Young Hoosier Book Awards 2014-2015 Nominated Books RAH 5/12

Young Hoosier Book Awards Each year Indiana teachers, librarians, and students select 20 books that they consider some of the best new reading for students in each age group. These titles are promoted to young people throughout the state of Indiana.

Students are encouraged to read as many of the selected books as possible. Students who read 5 or more YHBA titles can vote for their favorites. Ballots are collected throughout the state each April to determine the winning title in each age group.

Yhba program Each year our students participate in the YHBA program. Lists of YHBA titles are posted in the media center, in your English classrooms, and on the media center website. You can find the YHBA books at the media center, public library, classrooms, or bookstores.

The competition At the media center, we keep track of who reads YHBA books by monitoring AR Tests. When you pass the AR Test on a YHBA book, your name is added to the list.

But why should I read YHBA books? They’re some of the best new books out there. Odds are that you’ll like most of them. Many language arts teachers require their students to read a number of YHBA titles. You’ll get a chance to vote on the book you liked best. Students who read the most YHBA books are eligible for special rewards!

This year’s yhba titles 2014-2015

After eli by Rebecca Rupp When Daniel Anderson’s older brother dies, he wonders why some people die bravely, others die accidently and still others without reason. Trying to understand, Danny creates a Book of the Dead — an old binder that he fills with details about dead people, how they died, and, for what purpose. RL 5.7 Pts. 6.0

Bomb: the race to build and steal the world’s most dangerous weapon bySteve Sheinkin In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: a Uranium atom, placed next to radioactive material, split in two. Splitting the atom created the atomic bomb. This is the story of the risk-taking, the deceit, and the brains that went into creating this weapon. RL 6.9 Pts. 10.0

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel Cam's down-and-out father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday and he knows it's the worst present ever. He bends the cardboard into a man & it magically comes to life! This is a graphic novel. RL 2.2 Pts. 1.o

cinder by Marissa Meyer Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She lives in a future China. In this retelling of the Cinderella story, Cinder meets Prince Kai when he needs her help to repair his android. Cinders stepmother and stepsisters are included, but this is a science fiction story full of cyborgs, androids, the plague and a kingdom on the moon. Definitely not your average fairy tale and the first of a series. RL 5.8 Pts. 14

the false Prince by Jennifer Nelson Sage is a street-savvy orphan, who along with two other boys he is recruited by the nobleman Conner, to remake them into their country’s lost prince, who is presumed dead. The boys compete to assume the throne. Sage soon discovers that Connor contemplates treason and that he must win the competition or die. RL 5.1 Pts. 12.0

The false Princess by ellis O’neal Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia learns, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia. She is now Sinda and must leave behind the city, her best friend, Kiernan, and the only life she’s ever known. Sent to live with a relative, she discovers to her surprise, that magic runs through her and she realizes that she will never be just a simple village girl. RL 5.8 Pts. 15

fourmile by watt key RL 3.9 Pts.6.0 Twelve-year-old Foster knows in his gut that Dax Ganey, the man dating his widowed mother is a bad seed. Then a stranger arrives at their Alabama farm, a former Army Ranger, and Foster believes he has found an ally. Dax soon resents him and Foster and also Foster’s mother. Dax will be a dangerous enemy, but the stranger can be just as dangerous, if not more so. RL 3.9 Pts.6.0

hades: Lord of the dead by George O’connor This book tells the story of Hades’ abduction of Persephone and her mother’s revenge. This is action-packed, fast paced adventure in graphic novel format. RL 4.0 Pts. 1.0

here lies linc by Delia Ray Lincoln Crenshaw is surrounded by death. His father died when he was seven, he lives next door to the town cemetery and because of his mother’s work, Linc visits cemeteries and graves all over the US. Linc’s school assignment is to choose a tombstone and find out the history of the person buried there. Linc chooses the statue of the Black Angel. The rumor is that scary things happen to the people that touch that statue. RL 5.2 Pts. 11

