2008-2009 2008-2009 South Carolina South Carolina

Junior Book Award Junior Book Award NomineesNominees

Lauren Harrison, ELA Instructional SpecialistSchool District of Oconee County

August 18, 2008

2008-2009 South Carolina 2008-2009 South Carolina Junior Book Award NomineesJunior Book Award Nominees

Bella at MidnightBella at Midnight Black DuckBlack Duck Blood on the River: Blood on the River:

James Town, 1607James Town, 1607 BlueBlue Cracker! The Best Dog Cracker! The Best Dog

in Vietnamin Vietnam Crossing the WireCrossing the Wire Dragon’s KeepDragon’s Keep Escape! The Story of Escape! The Story of

the Great Houdinithe Great Houdini The Green Glass SeaThe Green Glass Sea Hard HitHard Hit

HeatHeat Jumping the ScratchJumping the Scratch The MailboxThe Mailbox Oh Rats! The Story of Oh Rats! The Story of

Rats and PeopleRats and People Sand Dollar SummerSand Dollar Summer The Softwire: Virus on The Softwire: Virus on

Orbis 1Orbis 1 The TrapThe Trap VictoryVictory The Wright 3The Wright 3 Worldweavers: Gift of Worldweavers: Gift of

the Unmagethe Unmage

Bella at MidnightBella at Midnight by Diane Stanleyby Diane Stanley Bella lives a peasant life as the Bella lives a peasant life as the

daughter of a blacksmith, unaware daughter of a blacksmith, unaware that her real father abandoned her as that her real father abandoned her as a baby.a baby.

Bella is also unaware that her friend Bella is also unaware that her friend who faithfully comes to visit her is who faithfully comes to visit her is actually Prince Julian of Moranmoor.actually Prince Julian of Moranmoor.

Then, Bella must leave her loving Then, Bella must leave her loving family to claim her birthright, along family to claim her birthright, along the way discovering terrible plots that the way discovering terrible plots that threaten her, Julian, and the future of threaten her, Julian, and the future of the country.the country.

Bella at MidnightBella at Midnight seems to be a fairy seems to be a fairy tale story, but will Bella and Julian live tale story, but will Bella and Julian live happily ever after? Read to find out. happily ever after? Read to find out.

Black DuckBlack Duck by Janet Taylor Lisleby Janet Taylor Lisle Young journalist David interviews Young journalist David interviews

the lone survivor of a Coast the lone survivor of a Coast Guard accident in Rhode Island in Guard accident in Rhode Island in 1929.1929.

Ruben Hart reluctantly tells Ruben Hart reluctantly tells David his story, which begins David his story, which begins with a dead man’s body washed with a dead man’s body washed up on shore in a tuxedo.up on shore in a tuxedo.

Ruben and his best friend Ruben and his best friend accidentally stumble upon mob accidentally stumble upon mob connections and rum-smuggling connections and rum-smuggling during the time of Prohibition.during the time of Prohibition.

Read to find out what happens to Read to find out what happens to Ruben and his friends once they Ruben and his friends once they encounter the captain of the encounter the captain of the Black DuckBlack Duck, the infamous , the infamous smuggling boat.smuggling boat.

Blood on the River: Blood on the River: Jamestown, 1607Jamestown, 1607

by Elisa Carboneby Elisa Carbone When twelve-year-old Samuel When twelve-year-old Samuel

Collier is forced to travel to the Collier is forced to travel to the new world on a ship in 1606, he new world on a ship in 1606, he thinks his it is the worst thing that thinks his it is the worst thing that can happen.can happen.

Luckily for Samuel, he becomes a Luckily for Samuel, he becomes a page to Captain John Smith.page to Captain John Smith.

When the boat lands and the crew When the boat lands and the crew works to develop the new colony works to develop the new colony of James Town, Samuel and the of James Town, Samuel and the others face danger from all sides.others face danger from all sides.

Who is friend, and who is foe? Who is friend, and who is foe? Read to discover along with Read to discover along with Samuel what the future holds for Samuel what the future holds for them in the new world.them in the new world.

BlueBlue by Joyce Moyer Hostetterby Joyce Moyer Hostetter When Ann Fay Honeycutt’s father When Ann Fay Honeycutt’s father

leaves to fight in World War II, Ann leaves to fight in World War II, Ann Fay puts on her overalls and Fay puts on her overalls and becomes the “man” of the house.becomes the “man” of the house.

As Ann Fay works to help her As Ann Fay works to help her mother take care of their family, mother take care of their family, she discovers a strength she she discovers a strength she doesn’t know she has.doesn’t know she has.

