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Young Hoosier Book Award2015-2016 Intermediate Books
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First begun in 1974, the Young Hoosier Book Award encourages Indiana students to read for fun. Since 1992, the Award has been divided into three categories based on grade level: Kindergarten-3rd grade (picture books), 4th-6th grade (intermediate), and 6th-8th grade (middle grade). Each year, teachers, students, parents and media specialists submit suggestions to the Young Hoosier Book Award committee, who nominate twenty books in each category. Students read the books on the list and vote for their favorites. Votes are then tallied and the winning illustrator and authors are presented the award in the spring of the following year.
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2014-2015 Intermediate Winner
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Wonder
by R. J. Palacio
Fiction. Auggie Pullman was born with what the doctors called "facial anomalies" -- a strangely shaped head, skin that looks like it's melting -- and even though he's been homeschooled, he hasn't escaped other kids' cruel nicknames like Freddy Krueger and Freak. Now Auggie is going mainstream: he's starting the fifth grade in a private middle school. In this affecting and triumphant novel told from multiple perspectives (Auggie's, his sister's, his friends', and other characters'), readers see how Auggie's entry into the wider world affects not only him, but everyone around him.
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2015-2016 Intermediate Nominees
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Dorko the Magnificent
by Andrea Beaty
Robbie Darko is a magician. An old-school, pull-a-rabbit-out-of-your-hat-style magician. Robbie loves magic and he’s good at it—sort of. Despite his best efforts, passion, and practice, something always goes wrong with his tricks, landing Robbie in trouble. Enter crotchety Grandma Melvyn, who calls everyone “Trixie” and complains about everything. When Grandma Melvyn moves in and takes over his room, Robbie discovers that she was once an internationally renowned magician and learns about the heartache that turned her into a bitter woman. Against all odds, Robbie and Grandma Melvyn form an uneasy alliance to show the world—or at least the kids of Hobson Elementary School—that he is a true magician. Shortly after a successful talent show, Grandma Melvyn performs a final disappearing act, and Robbie learns a little about the true meaning of magic.
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Doll Bones
by Holly Black
It's normal to outgrow your toys…but what if your toys won't let you go? A creepy old china doll is the central figure in an epic, imaginary game played by 12-year-old friends Zach, Poppy and Alice. Just as Zach (pressured by his dad to "grow up") suddenly quits the game, Poppy is visited by the ghost of a murdered girl named Eleanor. Eleanor's ashes are inside the china doll, and her spirit won't rest unless Zach, Poppy, and Alice journey to her grave and bury her ashes. But can their changing friendship survive the quest? Find out in this eerie, suspenseful, bittersweet adventure.
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The Great American Dust Bowl
by Don Brown
You might think that a book about dirt would be boring beyond belief, but this dramatic graphic novel history of the Dust Bowl is anything but dull. Here, you'll find out about the weird weather conditions that caused the series of raging dust storms that devastated parts of the U.S. in the 1930s; but it's really the dynamic illustrations -- people fleeing from giant dust clouds, planes being blown out of the sky, and ceilings collapsing from the weight of accumulated dirt -- that make this book uniquely compelling. If you're fascinated by this look at the "Dirty Thirties," you might also enjoy the Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan.
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Africa is My Home: A Child of the Amistad
by Monica Edinger
Magulu is just nine years old when she's forced into slavery and sent away from her beloved home in Sierra Leone. Locked away in the dark hold of a ship, she survives the horrific journey to Cuba, where she is sold onto another ship -- the Amistad. Based on the real life of Sarah Margru Kinston (as Magulu eventually came to be known), this moving, lavishly illustrated book offers a first-hand account of the famous mutiny on the Amistad as well as the imprisonment, hard-won freedom, and poignant homecoming of the Amistad Africans. Don't miss this "remarkable story of resilience, faith, and hope" (School Library Journal).
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By the Grace of Todd
by Louise Galveston
Leaving a dirty sock under his bed for so many months that it spawns a civilization of tiny people who worship him as their creator, 12-year-old Todd uses his miniature supplicants to gain popularity points until the school bully puts them in jeopardy.