In a glass grimmly by adam gidwitz  Join Jack and Jill on a new set of tales from the Brothers Grimm. Loosely based on fairy tales, the stories are gory, scary, terrifying and perfect for reading aloud RL 4.4 Pts. 8.0

jump into the sky by Shelley pearsall In May of 1945, 13 year old Levi Battle heads south in search of his father, an elite black paratrooper. Levi travels through “Jim Crow” South to discover that his father is on a dangerous secret mission, more perilous than he had ever imagined. RL 5.8 Pts. 13.0

Lincoln’s last days By Bill O’reilly President Lincoln travels through Washington, D.C. after the end of the bloody Civil War. During the celebration, Lincoln is assassinated at Ford’s Theatre by the actor John Wilkes Booth. This is compelling non-fiction, with a thrilling chase, a fiery shoot-out and swift justice for the perpetrators. RL 7.5 Pts. 7.0

The lions of little rock by kristin levine Twelve-year -olds Liz and Marlee are best friends in middle school during the 1958 school integration of Little Rock. Liz suddenly leaves school, and the rumor is that she was a light skinned black passing for white. The schools refuse to follow the Federal Integration order, but Marlee doesn’t care about the law, she wants her friend back, but their friendship could put their families in danger. RL 4.1 Pts. 10.0

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool World War II is ending, Jack’s mother has died and he is sent from his home in Kansas to a boarding school in Maine. There he meets the strange Early Auden. Despite their differences, Jack is drawn to Early and the two begin a search for the great black bear on the Appalachian Trail, where their real adventures begin RL 5.2 Pts. 11

One for the murphys by linda hunt Carley has just been placed in state’s foster care system. She was being raised by her single mom who is not the most caring or responsible person. Carley has been placed with the Murphys and she has a tough time getting used to them. Eventually she starts to feel like she really belongs and then her mother shows up and wants her back. RL 3.4 Pts. 6.0

Shadow on the mountain by Margi preus 14 year old Espen is a courier for the Norwegian Resistance during World War II. Eventually he becomes a spy and his missions become more and more dangerous until he is forced to ski across the mountains into Sweden to escape. A bonus “Instructions for Code Breakers” is included. RL 5.0 Pts. 8.0

Splendors and glooms by laura Amy Schlitz Clara lives in Victorian London and for her birthday the street performer Gaspare Grisini and his two assistants are hired to put on a puppet show for the celebration. The night of the party, Clara disappears and Grisini, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, the assistants, are suspected. When Grisini also disappears, Lillie Rose & Parsefall flee and are caught in the trap set by Grisini’s ancient rival. RL 5.1 Pts. 15.0

Summer of the Mariposa by Guadalupe garcia McCall Odelila and her sisters find a dead body and decide to travel from Texas to Mexico to deliver the body to his family. The five sisters take the family car (without permission) and embark upon an adventure. Typical siblings, one minute they are squabbling, the next they are mature , loving and brave. This book combines Texas border culture with Mexican mysticism. RL 5.4 Pts. 13

Temple Grandin: how the girl who loved cows embraced autism by Sy Montgomery Temple Grandin is one of the most well known adults with autism. As a child, it was recommended that she be placed in a hospital, but her mother placed her in a school instead. Temple has always loved animals and her work with cattle has revolutionized the livestock industry. This biography not only recognizesTemple’s accomplishments but brings some understanding of the autistic mind. RL 7.0 Pts. 4.0

under the never sky by veronica rossi Aria lives in a domed city dependent on digital resources. Perry has advanced senses and lives on a settlement in the real world. Aria tries to get information on her mother by going into the real world. Things go awry and Aria is kicked out of the dome and left to die, and then she meets Perry. Aria and Perry have to work through their biases and prejudice and stick together in order to survive. RL 4.1 Pts. 12.0

Many YHBA titles are also available as eBooks from the PTS Digital Download Library.

So let’s get reading!