Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

Engle, M. (2015). Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Reader.

Margarita Engle's memoir about her childhood written in poetic form tells about her two families: one in Cuba and one in the United States. In her memoir, she discusses how she is two people, her Cuba self and American self.   Her mother is from Cuba and they would spend the summers in Cuba, enjoying family, freedom, and the rich, vibrant island life.  She spends time in her grandmother's garden, visiting the family farm, and learning to ride horses with her cousins. She feels like her heart is in Cuba, where she eats limes from her great-grandmother's  garden and sucks on sugarcane from her family's farm.  Her American self is a shy, book-loving girl that makes good grades, is lonely, and teased by classmates.  Then the Bay of Pigs invasion happens, and her two world hate one another. Her teachers discuss Cuba negatively as well. Her family is unable to visit Cuba and their family because of the travel band.  Her family is visited by the FBI and questioned.  Her mother is not allowed to travel outside of the US because of her passport. The family now spends their summer traveling in the United States.  Soon, they can start to receive mail from her grandma in Cuba.  Then one summer, her father wants to go to Europe to study art.  Their mother is granted special permission from the countries.  But, they are still unable to visit Cuba.  Engle hopes for a future where Cuba and the United States can be friendly once again and she can visit her magical island and family again.

Engle's memoir tells of her own personal love of Cuba and her family that lives there.  Her feelings about the United States and the Cuba's relationship shows her heartbreak that her two worlds can't get along.  The memoir is scattered with history of the Cold War between the two counties.  At the end of the story, she includes a timeline of the Cold War and then includes her author's notes.  In her notes, she tells of how later she finally gets to once again visit her family in Cuba.  YA readers can relate to Engle's American childhood of being teased and lonely for being different and smart.  Readers can also relate to spending summers with family and cousins. 

This book can be used in history class as a companion book to help teach the relationship between Cuba and the United States, the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban Missal Crisis.  It includes facts, but also how history effected the families involved.  

 Enchanted Air was a 2016 Finalist of the Excellence in Nonfiction for YA.  It also received a Pura Belpre Award. 

Scythe

Shusterman, N. (2016). Scythe. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Scythe is set in a future world where there is no sickness, death, and you can turn the clock backwards and be young again.  Everyone in society can live forever, they will never be hungry, and the society is perfect under the watch of the Thunderhead, which keeps society perfect.  But there is one group of people, the scythe, that can glean, or kill others to keep the world population in check. They are not controlled by the Thunderhead and are self-governing.  Scythes choose who they will glean and must meet their quota each year.  Scythes can also grant immunity from death to anyone for a year if the person kisses their ring. They also have a set of commandments they must follow and have high moral standards.  Two sixteen year olds, Citra and Rowan meet Scythe Faraday by chance and are soon invited to be his apprentices.  Both of them accept and are trained in the art of being a scythe, complete with weapons training and scythe history.  Scythe Faraday trains them to be as merciful as possible. When they go with Scythe Faraday to their first scythe meeting, the Vernal Concave, Scythe Faraday is questioned as the why he has two apprentices.  It is decided that he can only choose one to become a scythe, and the other must be gleaned by the winner.  Citra and Rowan are shocked that one of them must kill the other at the end of training.  Soon after this, Scythe Faraday is said to have gleaned himself, and Citra and Rowan are now with new trainers.  Citra is now with Scythe Curie, who is much like Faraday in which she takes her job seriously and is as kind as possible.  Rowan is sent to train with Scythe Goddard, who gleans with mass killings and treats the job like a blood sport.  Soon, Citra is charged with murdering Scythe Faraday, and escapes with the help of Curie.  She is on a quest to find the true killer and is on a mission that sends her to South America.  She soon finds out that Faraday is alive.  Rowan, who has been well trained by Goddard, must do anything to escape this killer.  At one mass gleaning, Rowan sets the entire building on fire, with Goddard inside.  Rowan escapes by pretending to already be a scythe.  Through twists and turns in the story, at the end, Citra is presented with the scythe ring.  But she doesn't kill Rowan.  Instead, she helps him escape instead of having to face imprisonment for his actions. 

This book brings up the moral debate of immortality.  Should humans live forever?   Who should decide who lives and who dies?  Is it morally wrong to kill another human to keep the population in control? Furthermore, is life as rich and meaningful if you can turn back the clock to be younger, are never sick, and are always given everything you would ever need?  These are questions young adults face as they read Scythe.  As teen are growing and developing, they are forming their own morals and values.  This is a normal part of emotional growth.  This book helps teens decide what is right or wrong when faced with mortality. 

Scythe is on the 2017 list of Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults and also a 2017 Printz Honor Book. 

Watch the book trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBeqd-hpVyY

Alex & Eliza

Cruz, M. (2017). Alex & Eliza. New York ,NY: G.P. Putnum's Son.

This historical fiction love story between Alexander Hamilton (Alex) and Elizabeth Schuyler (Eliza) is set during the Revolutionary War.  Elizabeth comes from a prominent family who expect their daughters to marry well.  Alexander is an orphan from St. Croix who came to America at the age of seventeen.  He was sponsored by several wealthy families from New York to come to America to further his educated.  When the Revolutionary War began, he quit college to help with the war.  He soon became General George Washington's  aide-de-camp and a colonel. One evening, Alex visits the home of the Schuyler's to bring news to Eliza's father, General Schuyler that he is being court-martial.  Eliza overhears the entire conversation between her father and Colonel Hamilton.   This is the same evening that the Schuylers have a ball.  Eliza tells her two sisters and when they meet Alex, they are not very welcoming.  Though Alex is charming, Eliza is angry with him for bringing bad news to the family and is rude to him. At the military trial, her father is innocent.  Eliza and Alex do not see one another for two years, and upon meeting again while she is staying with her aunt, she begins to grow fond of him.  They begin to see more of each other at social events, and they become infatuated with one another.  However, the Schuyler family is having financial problems and Mrs. Schuyler wants Eliza and her sisters to marry into wealthy families.  Alex is not a proper suitor since he is poor.   Mrs. Schuyler arranges a marriage between  Eliza and the governor's son, Henry Livingston.   Henry is pompous and crude, and Eliza is devastated that she can't marry the man she loves.  The evening before Eliza is to marry Henry, he comes over drunk and tries to "have relations" with her.   Alex happens to catch this and punches Henry.  He knows he must do something to stop this marriage.  He travels to General Schuyler's house and tells him of what happened.  Her parents tell Eliza she no longer has to marry Henry and they give their blessing to her to marry Alex.  