When a polio epidemic strikes her When a polio epidemic strikes her community and her family, Ann community and her family, Ann Fay must rely on that strength and Fay must rely on that strength and special friends to help.special friends to help.

What will happen to her family? What will happen to her family? Read to learn about Ann Fay’s Read to learn about Ann Fay’s experiences which take her to the experiences which take her to the polio hospital that really existed in polio hospital that really existed in Hickory, North Carolina. Hickory, North Carolina.

Cracker!: Cracker!: The Best Dog in VietnamThe Best Dog in Vietnam

by Cynthia Kadohataby Cynthia Kadohata When a young boy must give up When a young boy must give up

his very special dog, Cracker, he his very special dog, Cracker, he does not know of Cracker’s does not know of Cracker’s unusual fate.unusual fate.

Cracker trains to sniff bombs to Cracker trains to sniff bombs to help the troops in Vietnam.help the troops in Vietnam.

Cracker’s lucky enough to bond Cracker’s lucky enough to bond with his soldier, and they travel with his soldier, and they travel together to fight in Vietnam.together to fight in Vietnam.

Told in two parts (human and Told in two parts (human and canine), the story of canine), the story of Cracker!: Cracker!: The Best Dog in VietnamThe Best Dog in Vietnam tells an tells an incredibly realistic story of war. incredibly realistic story of war. Read to discover what happens to Read to discover what happens to Cracker and his soldier.Cracker and his soldier.

Crossing the WireCrossing the Wire by Will Hobbsby Will Hobbs When his father dies, fifteen-When his father dies, fifteen-

year-old Victor Flores becomes year-old Victor Flores becomes responsible for his family.responsible for his family.

Times are extremely difficult, Times are extremely difficult, and with little money, the and with little money, the future looks bleak for the future looks bleak for the Flores family.Flores family.

Victor believes that, if he can Victor believes that, if he can just cross into the United just cross into the United States, he will be able to send States, he will be able to send money back to take care of his money back to take care of his family.family.

In In Crossing the Crossing the Wire, read Wire, read about Victor’s life-and-death about Victor’s life-and-death adventure as he attempts to adventure as he attempts to make a dangerous border make a dangerous border crossing, encounters thieves crossing, encounters thieves and runs from border officials.and runs from border officials.

Dragon’s KeepDragon’s Keep

by Janet Lee Careyby Janet Lee Carey In 1145 A.D., Rosalind has a secret In 1145 A.D., Rosalind has a secret

– a dragon’s claw that she must – a dragon’s claw that she must hide from everyone but her hide from everyone but her mother.mother.

It was foretold by Merlin that It was foretold by Merlin that Rosalind Rosalind will be the twenty-first will be the twenty-first Pendragon Queen of Wilde Island, Pendragon Queen of Wilde Island, and as Rosalind struggles with and as Rosalind struggles with keeping the secret, she also keeping the secret, she also struggles with her destiny.struggles with her destiny.

When mysterious things begin to When mysterious things begin to happen, Rosalind begins to happen, Rosalind begins to question many things about her question many things about her life, including whom she can trust.life, including whom she can trust.

Read to find out what happens to Read to find out what happens to Rosalie in Rosalie in Dragon’s Keep.Dragon’s Keep.

Escape!:Escape!:The Story of the Great The Story of the Great

HoudiniHoudini by Sid Fleischmanby Sid Fleischman History shows that Harry Houdini History shows that Harry Houdini

was one of the world’s greatest was one of the world’s greatest magicians and entertainers.magicians and entertainers.

EscapeEscape tells the story of tells the story of Houdini’s background and how Houdini’s background and how he came to create his legendary he came to create his legendary escape tricks and other magic escape tricks and other magic tricks.tricks.

Even though Houdini died in Even though Houdini died in 1926, people still are captivated 1926, people still are captivated by his personality and his story.by his personality and his story.

Read Read Escape! The Story of the Escape! The Story of the Great HoudiniGreat Houdini to enter the world to enter the world of magic and meet the greatest of magic and meet the greatest magicians of the time.magicians of the time.

The Green Glass SeaThe Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klagesby Ellen Klages In 1943, almost eleven-year-old In 1943, almost eleven-year-old

Dewey Kerrigan travels to New Dewey Kerrigan travels to New Mexico to live with her father.Mexico to live with her father.

Dewey’s father is working on a Dewey’s father is working on a special project in Los Alamos, a special project in Los Alamos, a town that doesn’t officially exist.town that doesn’t officially exist.

Famous scientists and Famous scientists and mathematicians from all over mathematicians from all over America and Europe are working America and Europe are working on the “gadget.”on the “gadget.”

