PHOTO BY K. CURTIS

Originally published January 23, 2024

   There will be a Sasquatch Book Award being voted on by students. If students read two books, then they will be able to vote.

   There are twelve Sasquatch books which are "A Kind of Spark", "Starfish", "Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls", "Concealed", "Playing the Cards You’re Dealt, Barakah Beats", "Ben Yokayama and the Cookie of Doom", "Maya and the Robot", "The Great Pet Heist", "Battle Dragons: City of Thieves", "The Insiders", and "The Boys in the Back Row".

   Librarian Mr. Spencer has multiple copies of all the books in the library and ELA teachers have copies of the books as well.

   “[The books] have been selected by students and librarians in Washington State as some of the best books published over the last three years,” Spencer said. “So they're really good titles and really good books.”

   Sixth-grader Kylie Doan read "Concealed", and gave it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.

   “[Students should read Concealed] because it's suspenseful and it's a fun book,” Doan said.

   Sixth-grader Lennox Moss read Battle "Dragons: City of Thieves" and gave it a rating of 5 out of 5.

   “I think they should read [Battle Dragons] because it just introduces what a good book should look like,” Moss said. “While also having a  good continuity in the story and good characters and plot.”

   Sixth-grader Emma Tuman read Maya and the Robot and gave it a rating of 5 out of 5.

   “I think it's a good, really good book,” Tuman said. “I thought it was really interesting and it got me hooked on the very first page.”

   Eighth-grader David Brandon read "Battle Dragons: City of Thieves" and gave it a rating of 4 out of 5. 

   “It's got good storytelling,” Brandon said. “It tells you to stand up for things.”

   Seventh-grader Raelene Gilreath read "A Kind of Spark", according to the MBP survey.

   “. . . In school, Addie learns about the Scottish witch trials and feels a deep connection to the “witches” that died,” Gilreath said. “In return, Addie attempts to create a memorial for all the “witches” that lost their lives.”

   Sixth-grader Evie Schubert read "Battle Dragons: City of Thieves" and rated it 4 stars. 

   “Battle Dragons is a really entertaining book,” Schubert said. “Battle Dragons I nearly finished it one day. I never do that! Overall with the story and characters, I’d give it a solid four stars.”

   Seventh-grader Iman Gonfa read "Barakah Beats", according to the MBP survey.

   “Barakah Beats is about 12 y.o. Nimra Sharif going to a public school in the seventh grade,” Gonfa said. “To get her best friend back, she joins a muslim boy band, but after lies pile up, she doesn’t know if she should just leave the boys since they were nice to her.”

  The vote will be sent out early to mid May, and voting is due May 26.

   “I think [the Sasquatch award] is a cool way for students to be able to vote on their favorite book,” Doan said.