This historical fiction story about a founding father, Alexander Hamilton and love interest, Elizabeth Schuyler, includes many historical places, people, and events. The story accurately depicts the times in dress, speech, and social interactions. This love story includes two young people that fall in love , but are told they can't marry because they are from two different social classes.  But in the end, the two marry anyway.  This is like so many love stories where love conquers all in end.  This YA book depicts a story of young love that endures despite what Eliza's parents want her to do.  Alex fights for their love no matter what.   There are some teens that may not be able to date certain people because of where they grew-up, their financial situation, religion, or their ethnicity.  This book helps them through that, and know that love can break through barriers.

Alex & Eliza is a New York Times Young Adult Hardcover Bestseller in May of 2017. 

This One Summer

Tamaki, M. (2014). This One Summer. New York, NY: First Second. 

In this graphic novel, Rose is going with her parents to their summer cottage at Awago Beach.  They have spent every summer there since she was a little girl.  Windy is her summer friend who is one year younger.  They have spent the summers together since she was five years old.   This summer Rose is on the cusp of adolescence.  Rose and Windy like swimming, buying candy, and watching horror movies together. But, they are also talking about boys, breasts, and sex.  At the corner store where they buy candy and rent horror movies, they are exposed to the dating drama of the teen clerk, Dud and his girlfriend. Dud and his friend call their girlfriends "sluts" and the pieces of conversations Rose and Windy hear indicate that Dud's girlfriend may be pregnant.  Furthermore, Rose's mom is depressed and withdrawn from the family.  She had a miscarriage last summer and can't seem to get over it.  Her mother just sits around the cottage and doesn't seem to want to do anything with Rose.  It puts a strain on her relationship with her mother.  Also, her parents seem to be fighting more and more.  As the summer progresses, Rose and Windy become more interested in Dud's relationship with his girlfriend and snoop around the store to find out pieces of information.  Towards the end of summer Rose and Windy's families have a bonfire on the beach.  The two girls walk to the corner store to get marshmallows and see a fight between Dud and his girlfriend.  Later that night at the beach, Rose sees a girl in the water drowning.  Rose's mom jumps into the water and saves her.  The girl is Dud's girlfriend.  At the end, Windy and Rose promise they will see one another next summer.

Rose is on the cusp of adolescence in This One Summer.  She still enjoys doing things from childhood, like riding her bike and playing at the beach with her friend, but she is also interested in the older teens and their relationship.  She is becoming more aware of her body changing and is interested in growing breasts.  She is a preteen:not a child, but not a teen yet.  It is a confusing time for adolescences as they are maturing and trying to understand what is happening to their bodies and their emotional changes too.  It is also about changing friendship.  Windy and Rose have been friends for a while, but Windy is younger than Rose, and Rose is beginning to see that Windy may not understand everything she is experiencing  emotionally.  Rose is maturing into a teen, while Windy is still in childhood.  This story also shows the strained relationship between mother and daughter.  Rose is having a hard time with her mother's depression and doesn't know how to handle it.  Her parent's fighting is also hard for her to understand and comprehend.  Young adult readers can relate to the difficulties of growing and crossing over from a child to a teen.  The illustrations in the graphic novel are dark indigo blue and white, which represents a somber tone.  The illustrations show many of the emotions and turmoil the characters face in this book.  

This One Summer won a 2015 Printz Honor Award,  2015 Caldecott Honor, and YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens. 

Roller Girl

Jamieson, V.(2015). Roller Girl. New York ,NY: Penguin Group.

After attending her first roller derby,  twelve year old Astrid can't wait to go to roller derby camp in the summer.  She thinks her best friend since first grade, Nicole, will sign-up as well.  She soon learns that Nicole has signed-up for dance class instead with a new friend, Rachel.  Astrid is devastated that Nicole is not joining her and decides to brave roller derby camp alone.  She  neglects to tell her mom that Nicole is not going and that Nicole's mom will not be driving her home from roller camp.  Astrid goes to her first day of camp and realizes how hard this is going to be. Throughout camp, she writes to her favorite roller derby player, Rainbow Brite, and asks for advice.  Rainbow Brite writes her notes back, offering words of encouragement.  One bright spot for  Astrid is making a new friend at camp, Zoey.  Astrid and Zoey begin a new friendship, and then one afternoon at Zoey's house, they dye Astrid's hair blue.   Astrid's mom is not pleased with some of the changes she is going through.  Astrid and Zoey find out that at the end of camp, they are going to have a roller derby bout.  They volunteer to handout flyers.  While in the amusement park, they run into Nicole and Rachel.  They overhear Rachel telling Nicole to ignore Astrid and to no longer be her friend.  Astrid looses her temper and tells Nicole she hates her now.  Along with that, Astrid's mom finds out that she's been walking home by herself from camp and is is furious. Little by little, Astrid improves her skating and roller derby skills.  She also tries to have a truce with Nicole and gives Nicole tickets to her roller derby bout.  At the derby, Astrid does her very best and Nicole comes to see her after all.  After the derby is over, she invites Astrid to dinner.  Astrid declines because she wants to stay with her team.  Astrid even gets an autograph from Rainbow Brite and she praises her for how hard she has worked.  Astrid learns that growing up is hard, but something everyone faces.

This graphic novel features growing up, changing, and learning new things are things all teens face.  Losing your best friend and facing fears is another challenge some teens face as well.  Astrid, the protagonist, learns that friends have their own interests and may grow apart.  This is something many teens face as they grow as well.  But Astrid also learns that each person finds a new group and friends that share common interests. 

 Roller Girl is a 2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten recipient.  It also won the Newbery Honor in 2016, as well as the 2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award.

