RJH Library

Truman Book Award

Nominees

2019-2020 Truman Book Award Nominees

Click'd

by Tamara Ireland Stone

After spending the summer at coding camp, Allie Navarro is excited to share the app she built with her friends, until it starts to cause problems between them-- Provided by publisher.

Forget Me Not

by Ellie Terry

When her mother breaks up with yet another boyfriend, Calliope meets Jinsong at her latest middle school, who becomes her friend despite her Tourette syndrome and the embarrassment it can cause.

Greetings From Witness Protection!

by Jake Burt

Thirteen-year-old Nicki Demere is an orphan and a kleptomaniac, making her the perfect girl to portray the Trevor's daughter in witness protection, but she soon learns that the biggest threat to her new family's security comes from her own past.

Hideout

by Watt Key

The son of a Mississippi policeman finds a boy living in hiding in the wilderness and tries to help him without giving away his secret.

Long Way Down

by Jason Reynolds

A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book. There are three rules in the neighborhood: Don't cry ; Don't snitch ; Get revenge. Will takes his dead brother Shawn's gun, and gets in the elevator on the 7th floor. As the elevator stops on each floor, someone connected to Shawn gets on. Someone already dead. Dead by teenage gun violence. And each has something to share with Will.

Lost Boys

by Darcey Rosenblatt

In 1982 Iran, twelve-year-old Reza is more interested in music than war, but enlists in obedience to his devout mother and soon finds himself in a prison camp in Iraq.

Piecing Me Together

by Renee Watson

Tired of being singled out at her mostly-white private school as someone who needs support, high school junior Jade would rather participate in the school's amazing Study Abroad program than join Women to Women, a mentorship program for at-risk girls.

Refugee

by Alan Gratz

Although separated by continents and decades, Josef, a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany; Isabel, a Cuban girl trying to escape the riots and unrest plaguing her country in 1994; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 whose homeland is torn apart by violence and destruction, embark on harrowing journeys in search of refuge, discovering shocking connections that tie their stories together.

Renegades

by Marissa Meyer

As she nears her goal of avenging the Renegades, who overthrew the villains to establish order from ruin, Nova grows close to justice-seeking Renegade Adrian, but her allegiance to the villains could destroy them both.

Rosemarked

by Livia Blackburne

When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she is destined to live her last days in isolation. Dineas, broken by torture at the hands of the Amparan Empire, thirsts for revenge against his captors; he'll do anything to free his tribe from Amparan rule-- even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self. The two are thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, and must find common ground to protect those they love-- while grappling with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts.

The Trail

by Meika Hashimoto

Toby and his friend Lucas made a list of things to do the summer before they entered middle school, but now Lucas is gone, and Toby sets out to fulfill the promise he made to his friend by hiking the Appalachian Trail an undertaking that he is poorly prepared for--and which will become not only a struggle for survival, but a rescue mission for the starving and abused dog who he finds along the way.

To Catch a Killer

by Sheryl Scarborough

When Erin discovers the body of her biology teacher, she begins her own investigation into the murder of her mother when Erin was just a toddler.


Truman Award

The award is named after the only United States President from Missouri, Harry S Truman (b. 1884; d.1972). "Truman was born in Lamar and served as 33rd president of the United States, from 1945 to 1952. His birthplace, in Lamar, is now a state historical site. Truman is remembered as “the man from Independence [Missouri].” Truman also ended WWII and witnessed the creation of the United Nations, hoping to preserve peace. His boyhood home, the summer White House, the Truman library and Museum, and his gravesite are all in Missouri."

Vision

"The Truman Readers Award encourages students in their early teen years to express their unique voice through exploring new literary genres, communicating with their peers about young adult literature, and honoring authors writing for young teens."

Requirements for Nominees:

  • Books should interest students in grades 6-8.
  • Books should be written by an author living in the United States.
  • Books should be of literary value and enrich children's lives.
  • Books should be published 2 years prior to the nomination (2018 for current nominees).

Voting:

  • Students must have read 4 of the nominee books to be eligible to vote.
  • Voting will occur early in March.
  • An online voting link will be provided on the MASL website for the librarian to submit votes for the entire student body.

Children's Literature Festival Attendance Qualifications

*Based on 80% or better AR Quiz Scores

1) To be guaranteed a spot you will need to read and test on a minimum of 5 Titles

2) Students who have read all 12 nominees will get the first reserved spots

3) There will be a limit of 15 students that can attend

4) The deadline to qualify will be Thursday, March 5th 2020

Works Cited

State. Some Famous Missourians, www.sos.mo.gov/Kids/history/famousmissourians.asp.

“Truman Readers Award.” Google Sites, sites.google.com/view/trumanreadersaward/home.