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- Ashley S.
- Friday, February 17, 2023
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Check out the 2023-2024 South Carolina Book Award nominees!
Each year the South Carolina Association of School Librarians selects nominees for the South Carolina Book Awards. These awards, divided into four categories, not only showcase and honor the authors, but also encourage students to read. The winner for each category is chosen by student vote. Be sure to check out the following slideshow of all of the nominees that Richland Library has available for you and your families! If you're interested in learning more about the awards be sure to check out the South Carolina Association of School Librarians website which can be found here
Lies Like Wildfire
Published in 2022
When Hannah and her best friends accidentally spark an enormous and deadly wildfire, their instinct is to lie, but as the blaze roars through their rural town, Hannah's friends begin to crack and one ends up missing.
Enduring Freedom
Published in 2021
"In this dual-narrative tale, a teenage American army private and an Afghan boy living under the horrors of the Taliban, caught on separate sides of the world during the tumultuous times leading up to and following 9/11, come to discover how much more they have in common than they ever could have imagined"-- Provided by publisher.
Acorn Was a Little Wild
Published in 2022
Acorn is the first one off the tree, longing for adventure and new experiences (though maybe not being eaten), but when a squirrel buries Acorn he is forced to stay still in the dark until the exciting changes begin, and he grows into a mighty oak--thoughat heart he is still a little wild.
This Poison Heart
Published in 2021
Teenaged Briseis, who possesses a supernatural power over plants, even poisonous ones, inherits a dilapidated estate in rural New York and must protect herself and her family from centuries-old secrets that threaten their lives.
Invasion of the Unicorns
Published in 2021
"Secret agent Bubble07, who exactly resembles a stuffed toy, is on Earth to assess whether or not the unicorns should invade the planet--but despite some bizarre Earth customs like show-and-tell, and annoying Earth dogs, ultimately suggests that Earth would serve as an excellent vacation destination for unicorns"--OCLC.
Negative Cat
Published in 2021
"Max isn't a typical cat, but his loving owner still sees the best in him"-- Provided by publisher.
Across the Desert
Published in 2021
While using a public library computer to find help for her mother who is addicted to pain medicine, twelve-year-old Jolene witnesses a friend's livestreamed crash-landing in the Arizona desert and embarks on a journey to rescue her.
Flight of the Puffin
Published in 2021
Told in multiple voices, seventh-grader Libby sets off a chain of events that brings hope and encouragement to four different individuals across the country who are dealing with bullies, acceptance, homelessness, and grief.
Vinyl Moon
Published in 2022
"A teen girl hiding the scars of a past relationship finds home and healing in the words of strong Black writers. A beautiful sophomore novel from a critically acclaimed author and poet that explores how words have the power to shape and uplift our world even in the midst of pain. When Darius told Angel he loved her, she believed him. But five weeks after the incident, Angel finds herself in Brooklyn, far from her family, from him, and from the California life she has known. Angel feels out of sync with her new neighborhood. At school, she can't shake the feeling everyone knows what happened--and that it was her fault. The only place that makes sense is Ms. G's class. There, Angel's classmates share their own stories of pain, joy, and fortitude. And as Angel becomes immersed in her revolutionary literature course, the words from novels like The Bluest Eye and Push speak to her and begin to heal the wounds of her past. This stunning novel weaves together prose, poems, and vignettes to tell the story of Angel, a young woman whose past was shaped by domestic violence but whose love of language and music and the gift of community grant her the chance to find herself again."-- Provided by publisher.
An Occasionally Happy Family
Published in 2021
"There are zero reasons for Theo Ripley to look forward to his family vacation. Not only are he, sister Laura, and nature-obsessed Dad going to Big Bend, the least popular National Park, but once there, the family will be camping. And Theo is an indoor animal. It doesn't help that this will be the first vacation they're taking since Mom passed away. Once there, the family contends with 110 degree days, wild bears, and an annoying amateur ornithologist and his awful teenage vlogger son. Then, Theo's dad hits him with a whopper of a surprise: the whole trip is just a trick to introduce his secret new girlfriend."-- Publisher's description.