The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love

Tash, S. (2016). The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Graham is a self-proclaimed geek who loves comics, school, gaming, and his best friend Roxy.  Graham and Roxy have been best friends since they were eight years old, but now at sixteen, he has fallen in love with her.  They both love the same comic series The Chronicles of Althena, write a comic series together  they named The Misfits of Mage High, and know everything about one another.  Robert Zinc, the writer of The Chronicles of Althena,  is making a rare appearance at the New York Comic Con, and Graham has decided to profess his love to Roxy at Comic Con.  He is determined to get the wristbands to see Robert Zinc and makes a plan to wait in line overnight with his friend Casey.  Graham and Casey do not get the wristbands however, and Graham needs to come up with another plan to confess his love to Roxy.  Graham, Roxy, Casey, and Roxy's friend Felicia go to day one of Comic Con and Felicia signs then up for a speed dating session.  While there, Roxy meets Devin, who is a tall, blue-eyed artist who is British.  Roxy is smitten with him. Devin hangs out with them the rest of the day and Graham watches Roxy and Devin flirt with one another, which infuriates Graham.  He decides he must do something to win her over and tries desperately to get wristbands for the Zinc panel.   Throughout the weekend, he tries desperately to find some special way to profess his love.  On Saturday night, Devin invites them to a karaoke bar that his cousin owns.  They go, and while there, drink beer for the first time.  After a few beers, Graham gets the nerve to sing a song to Roxy, and she now knows he is in love with her.  She is angry at this discovery because she thinks of him as a brother and doesn't want to ruin their friendship and their comic book series.  He is crushed at the news.   Towards the end of the story, Graham accepts that he and Roxy should just remain friends.  But, he also discovers that Amelia, a girl he met at the speed-dating session likes him and wants to date him.  He is shocked a girl likes him, but also flattered.  He learns just how crazy young love is.

This is a story about first crushes and determination to win at love.  It shows the crazy highs and lows of being in love for the first time and the heartache it can also cause. Teens can relate to Graham and the feelings he has to win his love interest. He doesn't win the heart of his crush, but realizes love is a messy roller coaster ride with twists and turns.   Young love is messy, heartbreaking, and unpredictable.  Teens are facing these new feelings, and this book can show them that life goes on. Fans of comics and pop culture will enjoy all the references the author includes in the story as well.

  The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love made the 2017 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers by the American Library Association.

The Smell of Other People's Houses

Hitchcock, B. (2016). The Smell of Other People's Houses. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

The Smell of Other People’s Houses  tells about the lives of several teens in Alaska and how their lives become intertwined with one another.  Ruth is a girl whose life is turned upside down at the age of five when her father dies in a plane crash.  Her mother goes into early labor when she hears the news, has the baby, who she names Lily, but then has a nervous breakdown and can no longer take care of her children.  Ruth and Lily are sent to live with their grandmother in Fairbanks in a poor neighborhood named Birch Park.  Their grandmother is unloving and Ruth feels like she no longer has a home. Ruth becomes pregnant by her boyfriend at 16 years old,  and her grandmother sends her to a convent in Canada.   Dora is also 16 and lives in Birch Park as well with her alcoholic parents.  Her father is abusive and her mother just doesn’t care about her.  Her father is sent to jail for firing his gun in the local bar.   Her neighbors, who have two girls named Dumpling and Bunny, take her in.  Dora wins the Ice Classic, where she guesses when the ice will melt in the spring, and now has become something of a celebrity in Fairbanks, but Dumpling’s father protects her from reporters that want to interview her.  Alyce is a ballerina that wants nothing more than to dance in college, but she feels obligated to work the fishing boat with her father in Sitka, Alaska.  The dance tryout is in the summer, at the same time she will be out on the boat.  Summer is the only time she sees her father, so she is torn between dancing or spending time on the fishing boat with her father.  Hank, Sam, and Jack live in Sitka.  Their father has died in a boating accident and their mother's new boyfriend is awful.  Hank, the oldest brother, has decided it's better for him and his two younger brothers to run away then to stay at home.  They stowaway on a ferry heading south.  Sam falls overboard while looking for orcas one day and is rescued by Alyce, who saw him fall overboard from her father's boat.  Hank and Jack have no idea what happened to Sam, and aren't sure wither he is alive or dead.   Alyce and her dad allow Sam to stay on the fishing boat and teach him about life on a fishing boat.  Alyce soon discovers that she has feelings for Sam.  Sam knows he has to find his two brothers and Alyce's dad begins to ask other fisherman if they have heard of a missing boy from the ferry.  Eventually, they learn that Hank and Jack are in children's protective custody and are heading towards Fairbanks where a family has agreed to take in the two boys.  On the way, they stop at a store and Hank meets Ruth, who is also at the store.  He becomes interested in her.  In the meantime,  Sam learns where his brothers are heading and Alyce and him fly back to Fairbanks together.  Alyce is also going to get the chance to audition for a dance spot.  At the audition, Sam reunites with his brothers, Hank sees Ruth again, who has returned after having the baby and giving it up for adoption, and Dora gets to permanently live with Dumpling's loving family.  Ruth's grandmother and her also decide to start with a clean slate.  

  Hitchcock combines her knowledge of life in  Alaska along with it's native people and the struggle teens face growing up.  She writes about the struggles of teen pregnancy, lose of parents, abuse, and feeling like an outcast.  These teens all face some type of adversity, but learn to cope and survive, as well as come out stronger then they thought they would.  Not only can teen readers read vicariously through this book, but can also read for an aesthetic experience with the wonderful description in the book.  They can also learn how tough times can make you grow stronger as a person.  

The Smell of Other People's Houses is the debut novel of Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock and became a 2017 William C. Morris Award Finalist.

Graphic Novels (Ch. 13)

Graphic novels have gained popularity in the last few decades and there are a wide range of choices for readers to pick from.  It is important for librarians to know the importance of graphic novels and their appeal to readers. Research from the School Library Journal indicates that graphic novels increases library use. 

What is a graphic novel?

• a form of writing ( not a genre) written sequentially
• written for a variety of ages and reading level
• written in a variety of  genres in both fiction and nonfiction
• written with a combination of speech bubbles, thinking bubbles, other text, and illustrations in panels like a comic book to tell a story or share information
• read a certain order
• includes many of the literary elements in traditional novels such as characters, plot, setting, problem, solution, and theme 
• the illustrations are an important part of the story

Importance:

• highly motivating 
• can be used with all ages and reading levels
• great for pleasure reading and for classroom teachers to use for teaching purposes
• a way for educators to "bridge" transitional readers from picture books to chapter books because of the visual  

See Gene Luen Yang's TED Talk on graphic novels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz4JqAJbxj0

Important Elements in Graphic Novels:

1. Color

• Which colors are predominant?
• Is color used for symbolism?

2. Use of Line

• Are the lines thick, thin, bold?
• How are lines used to frame the panels?

3. Composition: size and placement of the illustrations

4. Frames

• What types of frames are used?
• What are the sizes and shapes of the frames?

5. Speech Balloons

• What are the shapes, sizes, color, or font of the text?