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How Do You Burp in Space? And Other Tips Every Space Tourist Needs to Know
by Susan E. Goodman
Who's up for a game of leapfrog on the moon? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds. Space tourism might happen in the near future, and if it does, you'll be prepared with this chatty, playful guide to intergalactic travel. Here, you'll find tips for packing (no more than two pounds of stuff), travel conditions (make sure your sleeping bag is attached to the wall), activities to try (juggling isn't a good idea) and menu choices (no carbonated drinks: burping in space gets pretty gross). Add in zany cartoons, tons of photos, and stories from real astronauts, and you've got an entertaining read for future space travelers.
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Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library
by Chris Grabenstein
After billionaire game designer Luigi Lemoncello builds a cutting-edge new library in their town, Kyle Keeley and a dozen other 12-year-olds win the opportunity to preview the new building during an overnight lock-in. Once they're inside, however, they're given a challenge: they've got to find their way out of the library using only the resources they find in the library. Cool technology (including a holographic librarian), sly gaming references, and bookish in-jokes combine with clever puzzles in this "instantly engaging and wildly creative mystery" (Booklist) that's sure to appeal to fans of Roald Dahl's classic Charlie and Chocolate Factory.
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The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdős
by Deborah Heiligman
Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man.
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Almost Super
by Marion Jensen
Stand back, evildoers! It's finally Leap Day, the day when 13-year-old Rafter Bailey will receive his superpower and join his family's ongoing battle with their arch-nemeses, the Johnson family. But when it arrives, Bailey's power -- the ability to strike a match on polyester -- is a pathetic letdown. Bailey's disappointment turns to curiosity, however, when he learns that Juanita Johnson's new power is equally unimpressive. Can they put aside their rivalry long enough to figure out what's really going on? If you like the exciting action and superhero in-jokes of John David Anderson's Sidekicked, don't miss this high-flying debut.
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The Show Must Go On!
by Kate Klise
When Sir Sidney, a kindly old circus owner, becomes too tired to travel with his show, he places a Help Wanted ad in the newspaper. Enter Barnabas Brambles: “I have a degree in lion taming from the University of Piccadilly Circus.” But does Leo the lion need taming? Will Elsa the elephant still get her gourmet peanuts? And what will Brambles say when he discovers Bert and Gert―two mice who travel with the circus on popcorn cleanup patrol? Soon he’s made a big mess of Sir Sidney’s Circus, but Leo, Elsa, Bert, Gert, and the rest of the performers agree: The Show Must Go On! In their trademark style, author Kate Klise and illustrator M. Sarah Klise blend a story bursting with jokes, puns, and wordplay with illustrations, signs, letters, recipes, and bold graphics
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Odette's Secrets
by Maryann Macdonald
Odette is a young Jewish girl living in Paris during a dangerous time. The Nazis have invaded the city, and every day brings new threats. After Odette's father enlists in the French army and her mother joins the Resistance, Odette is sent to the countryside until it is safe to return. On the surface, she leads the life of a regular girl--going to school, doing chores, and even attending Catholic Mass with other children. But inside, she is burning with secrets about the life she left behind and her true identity. Inspired by the life of the real Odette Meyers--and written in moving free-verse poetry--this is a story of courage, of determination to survive, and of a young girl forced to hide in plain sight.
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Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton
by Meghan McCarthy
This introduction to the life of mid-20th-century aviation and auto racing pioneer Betty Skelton describes her fascination with vehicles during childhood and the daring achievements that earned her the title, "First Lady of Firsts." This vibrantly illustrated picture book biography reveals the exciting life of a brave pioneer who followed her dreams and showed the world that women can do anything.
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Wild Born
by Brandon Mull
Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts -- a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children -- and the world -- have been changed forever. Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers. The debut installment in a role-playing action adventure series by the best-selling author of the Fablehaven books.