Bluebird
Published in 2023
In 1946 Eva arrives in New York City, from the rubble of Berlin, supposedly looking for a new life, but actually seeking justice against the Nazis that "escaped" with the help of the CIA; one in particular, the doctor who knows who Eva really is, becauseher identity is the product of Project Bluebird, an experiment of the concentration camps involving brainwashing and mind control, which both the Americans and the Soviets would like access to--and Eva does not know if she can trust anyone she meets, least of all Jake Katz, the young man she is attracted to.
Worst-case Collin
Published in 2021
"In the two years since his mother was killed in an automobile crash, Colin has been anticipating further disasters, writing down what to do in the event of an avalanche or mentally practicing the Heimlich maneuver just in case--but the real trouble is that his mathematician father is obsessed with a classic math problem and has a hoarding problems that is spiraling out of control, leaving Colin desperate to hide this chaos from his friends and everyone else, even as he struggles with his own grief"--Provided by publisher.
365 Days to Alaska
Published in 2021
When eleven-year-old Rigel Harman's parents divorce, she and her sisters must move from the Alaskan wilderness to suburban Connecticut, and while she yearns to return in a year, she eventually realizes she must move forward.
Falling Short
Published in 2022
Best friends Isaac and Marco face various challenges in sixth grade, such as Isaac getting better grades, Marco winning a spot on the basketball team, and both seeing their efforts make a change in their respective family lives. They hope their friendship and support for one another will be enough to help them from falling short.
The Marvellers
Published in 2022
"Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world practice their cultural arts. Despite her excitement, Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy--some Marvellers mistrust her magic. Eventually, she finds friends in elixirs teacher, Masterji Thakur, and fellow misfits Brigit and Jason. When a dangerous criminal escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror's aid, Ella becomes the target of suspicion. Worse, Masterji Thakur mysteriously disappears while away on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her mentor before it's too late"-- Provided by publisher
Cuba in My Pocket
Published in 2021
In 1961 Cuba, with the threat of military service for children looming, twelve-year-old Cumba's parents send him to Miami, where he lives with a new family and misses his homeland.
What Lives in the Woods
Published in 2021
Ginny is unhappy when her family moves from Chicago to upstate Michigan for the summer; her father has a job restoring a 1930s mansion, but there are rumors about Woodmoor and the forest next to it: rumors about strange mutant creatures; Ginny, an aspiring mystery writer, is soon half convinced that the rumors are true, because something or someone is haunting the house--and she plans to investigate, with the help of Will, the older boy who lives nearby.
Knight Owl
Published in 2022
After achieving his dream of becoming a knight, a small owl protects the castle from a hungry dragon.
Nigel and the Moon
Published in 2022
When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as...an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too! Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow. Nigel is the most brilliant body in the sky. But it's Career Week at school, and Nigel can't find the courage to share his dreams. It's easy to whisper them to the moon, but not to his classmates--especially when he already feels out of place.
Maya and the Robot
Published in 2021
A forgotten homemade robot comes to life just when aspiring fifth-grade scientist Maya needs a friend--and a science fair project.
Huda F Are You
Published in 2021
"Huda F. is starting high school in a new town and needs to figure out where she fits in"-- Provided by publisher.
Don't Hug Doug
Published in 2021
"Doug prefers not to be hugged, but there are a variety of other ways his loved ones can show him affection"-- Provided by publisher.
Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket
Published in 2021
"Sadie Sprocket is a girl with a big dream ... to go to Mars! No one has been to Mars (yet!), so of course that's where Sadie sets her sights. She learns everything she can about the planet and space, then assembles her crew of trusty stuffed animals. Together they build a rocket and prepare for the historic journey. And then finally ... blastoff!"-- Provided by publisher.
The Accidental Apprentice
Published in 2021
Eleven-year-old Barclay Thorne yearns for the quiet life of a mushroom farmer, but after unwittingly bonding with a beast in the forbidden Woods, he must seek Lore Keepers to break the bond and return home.
All of Us Villains
Published in 2021
Every generation, seven families select a champion to compete in a tournament to the death for control of high magick--the most powerful resource in the world--but this year, a salacious tell-all book draws reporters, tourists, and government agents to Ilvernath to watch the bloody curse unfold and some of the champions are determined to thwart their destinies and rewrite their stories.