6. Use of White Space

7. Media and Technique-style of the illustrations

Popular Series:

• Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holms and Matthew Holms ( grades 2-5)
• Squish by Jennifer L. Holms and Matthew Holms ( grades 3-7)
• Comic Squad-several authors have contributed to the collection ( grades 2-5)
• Hi Lo by Judd Winick ( grades 3-7)
• Lunch Lady by Jarrett Krosocznka ( grades 3-7) 
• Bone by Jeff Smith ( grades 4-8)
• Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi ( grades 3-8)

*There are also many retellings of novels and traditional literature have be written in a graphic novel format.

 Book Lists for graphic novels:

Great Graphic Novels for Teens

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/great-graphic-novels

Graphic Novel Reading List from ALA
http://www.ala.org/alsc/search/site/graphic%20novel%20list?f%5B0%5D=hash%3A4o9eens)1gy

Maverick Reading List from the Texas Library Association ( for Teen readers)
http://www.txla.org/groups/Maverick

Resource:
Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd

Sisters

Telgemeier, R. ( 2014). Sisters. New York ,NY: Graphix.

In this graphic novel, it shows the relationship between Raina and her younger sister Amara.  The story goes back and forth between the past and present. Raina and her family are getting ready to go to a family reunion in Colorado. Raina, Amara, their little brother Will, and their Mom will drive to Colorado, while their Dad will fly.  Raina and her younger sister Amara are typically siblings that  argue and irritate one another.  Raina thinks back to the past and wonders why she ever asked for a sister.  In her flashbacks, it shows how much Raina begs her parents for a little sister, but when Raina arrives, it's a different story.  Raina is fussy and cries a lot. As Raina grows, it is apparent that she is a loner and prefers to play by herself.  The story continues with their road trip to Colorado.  The girls tease and and pick on one another throughout the trip. When they arrive at Dinosaur National Monument,  Raina thinks back to when Will, their little brother is born.  Now all three kids have to share a bedroom in their small apartment.  She also thinks back to a time they visited the zoo and her sister made fun of her for being afraid of snakes and then the time her dad looses his job.  The family finally arrives at their aunt and uncle's, and Raina discovers the cousin she used to get along with so well, has grown up and they like different things. Raina feels like she doesn't fit in, but her sister Amara is unsympathetic and doesn't want to hang out with Raina either.  Another flashback tells of a time Amara's pet snake escapes in the family's mini-van and was never found.  When the family leaves Colorado to go back home to San Franciso, they have car trouble.  Their Mom and Will catch a ride to get help and leave the girls alone.  The girls are left alone for hours and become worried about their Mom.  During this time, the snake reappears.  Raina catches him and agrees to let Amara keep him.  The girls actually do something nice for one another and get along the remainder of the night.  

Anyone who has a sibling can relate to this story.  Siblings fight and bicker, but deep down they love one another.  This story shows the relationship between sisters, but it could be any combination of siblings who disagree and argue. There is also the topic of divorce in the story and how the girls are worried about their parents splitting up.  This is  topic many YA readers can relate to. Readers can also relate to being on a long car trip with their family and how much family can irritate one another, but also love one another too.  Fans of graphic novels will also enjoy this story about siblings and families.  Raina Telgemeiser based this story on her own childhood and her relationship between her sister and her.  

Telgemeiser won the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Writer/Artist for this graphic novel in 2015 for Sisters.  She has written and illustrated other graphic novels including Smile, Ghosts, and Drama, which received a Stonewall Honor Book for Children's Literature in 2013.  

Fantasy and Science Fiction  (Ch. 12)

Fantasy violates the laws of physical reality. 

• Things happen that could not normally happen in everyday life, such as talking animals, people that fly or do other things that are not possible
• Sometimes includes magic, monsters, fairies, elves, magical creatures, and magical places

Science Fiction is a sub-genre of fantasy.

• Some of the settings are: set in the future, outer space, and  advanced technology is usually embedded
• There are many categories and choices of Science Fiction such as:
  • Apocalyptic
  • Post Apocalyptic
  • Steampunk
  • Cyberpunk
  • Biopunk
  • Dystopic
  • Extra Sensory Perception
  • Robots/Androids/Cyborgs/Artificial Intelligence
  • Space/Aliens
  • Time Travel/Parallel Universes
  • Virtual Reality/Gaming
  
  
  Criteria :
• Characters must behave in believable ways
• Rules for the fantasy world
• Authors must help readers in "willing suspension of disbelief"
• Theme should have a universal truth

Resource for Science Fiction:

Sci Fi on the Fly: A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction for Young Adults by Karin Perry

Why are these sub-genres important?

Fantasy and science fiction appeal to many young adult readers.  Readers can live vicariously through the characters, who usually act and do things we can't do in real life.  They are able to see characters defeat the protagonist many times as well.  Science fiction has the appeal of robotics, futuristic places, and new worlds.  Dystopia worlds appeal to both sexes and have become very popular.  Librarians need to know the variety of fantasy and science fiction books available to young adult readers because of their appeal to these readers.  

Love in the Time of Global Warming

Block, F. (2013). Love in the Time of Global Warming. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

Penelope's life has just been turned upside down when her hometown of Los Angeles has been destroyed by the Earth Shaker.  A huge wave and an earthquake destroyed the city and everything around it.  By holding up her hand, she was able to stop a wall of water that was about to crash into her home.  Now her family is missing and she is alone in her house.  She has food and water that her father stock-piled in the basement.   She stays there alone for several months until she hears a group of men that break into her house.  One of the men, Merk, who says he knew her parents helps her escape.  He gives her the keys to a van and a map to help her find her parents and little brother, Venice.  As she sets off, she stops at a well known store to stock up on supplies.  While she is there, she is confronted by a pile of human bones at the entrance to the store.  She enters and is then confronted by a giant, who grabs her.  She stabs the giant in the eye and gets away.  She drives through the ruined city and then finds a hotel named the Lotus Hotel, with several survivors.  There she meets Hex, a boy who she becomes friends with.  Hex tells her about where the giants came from.  They were a science experiment by a mad scientist, Kronen.   She stays at the hotel for several days with Hex, drunk on lotus flower wine, until a giant comes and says he is looking for the person that blinded his brother, Bull.  Hex and Penelope, or Pen, get away and drive through the city.  They encounter sirens in Beverly Hills, a witch, and more giants in the art  museum.  They also befriend a boy Ez, who they rescued from the witch.  They continue their journey into the desert, and met another survivor, Ash, who they take on their journey.  As they meet these different people, Pen is able to see visions of their lives as children.  In the desert, they meet a girl in a desert oasis that is named Tara, who they think is a goddess.  She is able to tell Pen  to look for her mother in Las Vegas.  While they are at Tara's, Hex and Pen begin to fall in love and have a sexual encounter.  Hex also reveals to Pen that he was born a she, and is transgender.  This doesn't stop the feelings Pen has for Hex.  The story continues as they make their way to Las Vegas to find Pen's family.  She finds her mother, who was captured by Kronen.  It is revealed to Pen that her father worked for Kronen, but was then fired because her father wanted to expose the work Kronen was doing ( creating giants).  Pen is unable to save her mother, and her friends have disappeared.  Then Merk appears again.  Merk tells Pen how he worked for Kronen, but wanted to save her because she is really his daughter.  Merk drives her back home to Los Angeles, where her brother is waiting for her.  They begin a new life together and plant a garden together.  At the end, her friends, Hex, Ez, and Ash, who she thought she would never see again, come to her house. 

