1. 2016 - 2017

2. William Allen White Award What is the WAW Book Award? Who was William Allen White? How does it work? Who selects the books? Who votes? Then what happens? History of the Award 2016 - 2017 Book List

3. What is the WAW Book Award? It is a Children’s Book Award for the state of Kansas. This award is directed by Emporia State University. Source: http://waw.emporia.edu/masterlists/masterlist.htm http://waw.emporia.edu/masterlists/masterlist.htm

4. Who was William Allen White? He was the editor of the Emporia Gazette newspaper in Emporia, Kansas. In 1896, he became well known because of an editorial he wrote in that newspaper about a political issue of the time. He was NOT the author of these books. Source: http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookawardhttp://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward

5. How does it work? Each year books are selected for 2 groups: 3 rd – 5 th grades & 6 th –8 th grades. There is one winner for each group. Students across the state are encouraged to read as many books as possible from the list.

6. Who selects the books? There is a selection committee who represents Kansas educational and professional organizations concerned with children. They create a master list of titles. Books can be fiction, non-fiction, or poetry and were published during the previous year. Anyone can nominate a book and submit it to the committee.

7. Who can vote? Students who have read at least two books from the Master List for their grade level are eligible to vote for their favorite. Ballots are sent to all Kansas schools in February or March. Schools turn their voting results in to Emporia State University in April.

8. Then what happens? The authors of the winning books are invited to a reception in the fall where they’ll receive a bronze “White Award Medal” at an awards ceremony. Students and teachers are encouraged to attend the award ceremony to meet the authors and listen to their acceptance speeches. This year’s celebration will be October 1, 2016, in Emporia, Kansas.

9. History of the Award The book award was began in 1952 by the late Ruth Garver Gagliardo, to honor the memory of William Allen White. It was established to encourage the boys and girls of Kansas to read and enjoy good books.

10. 6th – 7th Grades 2016 – 2017 Book List

11. The Crossover Kwame Alexander Reprinted by permission of publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Copyright 2014 * With a bolt of lightning on my kicks...The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering," announces dread- locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander (He Said, She Said 2013). * Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart- stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

12. The Night Gardener Jonathan Auxier Reprinted by permission of publisher, Abrams. Copyright 2014 * This much-anticipated follow-up to Jonathan Auxier’s exceptional debut, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, is a Victorian ghost story with shades of Washington Irving and Henry James. More than just a spooky tale, it’s also a moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling. *The Night Gardener follows two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious spectre and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives. *With Auxier’s exquisite command of language, The Night Gardener is a mesmerizing read and a classic in the making.

13. Under the Egg Laura Marx Fitzgerald Reprinted by permission of publisher, Dial/Penguin. Copyright 2014 * When Theodora Tenpenny spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather’s painting, she discovers what seems to be an old Renaissance masterpiece underneath. That’s great news for Theo, who’s struggling to hang onto her family’s two-hundred-year-old townhouse and support her unstable mother on her grandfather’s legacy of $463. There’s just one problem: Theo’s grandfather was a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she worries the painting may be stolen. * With the help of some unusual new friends, Theo's search for answers takes her all around Manhattan, and introduces her to a side of the city—and her grandfather—that she never knew. To solve the mystery, she'll have to abandon her hard-won self-reliance and build a community, one serendipitous friendship at a time.

14. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia Candace Fleming Reprinted by permission of publisher, Random House. Copyright 2014 * Here is the riveting story of the Russian Revolution as it unfolded. When Russia’s last tsar, Nicholas II, inherited the throne in 1894, he was unprepared to do so. With their four daughters (including Anastasia) and only son, a hemophiliac, Nicholas and his reclusive wife, Alexandra, buried their heads in the sand, living a life of opulence as World War I raged outside their door and political unrest grew. * Deftly maneuvering between the lives of the Romanovs and the plight of Russia’s peasants—and their eventual uprising—Fleming offers up a fascinating portrait, complete with inserts featuring period photographs and compelling primary-source material that brings it all to life. History doesn’t get more interesting than the story of the Romanovs.

15. Courage for Beginners Karen Harrington Reprinted by permission of publisher, Little Brown Books for Young Readers. Copyright 2014 * Twelve-year-old Mysti Murphy wishes she were a character in a book. If her life were fictional, she'd magically know how to deal with the fact that her best friend, Anibal Gomez, has abandoned her in favor of being a "hipster." She'd be able to take care of everyone when her dad has to spend time in the hospital. And she'd certainly be able to change her family's secret. * Seventh grade is not turning out the way Mysti had planned. With the help of a hot-hair balloon, her new friend Rama Khan--and maybe even the heroes of the Texas Revolution--can she find the courage to change?