You'd Be Home Now
Published in 2022
After a fatal car accident that reveals Emory's brother Joey's opioid addiction, Emory struggles to help him on his road to recovery and make herself heard in a town that insists on not listening.
Dog Squad
Published in 2021
"Fred, a scrappy and lovable dog, gets cast as a stand-in for the lead role in Dog Squad, a show about crime-fighting dogs, and he soon finds out the action doesn't always stop on screen"-- Provided by publisher.
Beasts of Prey
Published in 2021
Sixteen-year-old indentured beastkeeper Koffi and seventeen-year-old warrior candidate Ekon forge an unusual alliance and venture into the Greater Jungle to hunt down a monster that has been menacing their city for a century. Includes author's note.
Rivals
Published in 2021
In basketball-crazed Walthorne, rival middle school stars Austin Chambers and Carter Haswell are both feeling the pressure when school sports reporter Alfie Jenks reveals scandals that jeopardize the whole season. Told through flashbacks, newspaper reports, social media posts, and interviews.
Ahmed Aziz's Epic Year
Published in 2021
"A Indian American boy endures a family move from Hawaii to frigid Minnesota and, with the help of three life-changing books he reads in school, he learns to like reading, and ultimately, himself"-- Provided by publisher.
Now You Say Yes
Published in 2021
After their foster mother dies, fifteen-year-old Mari takes her on-the-spectrum nine-year-old stepbrother, Conor, on a journey to find their estranged grandmother, during which she learns about the inner workings of Conor's mind and about her connections to him and the world.
The Lion of Mars
Published in 2021
Bell has spent his whole life--all eleven years of it--on Mars. But he's still just a regular kid-he loves cats, any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping. Like, why don't have contact with anyone on the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups all fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It's up to Bell--a regular kid in a very different world--to uncover the truth and save his family...and possibly unite an entire planet. Mars may be a world far, far away, but in the hands of Jennifer L. Holm, beloved and bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish, it can't help but feel like home.
Stella
Published in 2021
Stella used to be a bomb-sniffing dog, but after a terrible accident, she goes to live on a small family farm to recover from her fear of loud noises.
Bartali's Bicycle
The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero
Published in 2021
Gino Bartali pedaled across Italy for years, winning one cycling race after another, including the 1938 Tour de France. Gino became an international sports hero! But the next year, World War II began, and it changed everything. Soldiers marched into Italy. Tanks rolled down the cobbled streets of Florence. And powerful leaders declared that Jewish people should be arrested. To the entire world, Gino Bartali was merely a champion cyclist. But Gino's greatest achievement was something he never told a soul--that he secretly worked with the Italian resistance to save hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children, and others, from certain death, using the one thing no authority would question: his bicycle.
Ophie's Ghosts
Published in 2021
Discovering her ability to see ghosts when a cruel act ends her father's life and forces her to move in with relatives in 1920s Pittsburgh, young Ophelia forges a helpful bond with a spirit whose own life ended suddenly and unjustly.
Something's Wrong!
A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear
Published in 2021
Jeff the bear is sure he has forgotten something when he sets out from home, but none of the animals he meets initially inform him that he is only wearing his underwear, until he reaches his friend Anders the hare--who quickly thinks of a way to avoid embarrassing Jeff, by starting a fashion trend.
Playing the Cards You're Dealt
Published in 2021
"Ten-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he's finally old enough to play in the spades tournament every Joplin Man before him seems to have won. So while Ant's friends are stressing about fifth grade homework and girls, Ant only has one thing on his mind: how he'll measure up to his father's expectations at the card table. Then Ant's best friend gets grounded, and he's forced to find another spades partner. And Shirley, the new girl in his class, isn't exactly who he has in mind. She talks a whole lot of trash- way more than his old partner. Plus, he's not sure that his father wants him playing with a girl. But she's smart and tough and pretty, and knows every card trick in the book. So Ant decides to join forces with Shirley--and keep his plans a secret. Only it turns out secrets are another Joplin Man tradition. And his father is hiding one so big it may tear their family apart... "--Dust jacket.
Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates
Published in 2022
"Henry is desperate for a little peace and quiet from his extremely chatty roommate Marvin, and after Henry finally loses his cool, these hamsters must find ways to compromise and live together"-- Provided by publisher.
African Town
Published in 2022
Chronicles the story of the last Africans brought illegally to the United States on the Clotilda in 1860.
Luck of the Titanic
Published in 2021
After smuggling herself onto the RMS Titanic, British-Chinese teenager Valora Luck reunites with her twin brother and tries to convince him that their acrobatic training could be their ticket to a better life.
A Lesson in Vengeance
Published in 2021
Felicity Morrow returns to the Dalloway School after her girlfriend's tragic death, only to meet Ellis Haley--a new student and a teenage literary prodigy--who enlists Felicity's help in researching the school's bloody, occult history for her new book.
Allergic
Published in 2021
Hoping to adopt a pet to find a sense of belonging in her busy family, Maggie is disappointed to discover she is severely allergic to anything with fur and tries to find a pet to love anyway.
Last Gate of the Emperor
Published in 2021
Enduring an isolated existence in hardscrabble Addis Prime, a star underground augmented reality gamer finds his small family targeted by city-razing monsters waging a galaxy-spanning war.
Bathe the Cat
Published in 2021
Dad has posted a list of chores for the family to do before grandma comes, including bathing the cat; but the cat does not want a bath, so she mixes up the instructions, and soon the family is mowing the floor, vacuuming the lawn, mopping the baby--and the house is in chaos.
Be Strong
Published in 2021
No strong enough to ascend the climbing wall at school, a discouraged child returns home and learns that there are other ways to be strong, from not giving up when working for a good cause or learning a new skill to making sure that no one sits alone in the lunchroom.
The Islanders
Published in 2021
Spending the summer with his grandmother on South Carolina's Dewees Island, eleven-year-old Jake finds two friends who are also struggling with family issues and together they try to save a sea turtle nest from predators.
The Cost of Knowing
Published in 2021
Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus's curse of seeing the future distracts him from being and doing his best, but when he sees his little brother Isaiah's imminent death, he races against time, death, and circumstances to save him.
Lines of Courage
Published in 2022
From the assassination that triggers World War I in 1914 to Armistice Day in 1918, the story follows the fates of five young people on both sides of the conflict--each facing their portion of the war with courage, until the end of the war brings them together. Includes information on the history of the war.
Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene
Published in 2022
Sofía Acosta, a fifth grader trying to fit into her ballet-obsessed Cuban American family and her affluent suburban New York community, learns to speak up for herself and others when she mistakenly reveals a visiting dancer's plan to defect to the United States.
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-kiss
Published in 2020
"Seventeen-year-old Evie Beckham has always been too occupied with her love of math and frequent battles with anxiety to want to date. Besides, she's always found the idea of kissing to be kind of weird. But by senior year, thanks to therapy and her friends, she's feeling braver than before. Maybe even brave enough to enter the national math and physics competition or flirt back with the new boy. Meanwhile, Evie's best friend, Caleb Covic, has always been a little in love with her. So he's horrified whenhe is forced to witness Evie's meet-cute with the new guy. Desperate, Caleb uses an online forum to capture Evie's interest--and it goes a little too well"-- Provided by publisher.
Wild River
A Novel
Published in 2021
When a dam fails and rushing waters sweep away their adult supervisors, five middle schoolers on a white-water rafting adventure are left alone with few supplies and the opportunity to forge powerful bonds as well as develop dangerous disagreements.
The City Beautiful
Published in 2021
"Death lurks around every corner in this unforgettable Jewish historical fantasy about a city, a boy, and the shadows of the past that bind them both together. Chicago, 1893. For Alter Rosen, this is the land of opportunity, and he dreams of the day he'll have enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America, freeing them from the oppression they face in his native Romania. But when Alter's best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, his dream begins to slip away. While the rest of the city is busy celebrating the World's Fair, Alter is now living a nightmare: possessed by Yakov's dybbuk, he is plunged into a world of corruption and deceit, and thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past. A boy who means more to Alter than anyone knows. Now, with only days to spare until the dybbuk takes over Alter's body completely, the two boys must race to track down the killer--before the killer claims them next." -- Amazon.com.
