Young Reader's Choice Awards

The Young Reader's Choice Awards are one of the oldest literature awards in the US and Canada. Each year the Pacific Northwest Library Association collects nominations for and winning votes for the Young Reader's Choice Awards (hereafter called the YRCA). How does it work? Nominations are taken only from children, teachers, parents and librarians in the Pacific Northwest - Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Nominations are based on popularity, not necessarily literary merit. The nominations are then divided into three age divisions - Junior, Middle and Senior. In order to vote, you must read or listen to three nominated titles in that division. This year the nominees in the Middle Division (grades 7-9) are:

• Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
• Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
• The Outcasts of 19 Schyuler Place by E.L. Konigsburg
• Red Kayak by Pricilla Cummings
• The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
• The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer
• The Teacher's Funeral by Richard Peck

The nominees in the Senior Division (grades 10-12) are:

• Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
• A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
• How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
• Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman by Eleanor Updale
• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

For a full description of each book check out the YRCA website and click on Discussions. The library owns several copies of each of these titles. Voting begins March 15 and closes March 30 so we can get our votes to our provincial representative to pass on. I am working my way through as many as I can in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted on my opinions, but feel free to disagree! If you want to vote we will have voting slips available in the Young Adult Corner by March 15. Remember, your opinion is the one that counts!