There are many different topics going on in this science fiction book that would appeal to YA readers.  First, the book and journey are parallel to Homer's  The Odyssey, which is mentioned in the book several times, as well as pieces from The Odyssey entwined throughout the story.  There is also the science fiction piece, where giants that have been cloned and genetically mutated are roaming the area, eating people.  Third, there is the different love interests that include both transgender and a gay love interest as well. Ez and Ash also have a romantic interest with one another.  Pen is also a strong female character, who will do anything to find her family.  There is also symbolism throughout the story.  The lotus flower is a symbol of rebirth, beauty, purity, and spiritual awakening in many different religions and cultures.  Pen also sees butterflies that help led her journey.  Pen's mother was fond of butterflies and had butterfly tattoos.  Butterflies are a symbol of change, joy, and color in Native American religions.  Many other religions see the butterfly as a symbol of resurrection and transformation.   Pen does transform from a scared girl, to a strong person, able to fight for her family.  YA  readers can relate to fighting for what you love.  Love in the Time of Global Warming won the 2013 American Library Association Rainbow Award, which awards book based on GLBTQ experiences. 

Francesca Lia Block is the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, which awards authors for their contributions to YA literature.  She has written many books for both young adults and adult readers. 

NON-FICTION: It's NOT Fiction (Ch. 11)

Nonfiction is comprised of a wide variety of texts such as biography, autobiography, memoirs, narrative non-fiction, expository, and more.  

Non-fiction writing is written for a purpose.  The author is sharing knowledge they learned with the reader.

  Criteria when choosing non-fiction for Young Adults and Children:

1.  What are the qualifications of the author?

-Check the author's website to evaluate their credibility 

-Word of mouth:are they well known to be credible?

-Did they include notes on their research or bibliographies?

2. What type of research did they complete to write this book and their sources of information?

3. Are the facts accurate?

-Resources to check:  Outstanding Science Trade Books and Notable Trade Books in Social Studies ( from the Children's Book Council)

-Good Resource: Nonfiction for Young Adults : From Delight to Wisdom by Betty Carter and Richard Abrahamson

4. What is the purpose/scope of the book?

-broad or narrow topic

-age group of the book

5. What kind of visuals are included to the book?  What is the role?

-visuals help to show the narrative

-visuals break up the narrative 

-does it include charts, maps, graphic organizers to help explain the topic?

6. Is the book well organized and easy for the reader to find useful information?

-does it include a table of contents, index, glossary, suggestions for further reading, bibliography, timelines?

Well-know authors for YA/Children that are known for accurate information:

• Kathleen Krull
• James Cross-Giblin
• Steve Jenkins
• Don Brown
• Loree Griffin Burns
• Seymour Simon

Finally, we need to continue to find diversity in non-fiction and include diversity in our libraries.  
Librarians need to know the criteria for non-fiction in order to help readers with resource for research and to make sure the reader is getting a resource with accurate information. 

It's Perfectly Normal

Harris, R. ( 2014). It's Perfectly Normal. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

This nonfiction book covers everything a young adult may wonder about puberty and their changing body, sex, families, and sexual health.  Informative and unbiased, this book can help young adults learn about these sensitive topics that they may not feel comfortable about discussing with parents or other adults.  The illustrations are cartoon-ish, but are are still informative and scientifically accurate.   To lighten the mood, there is a bird and a bee that guides the reader through the book and helps narrate the book. 
This book starts with what sex is and the act of sexual reproduction.  The book also discusses types of relation, ships such as gay, bisexual, and transgender.  It explains our bodies and how men and women differ.  It discusses the sex organs of both sexes and the purposes of each organ, along with the correct names.  The third part of the book discusses puberty and how bodies change and grow into grown-up bodies, including changing feelings and thoughts during puberty.  Other topics are masturbation, conception, how babies grow, birth, and types of contraceptives.   Another important topic in the book is sexual health and ways to prevent sexual diseases and HIV.  The book is arranged into chapters and includes an index.  It was written with the help of many doctors, parents, and educators.  

This book can be useful to parents as they begin to teach their child about puberty and sex.  It includes many illustration and diagrams to help explain biological concepts such as menstruation, ejaculation, conception, and birth.   The illustrations also show many body types and diversity in skin color, ethnicity, and relationships.  The book is written for ten and up, just around the time kids become curious about their bodies and sex.  It can help young adults know that bodies change at different rates and in different ways.  It includes different viewpoints on sexuality as well.  Young adults that feel awkward and embarrassed about their changing bodies can refer to this book for reassurance and correct information.  The wide range of topics will help them answer questions they may have as they grow and change.   The sections about contraceptives, sexual health, and staying safe on the internet can help them make informed choices that effect their safety and well-being.  

