California Young Reader California Young Reader Medal NomineesMedal Nominees

20102010

Elijah of BuxtonElijah of Buxton by by Christopher Paul CurtisChristopher Paul Curtis

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

Cracker: The Best Dog in Cracker: The Best Dog in VietnamVietnam by Cynthia by Cynthia KadohotaKadohota

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

Sculduggery Pleasant: Sculduggery Pleasant: Scepter of the Ancients, Scepter of the Ancients, book 1book 1 by Derek Landy by Derek Landy

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant Ace detective Meet Skulduggery Pleasant Ace detective Snappy dresser Razor-tongued wit Snappy dresser Razor-tongued wit Crackerjack sorcerer and walking, talking, Crackerjack sorcerer and walking, talking, fire-throwing skeleton As well as ally, fire-throwing skeleton As well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgely, a protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgely, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old. year-old.

These two alone stand in the way of an all-These two alone stand in the way of an all-consuming ancient evil.consuming ancient evil.

Young Adult: Young Adult: Hunger Hunger GamesGames by Suzanne Collins by Suzanne Collins The terrain, rules, and level of The terrain, rules, and level of

audience participation may audience participation may change but one thing is change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place. in her place.

Adoration of Jenna FoxAdoration of Jenna Fox by by Mary E. PearsonMary E. Pearson

She wasn’t supposed to survive the She wasn’t supposed to survive the accident. accident.

But she did.But she did.

UnwindUnwind by Neal by Neal ShustermanShusterman

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.for their lives.

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