Read and travel along with Read and travel along with Dewey as she makes friends, Dewey as she makes friends, creates her own gadgets, and creates her own gadgets, and learns how the “gadget” may learns how the “gadget” may just change their lives in ways just change their lives in ways they cannot imagine.they cannot imagine.

Hard HitHard Hit by Ann Turnerby Ann Turner Mark Warren has it all. Mark Warren has it all.

Everyone envies him.Everyone envies him. He’s the star pitcher on the He’s the star pitcher on the

baseball team.baseball team. He has great friends and a He has great friends and a

girlfriend. Even his family is girlfriend. Even his family is great.great.

Then, his dad is diagnosed with Then, his dad is diagnosed with cancer, and everything Mark cancer, and everything Mark knows changes. He’d rather be knows changes. He’d rather be anyone else.anyone else.

Read to learn how Mark reacts Read to learn how Mark reacts and struggles to survive when and struggles to survive when his world is his world is Hard HitHard Hit..

HeatHeat

by Mike Lupicaby Mike Lupica Michael Arroyo’s father brings Michael Arroyo’s father brings

him to the United States so him to the United States so that he can play in the Little that he can play in the Little League World Series and make League World Series and make a name for himself.a name for himself.

Michael’s dad dies before he Michael’s dad dies before he can get there.can get there.

When he is sidelined because When he is sidelined because coaches suspect he is lying coaches suspect he is lying about his age and he has no about his age and he has no birth certificate, Michael and birth certificate, Michael and his brother struggle to keep his brother struggle to keep one step ahead.one step ahead.

Read to discover if Michael can Read to discover if Michael can keep Papi’s dream alive.keep Papi’s dream alive.

Jumping the ScratchJumping the Scratch

by Sarah Weeksby Sarah Weeks Eleven-year-old Jamie Reardon Eleven-year-old Jamie Reardon

has always thought that bad has always thought that bad things came three at a time.things came three at a time.

After his cat dies, his father After his cat dies, his father leaves, and his aunt has an leaves, and his aunt has an accident that affects her accident that affects her memory, Jamie thinks that memory, Jamie thinks that things will look up.things will look up.

Then, Jamie and his mom must Then, Jamie and his mom must move to take care of his move to take care of his injured aunt and try to help injured aunt and try to help her trigger her memory.her trigger her memory.

Read to discover Read to discover Jumping the Jumping the ScratchScratch will help Jamie and his will help Jamie and his aunt.aunt.

The MailboxThe Mailbox

by Audrey Shaferby Audrey Shafer Gabe has finally settled in and Gabe has finally settled in and

adjusted to his new life with an adjusted to his new life with an uncle he never knew existed.uncle he never knew existed.

Then, Gabe comes home from Then, Gabe comes home from school one day to find Uncle school one day to find Uncle Vernon dead. Afraid of being Vernon dead. Afraid of being sent away, Gabe covers the sent away, Gabe covers the body and returns to school the body and returns to school the next day.next day.

When Gabe comes home, Uncle When Gabe comes home, Uncle Vernon’s body has disappeared.Vernon’s body has disappeared.

When you open When you open The MailboxThe Mailbox, , you will discover what happened you will discover what happened to the body and what it means to the body and what it means for young Gabe.for young Gabe.

Oh Rats!:Oh Rats!:The Story of Rats and PeopleThe Story of Rats and People

by Albert Marrinby Albert Marrin Rats are really interesting Rats are really interesting

animals, and they have animals, and they have actually played a big part in actually played a big part in history.history.

Oh, Rats! Oh, Rats! is full of is full of information about rats’ information about rats’ survival skills and other survival skills and other behaviors.behaviors.

Many people consider rats to Many people consider rats to be pests, but history shows be pests, but history shows them to be rescuers, too.them to be rescuers, too.

Read this truly interesting Read this truly interesting (and a little bit disgusting) (and a little bit disgusting) book to discover the story of book to discover the story of rats and people.rats and people.

Sand Dollar SummerSand Dollar Summer by Kimberly Jonesby Kimberly Jones When twelve-year-old Lise’s mother When twelve-year-old Lise’s mother

is injured in an accident, she moves is injured in an accident, she moves the Lise and her brother to her the Lise and her brother to her childhood home on the coast of childhood home on the coast of Maine.Maine.

Lise is not happy with this situation. Lise is not happy with this situation. She had other plans for her She had other plans for her summer, and she is uncomfortable summer, and she is uncomfortable around the ocean.around the ocean.