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Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World
by Elizabeth Rusch
When a Serbian boy named Nikola Tesla was three, he stroked his cat and was enchanted by the electrical sparks. By the time he was a teenager, he had made a vow: Someday I will turn the power of Niagara Falls into electricity. Here is the story of the ambitious young man who brought life-changing ideas to America, despite the obstructive efforts of his hero-turned-rival, Thomas Edison. From using alternating current to light up the Chicago World’s Fair to harnessing Niagara to electrify New York City and beyond, Nikola Tesla was a revolutionary ahead of his time. Remote controls, fluorescent lights, X-rays, speedometers, cell phones, even the radio — all resulted from Nikola Tesla’s inventions. Established biographer Elizabeth Rusch sheds light on this extraordinary figure, while fine artist Oliver Dominguez brings his life and inventions to vivid color.
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Rutherford B., Who Was He?: Poems About Our Presidents
by Marilyn Singer
Forty-three men with forty-three passions, but with one thing in common: a presidential place in America's history. With her gift for unforgettable rhythm and innovative rhyme, Marilyn Singer brings the presidents of the United States to life--from Washington to Obama--and contextualizes them in their time. Illustrations by John Hendrix are full of hilarious wit and refined exuberance, and short biographies and presidential quotes enrich the experience.
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The Secret Tree
by Natalie Standiford
Minty and her BFF Paz are gearing up to spend the summer working on their roller-derby moves when Minty discovers a hollow tree stuffed with secrets -- people from her town have poured out their hearts on slips of paper and left them there. While Paz starts hanging out with a new group of friends, Minty begins investigating the secrets, which lead her to Raymond, a peculiar kid who seems to live by himself and may know the Witch Lady who lives in the woods. Fans of quirky, realistic novels should definitely pick up this hopeful and sometimes heart-wrenching story of friendship, family, and finding your way.
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Frogged
by Vivian Vande Velde
Imogene may not have liked being a princess, but she definitely doesn't want to be a frog. Transformed after kissing a talking frog to break his curse, and held captive by a troupe of actors who force her to perform in their terrible plays, Princess Imogene must find a way to un-frog herself without passing the curse to another victim. Sassy humor combined with likeable, well-developed characters makes this fractured fairy tale a fun, frothy, and satisfying read. For another spirited heroine trying to break a spell, check out Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.
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Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse
by Tamera Will Wissinger
Nine-year-old Sam loves fishing with his dad. So when his pesky little sister, Lucy, horns in on their fishing trip, he’s none too pleased. All ends well in this winsome book of poems—each labeled with its proper poetic form. Together the poems build a dawn-to-dusk story of a father-son bond, of sibling harmony lost and found—and, most of all, of delicious anticipation. Charming line drawings animate the poetry with humor and drama, and the extensive Poet’s Tackle Box at the end makes this the perfect primer to hook aspiring poets of all ages.
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The Pet War
by Allan Woodrow
Eleven-year-old Otto wants a dog. His twelve-year-old perfect sister, Lexi, wants a cat. Their mother, who works very long hours as a nurse, wants neither. Pets are expensive so who's going to pay for everything? And what happens to the pet when the siblings are at their dad's for the weekend? Otto has an idea. What if he got a job and earned enough money to pay for the dog? Then Lexi has to open her big mouth. She proposes that whichever sibling can raise enough money first will decide which pet they get. Oddly enough, their mom and dad agree. With Otto and Lexi each out to defeat the other, their business plans become more elaborate and involved. As the competition gets fiercer, the stakes get higher, and the battle lines have been drawn.
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The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond
by Brenda Woods
People who don't know Violet Diamond tend to misunderstand her family background. Her African American father died before she was born, and when people see her with her white mother and sister, they think Violet doesn't belong. So when Violet learns that Roxanne, her dad's mother (who she's never met) will be opening an art show in nearby Seattle, she hatches a scheme to meet her and connect with her father's family. Readers who enjoy slice-of-life stories about authentic characters are sure to appreciate this fresh, hopeful story about a biracial girl redefining her identity and finding her confidence.
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Michigan City Public Library
100 E. 4th Street
Michigan City, Indiana 46360
219-873-3044
http://mclib.org/
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