Booked

Alexander, K. (2016). Booked. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Nick Hall is a twelve-year-old soccer star.  His soccer team has just been invited to play in the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup, and his best friend, Coby, is also going with his soccer team.  Nick loves soccer, but does not like reading and is often daydreaming in English class.  The school librarian, Mr. MacDonald, a former rap music producer,  jokes around with Nick, raps to him, and tries to get Nick to join the book club and read.  Nick also likes a girl, April, who is in his ballroom dancing class and is a reader.  Nick's mother is a horse trainer and has just been offered a job in Kentucky and is moving out.  Nick's parents have just told him they are separating for a while as well.  Nick is devastated about the news and has trouble sleeping after his mother moves out.  He has a tense relationship with his father.  His father is a professor and has written a dictionary, which he makes Nick read to improve his vocabulary.  As if Nick doesn't have enough going on in his life, two brothers bully him and steal his bike.  During a soccer game one day, Nick's team plays against Coby's soccer team.  Nick gets sick to his stomach and twists his ankle.  In the hospital, he finds out he has a sprain ankle and has to have surgery for a perforated appendix. He also finds out he will have to miss the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup. His mom comes home to help take care of Nick.   While he is in the hospital, his English teacher brings him a book to read, All the Broken Pieces.  Mr. MacDonald comes to visit Nick, and reads the book to him.  Nick enjoys the book, and then reads another suggested by April.  The next book club is at Nick's house and his mom sets up a date for April to come horseback riding with them.  After the date, Nick and April begin to spend more time together and he asks her to the eighth grade dance.  Soon though, Nick's mom says she is going back to Kentucky for her job and that his parents have decided to get a divorce.  At the end of the story, Nick learns he must stop being afraid and stands up to the bullies at a pool party, gets punched, but he  gets his bike back.  Nick learns that there are disappointments and challenges in life, but that life has great things to offer as well. 

Kwame Alexander writes this book entirely in poetic form. Booked uses contemporary language and current topics in the poems.  The poems tell the story of Nick, who deals with bullies, his first crush, disappointment, the divorce of his parents, and a strained relationship with his father.  These are topics that young adults confront as they are growing up and can relate to while reading Booked.    Students that usually shy away from poetry will enjoy the poems in this book.  Alexander won the Newbery Medal Award for The Crossover, another book written in poetic form as well.  

An Abundance of Katherines

Green, J. (2006). An Abundance of Katherines. New York, NY: Dutton Books.

Child prodigy Colin Singleton just graduated from high school, but instead of being happy, he is depressed because his girlfriend, Katherine, just dumped him.  He has been dumped by a total of nineteen Katherines.  His best friend, Hassan, wants to cheer him up and decides they need to take a road trip to get Colin's mind off his break-up.  Colin also feels like he will never matter because he is not doing anything significant.    After a couple days of traveling, while in Tennessee, they see a sign for the grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which Colin wants to see.  They get off the interstate and travel to Gutshot, Tennessee, a tiny town, to see the grave.  When they arrive at the town's general store for the tour, they meet Lindsey Lee Well.   After the tour, they meet Lindsey's mom, Hollis, and Hollis recognizes Colin from a quiz show he won a year ago, KranialKid.  Hollis invites Colin and Hassan to dinner and they accept.  Lindsey and Hollis live in a huge pink house and Hollis is the owner of the town's factory that makes tampon strings.   At dinner, Hollis tells the boys that she wants to hire them for $500 per week and interview town members and record the history of the town. Colin and Hassan agree to stay.  Colin is also working on a mathematical theorem about his breakups with the nineteen Katherines. Colin and Hassan begin to interview people about the town's history and people that have worked at the factory, as well as current factory employees with the help of Lindsey.  They learn about the factory and town's past.  They also learn that everyone in the town loves Lindsey.   During this time, Colin and Hassan become friends with Lindsey.  Colin begins to also have feelings for her, but she has a boyfriend.  He is comfortable around her, and she can be her true self with him.  They begin to work on the theorem together.  One morning Colin and Hassan are invited to a hog hunt with some of Lindsey's friends.  Colin discovers that Lindsey's boyfriend is cheating on her.  After she breaks up with her boyfriend, then she can share her true feelings for Colin.  Through this time, Colin discovers that you can't predict the future and finally breaks his streak of girlfriends named Katherine.  

Young adults can relate to the theme of not always fitting in with the popular kids or being different from their peers.  This book shows that there are others that feel awkward and can't always be themselves around others.  Throughout the story, John Green uses humor as he shares the story of Colin and his heartbreak over the nineteenth Katherine.  YA readers will enjoy the footnotes the author shares about random trivial facts.  The book also includes a romantic love interest.  An  Abundance of Katherines was a Printz Honor book as well.  John Green is a New York Times best seller for The Fault in Our Stars.  He also has several YouTube channels such as Vlogbrothers and Crash Course.  

First Light

Stead, R. (2007). First Light. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

Peter's father, Dr. Solemn, is a glaciologist and has just announced to Peter and his mother that they are going to Greenland for field work to study global warming.  Peter is excited to be going on this adventure.  Peter, his father, mother, and Jonas, Dr. Solemn's grad student, pack and prepare for this adventure.  When they arrive, Peter must learn about living in the icy, cold conditions.  He also learns how to dog-sled, build igloos, and survive living in the Arctic.  He also becomes attached to one of the sled dogs, Sasha. He and Sasha have explored the area around their camp and have discovered a strange wall of ice with a red circle inside the wall.  

Thea lives in an underground settlement  called Gracehope in Greenland with her aunt Lana and has never seen the sun.  This group of people escaped England centuries ago and has lived underground with their dogs all these years.  It is a secret community and nobody knows of it.  Thea wants to explore the world above to expand their community to meet the growing needs of the population.  But, their leader, Rowan, and also Thea's grandmother, opposes it.  One evening, she is given a map of the Gracehope settlement, and Thea begins to research the history of their community.  She discovers the tunnel to the outside world.  One night, her and her cousin, Mattias, climb up the tunnel and into the world above with a group of dogs.  It was the first time she has ever seen real stars.  But then Mattias disappears and gets caught in an ice crack.  As Thea tries to pull him out, she knows it's no use.  At the same time, the sun is beginning to rise, and she sees the sun for the first time.  Through this, Peter is going for an early morning walk with Sasha.  Thea and her dogs spot him, and Gru, one of the dogs with Thea, call for them.  Peter comes to help and meets Thea.  Thea and Peter are able to get Mattias out of the ice.  Peters accompanies them to their village and is astonished at this settlement under the ice.  Peter is sent back to the top, and has promised never to tell or reveal this secret place.

Then Thea is told the truth about her mother, who died above, and tried to get others to go above as well.  Soon, Thea also learns of another aunt, Aurora, that left Gracehope and never returned.  In a strange twist, Peter and his mother are now in Gracehope.  It turns out Peter's mother is Aurora, and Peter and Thea are cousins.   Peter learns of his mother's past, how she went to the outside world, and the future of the settlement.  At the end, Thea is able to convince the settlement that exploring the outside world is important to their community and survival.  A new leader of Gracehope is named, with plans to explore  the surface in the spring.  Thea will be part of that expedition, with help from her cousin Peter and her aunt Aurora.