16. The Fourteenth Goldfish Jennifer Holm Reprinted by permission of publisher, Random House Children’s Books. Copyright 2014 * Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough... he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth? * With a lighthearted touch and plenty of humor, Jennifer Holm celebrates the wonder of science and explores fascinating questions about life and death, family and friendship, immortality... and possibility.." —James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

17. The Time of the Fireflies Kimberley Griffiths Little Reprinted by permission of publisher, Scholastic. Copyright 2014 * Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little spins a thrilling story of one girl's race to unravel the curse that has haunted her family for generations. * When Larissa Renaud starts receiving eerie phone calls on a disconnected old phone in her families antique shop, she knows she's in for a strange summer. A series of clues leads her to the muddy river banks, where clouds of fireflies dance among the cypress knees and cattails each evening at twilight. The fireflies are beautiful and mysterious, and they take her on a magical journey through time, where Larissa learns secrets about her families tragic past -- deadly, curse-ridden secrets that could harm the future of her family as she knows it. It soon becomes clear that it is up to Larissa to prevent history from repeating itself and a fatal tragedy from striking the people she loves. * With her signature lyricism, Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a thrilling tale filled with family secrets, haunting mystery, and dangerous adventure.

18. Greenglass House Kate Milford Reprinted by permission of publisher, Clarion Books. Copyright 2014 * It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. * Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.

19. The Boundless Kenneth Oppel Reprinted by permission of publisher, Simon & Schuster. Copyright 2014 * The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life! * When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past. * In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can Will and Maren reach Will’s father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

20. The Meaning of Maggie Megan Jean Sovern Reprinted by permission of publisher, Chronicle Books. Copyright 2014 * As befits a future President of the United States of America, Maggie Mayfield has decided to write a memoir of the past year of her life. And what a banner year it's been! During this period, she's Student of the Month on a regular basis, an official shareholder in Coca-Cola stock, and defending Science Fair champion. Most importantly, though, this is the year Maggie has to pull up her bootstraps (the family motto) and finally learn why her cool dude dad is in a wheelchair, no matter how scary that is. * Author Megan Jean Sovern, herself the daughter of a dad with multiple sclerosis, writes with the funny grace and assured prose of a new literary star.

21. Loot : How to Steal a Fortune Jude Watson Reprinted by permission of publisher, Scholastic. Copyright 2014 * On a foggy night in Amsterdam, a man falls from a rooftop to the wet pavement below. It's Alfie McQuinn, the notorious cat burglar, and he's dying. As sirens wail in the distance, Alfie manages to get out two last words to his young son, March: "Find jewels." * But March learns that his father is not talking about a stash of loot. He's talking about Jules, the twin sister March never knew he had. No sooner than the two find each other, they're picked up by the police and sent to the world's worst orphanage. It's not prison, but it feels like it. * March and Jules have no intention of staying put. They know their father's business inside and out, and they're tired of being pushed around. Just one good heist, and they'll live the life of riches and freedom most kids only dream about.

22. A Million Ways Home Dianna Dorisi Reprinted by permission of publisher, Scholastic. Copyright 2014 * A moving middle-grade story about love, loss, and the unlikely places we find home. * Poppy's life has been turned upside down after her grandma (and guardian) had a stroke and ended up in the hospital. But Poppy is working on a plan to help Grandma Beth so their life together can go back to normal. But when she witnesses an armed robbery, "back to normal" slips even further out of her reach. To keep Poppy safe, the budget-strapped police devise an unusual "witness protection program," wherein Poppy will stay with Detective Brannigan's mother. Soon Poppy is feeling almost at home, even making sort-of friends with a girl named Lizzie and definitely friending Gunner, a beautiful dog with an uncertain fate. But it's still not home. So while she and Lizzie navigate a rocky friendship and plot to save Gunner's life, Poppy also tries to figure out a new plan to save Grandma Beth and their home, all while avoiding a dangerous robber who might be searching for her. * But what if Grandma Beth can never come home and the robber is put behind bars? What will happen to Poppy then?

23. LAST YEAR’S WINNER LAST YEAR’S WINNER Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Chris Grabenstein Reprinted by permission of publisher, Random House Children’s Books. Copyright 2013 Kyle Keeley is the class clown and a huge fan of all games—board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the construction of the new town library. Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot as one of twelve kids invited for an overnight sleepover in the library, hosted by Mr. Lemoncello and riddled with lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must solve every clue and figure out every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route!

24. LAST YEAR’S WINNER LAST YEAR’S WINNER Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Chris Grabenstein Reprinted by permission of publisher, Random House Children’s Books. Copyright 2013