Then, her life becomes more Then, her life becomes more complicated with the return of her complicated with the return of her mother’s old boyfriend, an mother’s old boyfriend, an approaching hurricane, and an approaching hurricane, and an aging Indian neighbor.aging Indian neighbor.

Read to discover how Lise’s life Read to discover how Lise’s life changes because of her changes because of her experiences during the experiences during the Sand Dollar Sand Dollar Summer. Summer.

The Softwire: Virus on Orbis The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 11

by PJ Haarsmaby PJ Haarsma Johnny Turnbull is one of a group Johnny Turnbull is one of a group

of children who were shot into of children who were shot into space with adults toward Orbis 1.space with adults toward Orbis 1.

Because the life support systems Because the life support systems failed during the 253-year trip, failed during the 253-year trip, the children are now orphans.the children are now orphans.

When they reach Orbis 1, they When they reach Orbis 1, they immediately become slaves, and immediately become slaves, and if things are not bad enough, if things are not bad enough, Johnny discovers he is a Johnny discovers he is a “softwire.”“softwire.”

Read to find out what danger Read to find out what danger Johnny discovers when he uses Johnny discovers when he uses his powers as a “softwire” to his powers as a “softwire” to enter the computer.enter the computer.

The TrapThe Trap

by John Smelcerby John Smelcer Johnny Least-Weasel’s Johnny Least-Weasel’s

grandfather, Albert, is an eighty-grandfather, Albert, is an eighty-year-old trapper.year-old trapper.

When Albert accidentally gets When Albert accidentally gets caught in one of his many traps, caught in one of his many traps, he must use all of his wits to he must use all of his wits to survive.survive.

When Albert does not return When Albert does not return home on time, Johnny must home on time, Johnny must figure out where his grandfather figure out where his grandfather might be.might be.

Read Read The TrapThe Trap to learn what to learn what happens to Johnny and Albert, as happens to Johnny and Albert, as well as learn about their culture.well as learn about their culture.

VictoryVictory

by Susan Cooperby Susan Cooper Molly is upset because her Molly is upset because her

family has moved from London family has moved from London to the United States.to the United States.

To occupy her time, she begins To occupy her time, she begins to read an old book about to read an old book about Admiral Lord Nelson.Admiral Lord Nelson.

A century earlier, a young boy A century earlier, a young boy named Sam serves with Nelson named Sam serves with Nelson aboard the HMS Victory.aboard the HMS Victory.

Molly begins to find herself Molly begins to find herself drawn to the Victory.drawn to the Victory.

Read Read VictoryVictory to discover Molly’s to discover Molly’s and Sam’s fates.and Sam’s fates.

The Wright 3The Wright 3

by Blue Balliettby Blue Balliett Calder, Petra, and Tommy are Calder, Petra, and Tommy are

reunited in the sequel to reunited in the sequel to Chasing VermeerChasing Vermeer..

These three young people lead These three young people lead their classmates in an attempt their classmates in an attempt to save Frank Lloyd Wright’s to save Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Robie House in Chicago famous Robie House in Chicago from being demolished.from being demolished.

Mysterious coincidences and Mysterious coincidences and unexplained accidents cause unexplained accidents cause Calder, Petra, and Tommy to Calder, Petra, and Tommy to investigate.investigate.

Read to discover if Read to discover if The Wright 3The Wright 3 manage to save the Robie manage to save the Robie House and solve the mysteries.House and solve the mysteries.

Worldweavers: Gift of the Worldweavers: Gift of the UnmageUnmage

by Alma Alexanderby Alma Alexander As the seventh child of two As the seventh child of two

seventh children, great things seventh children, great things are expected of Thea.are expected of Thea.

When time passes and her When time passes and her magical abilities seem to be magical abilities seem to be minimal, Thea is sent to the minimal, Thea is sent to the Academy, a school for students Academy, a school for students without magical powers.without magical powers.

Thea, however, has some help Thea, however, has some help from her mage, Cheveyo.from her mage, Cheveyo.

Read to discover what happens Read to discover what happens as Thea begins to weave her as Thea begins to weave her own destiny in own destiny in Worldweavers: Worldweavers: Gift of the UnmageGift of the Unmage..

REMEMBER . . .REMEMBER . . .Your vote counts!Your vote counts!Read the nominees that interest you!Read the nominees that interest you!Be an informed voter – the more you Be an informed voter – the more you

read, the better voter you will be!read, the better voter you will be!Get your friends involved! Talk about Get your friends involved! Talk about

the books you like!the books you like!Be sure that you meet any other Be sure that you meet any other

requirements for your school’s media requirements for your school’s media center.center.

Enjoy your reading!Enjoy your reading!