uplifting portrait of a young girl's struggle for survival on the streets and within herself, told through the words in her diary ... a diary she never wanted to use.

*Recommended for All Teens*

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
Twins Sophie and Josh are caught in a battle between two alchemists over an ancient book containing the secret of eternal life.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan
This wordless graphic novel blends historical imagery with science-fiction elements to depict the journey of an immigrant from his terror-beset homeland to a new, more peaceful home.

Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell
With the help of a big secret, overachiever Vassar finds herself traipsing through the wilds of Southeast Asia with her free-living grandmother. How will it change her view of the world?

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
Meet DJ, a genuine home-grown cow-girl who wants not only to escape the drudgery of her farm but also to play football. Has she got what it takes to make it in the “real” world?

Devilish by Maureen Johnson
Jane Jarvis, a senior at a Catholic girls’ school in Providence, tries to save her best friend by making a pact with a demon in the form of a cupcake-eating, very friendly teenage girl.

Epic by Conor Kostick
On New Earth, a world based on a virtual role-playing game, Erik persuades his friends to help in order to save his father from exile and safeguard the futures of each of their families.

Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes
A group of unpopular students thrown together in detention form a band to play at a local school talent show and become a wildly popular local rock band.

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
After her home on the island of Shalott is destroyed forcing her to live in Arthur's army encampments, can Elaine, and the world she has always known, survive the birth of a kingdom?

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
Five sisters who live with their merchant father in Transylvania use a hidden portal in their home to cross over into a magical world, the Wildwood.

*Recommended for High School Students*

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
After being bullied at his school on the reservation, Junior Spirit decides to attend an all-white school where he struggles with his identity and feelings about leaving the “rez".

Beige by Cecil Castelucci
Staying in Los Angeles for the summer with your punk rock legend father should be exciting. However, Katy and her estranged dad couldn't be more opposite.

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser
How bad can a boot camp really be? For Garrett, it's his worst nightmare come to life. Will he escape the never-ending behavior modifications of Lake Harmony.

Buried by Robin Merrow MacCready
When her alcoholic mother is missing, Claudine begins to spin out of control despite her attempts to impose order on every aspect of her life.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Annabelle plays the girl who has everything in a local TV ad, but nothing could be further from the truth. Could her unlikely friendship with outsider Owen help her to mend her life?

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
After a severe blow to the head, amnesiac Naomi faces startling and puzzling consequences while unraveling her past life.

Trigger by Susan Vaught
Jersey is released from rehab after suffering a gunshot wound to the head only to learn the injury was self-inflicted. Now, he must overcome his extensive brain damage to find out why.