California Young Reader Medal Nominees 2010

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis  Floating up like a bubble through layers of history, buoyed with hope and comic energy…Elijah of Buxton tells the story of Elijah Freeman, the first freeborn child in the historic Elgin Settlement, a village of escaped slaves in Canada

Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohota  Told in part through the uncanny point of view of a German shepherd, Cracker! is an action-packed glimpse into the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a dog and her handler.

Sculduggery Pleasant: Scepter of the Ancients, book 1 by Derek Landy  Meet Skulduggery Pleasant Ace detective Snappy dresser Razor-tongued wit Crackerjack sorcerer and walking, talking, fire-throwing skeleton As well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgely, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve- year-old.  These two alone stand in the way of an all- consuming ancient evil.

Young Adult: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins  The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson  She wasn’t supposed to survive the accident.  But she did.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman  Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.  Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.