2008 Rhode Island Teen Book Award Winner and 2009 Nominees Announcement

Young adults from across Rhode Island chose Natasha Friend’s Lush as their favorite book for the past year in a statewide election. As a result, Friend’s book was awarded the 2008 Rhode Island Teen Book Award. The award is sponsored by the Rhode Island Educational Media Association and the Rhode Island Library Association. Runners up for the award include Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer and Breathe: A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish.

Middle school and high school students from all over Rhode Island voted at their school or local public library. This year’s election had strong voter turnout, with 762 young adults from 28 schools and public libraries participating.

Lush was one of 22 young adult books nominated by school library media specialists, teachers, and public librarians from Rhode Island. The books were selected on the basis of literary quality and their appeal to young adult readers. Throughout the past year, young adults could find copies of the books available to read at their local school and public libraries and area stores. Young adult readers were eligible to vote once they had read three of the titles.

In Friend’s second novel, following previous 2007 RITBA nominee Perfect, readers are introduced to Samantha, a 13 year old with what seems like the perfect family. The reality is that her father is struggling with alcoholism. Sam and her mother do what they can to protect their family’s image while trying to help her father live as normal a life as he can with his addiction. She can’t help but be angry with him for making their lives so difficult. In an attempt to find someone she can talk to about the challenges in her life, she leaves an anonymous letter in a library book only to connect with someone who can really be a friend. Even as Sam feels overcome by the challenges at home, she also continues to live the life of a normal teen: falling in love with an older boy at the library and worrying about the way she looks. The novel provides a realistic and touching view of what it is like for teens to live with a family member fighting the challenges of alcoholism.

The Rhode Island Teen Book Award Committee would like to commend Greenville Public Library in Smithfield for successfully promoting the election for the book award. Students at the school made up almost 20 percent of all those who voted. Young adult participants from Burrillville Middle School and Cranston High School East were also well represented in the final tally with more than 11 percent of the vote.

The committee is proud to announce the list of 20 nominees for the 2009 award election. (please see attached)

2009 Nominees

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 after a massacre from carnivores and find a new home.

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

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 Students

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 girl’s 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 end up with 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 picked on at his school on the reservation, Junior Spirit decides to attend the 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 goes 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.

Aaron Coutu, Committee Chair

Young Adult Librarian

Greenville Public Library

Greenville, RI 02828