This book has mystery and secrets, adventure, a great plot, and a message about global warming. The two characters are believable and easy to relate to. Thea is a strong-willed female character, determined to find the answers to her  settlement's past and future.  Furthermore, it explores the strange possibilities of living in a secret underground settlement.  Readers that enjoy adventure will like the description of the adventures these two characters experience and can live vicariously through their adventures.   YA readers will enjoy the story of these two cousins and how they discovered one another. 

This book was Rebecca Stead's debut book.  She has gone on to write a Newbery winner,  When You Reach Me.  Students who are interested in more about the book First Light, as well as global warming can visit: 

http://www.firstlightbook.com/

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale

Black, H. ( 2002). Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Kaye is a sixteen year old with an unorthodox life.  Her mother is in a rock band and Kaye has traveled from city to city with her mother on the road.  When her mother's live-in boyfriend and band member tries to attack her mother one night, they leave and move in with her grandmother.  Kaye used to live with her grandmother as a young child.  She vividly remembers as a child having faeries as friends and one evening meets a wounded faerie named Roiben, who she helps.  She has an instant attraction to Roiben.  Soon she is thrown into a faerie war when she receives a message from her childhood faerie friends that one of them has been killed.  Soon her old faerie friends visit her and take her to the woods to visit the Thistlewitch, who tells her about the battle between the Unseelie Court and the Seelie Court, two group of faeries battling for power.  The Thistlewitch then reveals to Kaye that she is really a changling pixie and will be used to trick the Unseelie Court, the evil faeries.  She also tells Kaye of the blood Tithe, where a moral needs to be sacrificed so the Unseelie Court can continue to be in power.  Kaye agrees to help trick the Unseelie Court, since she has " glamour", which makes her look like a human.  Thistlewitch tells her more about faerie magic.  Kaye then goes home to see what her true pixie self looks like, and she finds out she is green and has wings.  With her friend Corny, they search the internet to find out more about the faerie land.  Soon, Kaye and Corny are exploring the underground world of the Unseelie Faerie world.  They get caught into the battle, and the night before Halloween, Kaye is caught to be the human sacrifice for the Tithe.  Roiben saves her from the sacrifice, and the evil queen is killed.  But then an evil knight makes himself king, and kidnaps Corny.  Roiben and Kaye enter the Unseelie world again to find and rescue Corny.  They kill the evil king, and Roiben is now the king.  Kaye returns to the human world and misses Roiben.  At the end he comes and kisses her.

This modern fantasy combines detailed writing with lots of imagination written for young adult readers.  It has a strong, independent female character as well.  It's appealing to YA readers that enjoy fantasy, mystery, and mythical creatures.   It also has a love interest, Roiben. Readers of fantasy will enjoy the magic, faeries, and good versus evil element. 

This fantasy was the debut book of Holly Black and the first of the Modern Faerie Tale series.  Tithe was listed in YALSA Teens' Top Ten in 2003 and YALSA Popular Paperbacks for YA in 2005.   Since Tithe,  Ms. Black has gone on to write many more fantasies about faeries and supernatural creatures for young adult and middle school readers.  She is best know for the Spiderwick Chronicles series, which also was made into a movie in 2008.  She has also written graphic novels and several short stories.  Ms. Black continues to write and one of her latest books is The Darkest Part of the Forest, which was a 2016 Teens'  Top Ten Nominee.  The book trailer is below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKUzMMuvme8

Realistic Fiction

Realistic Fiction-Ch. 10

What is realistic fiction?

Realistic fiction is a fictional story set in modern or contemporary times with a real setting, events, and characters.  Realistic fiction is believable and consistent with the real world. 

Criteria when choosing realistic fiction:

1. Are the characters, setting, events, and speech believable to the reader?
Does the story reflect the real world?
2. Does the theme occur naturally over time?
3. Are today's readers able to relate to the story and theme?
4. Can the reader learn something from the story? 

Things to consider:

• avoid stereotypes
• the book should avoid being "preachy"
• YA realistic fiction now covers topics that used to be considered taboo. Current YA realistic fiction covers sexuality, sexual orientation, family dynamics such as divorce and abuse, death, pregnancy, rape, and other topics important to teens.

Librarians need to be well educated on a variety of realistic fiction titles with a variety of  topics important to today's YA readers. One reason is that books can be used to help students that are going through difficult periods, and help them grow and relate to the world around them.  Another reason is to suggest books for pleasure and enjoyment. 

Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction-Ch. 9 

What is historical fiction?

Historical fiction is any story set in the past.  It must also be a well-written story that YA readers can relate or connect to the theme.  

Why read historical fiction?

It allows readers to experiences historical events, places, and people from the part vicariously.

Things to note:

1. Most people tend to define historical fiction as any event that happened before they were born.
2. Remember the age of your reader when choosing historical fiction stories. Younger children may think that events that happened last week or last year are history.  

Criteria to consider:

1. Does the story embed historical events or information effortlessly into the story?

2. Are the historical facts accurate?

3. Are the values or morals of the time period accurate?

4. Are the clothing, music, speech patterns, social interaction, food, and trends accurate for the time period?

5. Are today's readers able to relate to the theme of the story?  

Ways to select historical fiction for YA readers:

1. Use reviews to evaluate the historical data, such as the Council on Books for Children.

2.  The National Council on Social Studies has an annual list of Notable Trade Books in the Social Sciences.

3. The Scott O'Dell awards authors on historical fiction books.

Note: The Scott O'Dell award must be written in English by a U.S. citizen with a setting in Canada, the U.S., Latin or South America, as well as published by a U.S. publisher.  

It is important for librarians and teacher to be aware of well-written historical fiction for YA readers.  These books can enhance the curriculum, as well as being read for enjoyment.  

POETRY-CH. 8

• Poetry is not a genre-it's found in different genres such as realistic fiction, fantasy historical fiction, etc. ( poetry is a format)
• Kids prefer narrative poetry and poems that tell a story
• Younger students enjoy rhyme, rhythm, and sound devices  in poetry
• Kids enjoy funny poems....there are so many to choose from too!
• Animals and familiar experiences are a favorite among students
• Kids enjoy contemporary poems with familiar language
• Poems should create visual imagery and have sensory language
• Students enjoy interacting with poetry, such as with repeated stanzas or onomatopoeia
• The same poem can be shared several times so recite and choral read poems together in class several times within a week
• Always have a poem nearby to share....it's great for read-alouds, enjoyment, and builds community
• There are many resources to use to help choose poems, such as the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children winners and the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
• There are several books and collections of poetry specifically written for children to share
• There are several poets that are specific to children such as John Ciardi, Shel Silverstein,  Judith Viorst,  Jack, Prelutsky, and more. 
• There are several blogs that also share great poetry for kids!

• Poetry needs to be shared with students in the classroom, in the library, in math class, etc.  There are tons of poems out there waiting to be shared!
• Poetry needs to be shared with teachers...though collaboration a librarian can share collections or authors that classroom teachers can share with students on a variety of topics.
• Poetry  to can be  shared with parents....share a great poem in a library newsletter or blog.  

Awards for YA-Ch. 7

Why do librarians need to knows Young Adult literature award winners, honor books, and nominees?  

The award lists are a great way for librarians to suggest books for young adult readers.  They represent books that are selected by a committee of librarians, professors, and consultants that are interested in providing great books for young adults.  Librarians should become familiar with these books to help match readers and books.

The award lists can be found at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/

YALSA stands for Young Adult Library Services Associations, which is a division
on of The American Library Association.  Their goal is to provide books that teens can connect and relate to, and to build lifelong readers.

Printz Award: This award, named after Michael L. Printz, began in 2000.  Printz was a school librarian in Topeka, Kansas who devoted his life to finding great books for students.  The Printz is awarded to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.  The award is sponsored by Booklist.

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction:  This award is given for the best nonfiction book published for young adults ages 12-18 during the publishing year from Nov. 1-Oct. 31.  

Great Graphic Novels for Teens:  A list of recommended graphic novels for young adults ages 12-18.  It is published yearly.

Margaret A. Edwards Award:  This award was established in 1988 and is sponsored by School Library Journal.  This award is named after Margaret A. Edwards, a librarian that devoted her career with providing books for teens.  It honors an author and his/her body of work for  their contributions to young adult literature.

ALEX Award:  This award is given to ten books that are written for adults, but have an appeal to young adult readers ages 12-18.  It became an official award in 2002.

Odyssey Award:  It is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults available in English in the United States. 

Morris Award: This award, which began in 2009, was named after William C. Morris, a man respected by the literary world for promoting literature for teens and children.  It is awarded to an author's debut book written for teens published for the first time.  

Outstanding Books for the College Bound:  These list of books are selected to offer a variety of subjects to students that are college bound.  It provides an introduction to new ideas that are helpful to broaden the teens scope of thoughts on academic subjects.  This list is revised every five years.

Popular Paperbacks:  This list of books offers a wide range of titles and sub-genres written for YA which encourages teens to read for pleasure.   

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers:  This list offers titles that encourage reluctant teen readers to try.  The list offers both fiction and non-fiction titles.  

Readers' Choice:  This list has the most popular teen titles for a given year. Books are nominated by readers, then in November YALSA members vote for their favorite title. This list is great for librarians to identify the most popular teen books. 

Teen Top Ten:  This "teen choice" list is chosen from teen book clubs/groups throughout the country that nominates books that were their favorites.  Then readers from ages 12-18 vote online for their favorite books between August and September.  After the votes are tallied, the YALSA announces the winners during Teen Read Weeks in October for the top ten books. 

Amazing Audiobooks List:  This annual list chosen by committee members awards notable audio recordings that are significant to young adults that have been released the last two years.  

YA Choice:  This annual list began in 1986 by the International Literacy Association to encourage young adults to read.  The books are selected by young adult readers.  This list is helpful to librarians when recommending books for readers.  Since they are selected by YA readers, they will be relevant to middle and high school students.  
The lists can be found at: https://literacyworldwide.org/get-resources/reading-lists/young-adults-choices-reading-list


The Lone Star Reading List: This yearly list is a state wide reading incentive in the state of Texas to encourage students in grades 6, 7, and 8 to read for pleasure.  It was created by the Young Adult Round Table, Association a committee of the Texas Library Association, made up of librarians which began the pilot list in 1990.  It became an annual list in 1992.  The list is created by both public and school librarians.

TAYSHAS Reading List: This yearly list began in 1996 to encourage students in grades 9-12 to read for pleasure and become lifelong readers.  It is sponsored by the Texas Library Association.  The books are selected by the Tayshas Committee, a group of high school librarians. 

Maverick Reading List: This yearly list is a collection of graphic novels selected by the Young Adult Round Table, a committee of  the Texas Library Association librarians.  This list of graphic novels for grades 6-12th began in 2010 to encourage students to explore current books in graphic novel format. Texas was the first state to create a list of graphic novels for students.

Edgar Award for Mystery: This award is presented each spring by the Mystery Writers of America.  It is considered the most prestigious award in the genre.  There are several categories for both adult and young adult readers.  The awards most beneficial for young adult readers are Best Juvenile and Young Adult. 

NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children: This award is presented by the National Council of Teachers of English to honor a poet's body of work, literary merit, creativity, and appeal to children.  The award is decided by members of the NCTE Poetry Committee and is given every other year.

Orbis Pictus: This award is presented by the National Council of Teachers of English each year to an author for outstanding non-fiction writing for children.  The work must be published or distributed in the United States and must have the following criteria: accuracy, organization, design, style, and useful in classroom teaching. 

Batchelder Award:  This award is presented annually to a publisher by the Association for Library Service to Children.  It is given to a book that was originally published in another language other than English and in another country other than the United States, then translated into English and published in the United States.   It is award for great writing for children from other parts of the world.

Scott O'Dell Award:  This award, named after the Newbery Award winning author,  is given yearly to a well-written book for children that recognizes it's importance in historical fiction.   The book must be written in English by a U.S. citizen, published by a U.S. publisher, and the setting must be in the United States, Canada, or South America.  It began to encourage writers to focus on historical fiction.

Pura Belpre Award: This award, which began in 1996,  is given annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator who's work best represents the Latino cultural experience for children and youth.  It is named after Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library.

Schneider Family Award:  This award, named after Katherine Schneider, is presented annually by the American Library Association to honor an author or illustrator that best expresses the disability experience for children and young adults.  There are three awards given: Teen Book, Middle School Book, and Young Children's Book.

Sibert Award: This award is given annually to authors and illustrators who's work is the most distinguished informational book published in English in the U.S.  It is named after Robert F. Sibert, the President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. and is given by the Association for Library Service to Children. 

Stonewall Awards: These awards are given to honor books that best relate to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience.  The awards are sponsored by the American Library Association.  There are three awards given: Barbara Gittings Literature Award, Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Awards, and Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children's and Young Adult Literature Award.