She Drives Me Crazy
Published in 2021
Getting into a fender-bender with a beautiful rival after an embarrassing loss to her ex, a talented basketball athlete reluctantly agrees to a carpool arrangement before an opportunity for revenge leads to an unlikely relationship.
Simon B. Rhymin'
Published in 2021
Chicago fifth-grader Simon, an aspiring rapper who lacks self-confidence, uses his rhymes to help bring his community together.
Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls
Published in 2021
Privately questioning her remote community's superstitions about dangerous powerful spirits in their Devil's Alley home, Cecelia Rios experiments with the forbidden art of brujería to rescue her kidnapped sister.
Hurricane
Published in 2021
After a devastating hurricane, a young boy asks for help rebuilding the neighborhood dock, his favorite place in the world, but finds that his neighbors need help first.
This Very Tree
A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth
Published in 2021
"A deeply moving nonfiction picture book about the 9/11 Survivor Tree and the spirit of America"-- Provided by publisher
The Girls I've Been
Published in 2021
When seventeen-year-old Nora O'Malley, the daughter of a con artist, is taken hostage in a bank heist, every secret she is keeping close begins to unravel.
Chez Bob
Published in 2021
"A lazy alligator comes up with a plan to lure his prey by opening up a restaurant for birds--until he realizes that birds are even better as friends"-- Provided by publisher.
Fallout
Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown
Published in 2021
"As World War II comes to a close, the United States and the Soviet Union emerge as the two greatest world powers on extreme opposites of the political spectrum. After the United States showed its hand with the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, the Soviets refuse to be left behind. With communism sweeping the globe, the two nations begin a neck-and-neck competition to build even more destructive bombs and conquer the Space Race. In their battle for dominance, spy planes fly above, armed submarines swim deep below, and undercover agents meet in the dead of night. The Cold War game grows more precarious as weapons are pointed towards each other, with fingers literally on the trigger. The decades-long showdown culminates in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world's close call with the third-and final-world war"-- Provided by publisher.
The Elephant in the Room
Published in 2021
Missing her mother who has returned to Turkey to resolve an immigration problem, sixth-grader Sila welcomes a very large distraction in her life when she helps a surprising new friend rescue a circus elephant.
Fast Pitch
Published in 2021
"Shenice Lockwood dreams of leading the Fulton Firebirds to the U12 softball regional championship. But Shenice's focus gets shaken when her great-uncle Jack reveals that a career-ending-and family-name-ruining-crime may have been a setup. It's up to Shenice to discover the truth about her family's past-and fast-before secrets take the Firebirds out of the game forever"-- Provided by publisher.
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom
Published in 2021
Eight-year-old Ben takes a fortune cookie literally, and believing he has only one day left to live, tries to do everything he has always wanted to before nightfall.
Stuck
Published in 2021
"A coming-of-age story about a boy who is used to constantly moving and flying under the radar at school, and the classroom of kids who help him stand out in the best way"-- Provided by publisher.
Mel Fell
Published in 2021
"...follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith."-- Publisher's description.
A Walk in the Words
Published in 2021
"Through a story from his own childhood, Hudson Talbott shares the challenges--and ultimately the rewards--of being a non-mainstream kind of learner"-- Provided by publisher.
Every Single Lie
Published in 2021
High school junior Beckett's life is turned upside-down when she discovers a dead baby in her small-town high school's locker room, and her police detective mother investigates while cyberbullies claim it is Beck's child.
Gibberish
Published in 2022
When Dat starts school in a country where he does not speak the language, everything around him sound like gibberish until a new friend helps him make sense of his new world.
The Many Meanings of Meilan
Published in 2021
"A family feud before the start of seventh grade propels Meilan from Boston's Chinatown to rural Ohio, where she must tap into her inner strength and sense of justice to make a new place for herself"-- Provided by publisher.
Project Hail Mary
A Novel
Published in 2021
The sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission to save both humanity and the earth, Ryland Grace is hurtled into the depths of space when he must conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.
Someone Builds the Dream
Published in 2021
Celebrates the skilled women and men who work to see the plans of architects, engineers, and designers brought to life.
Maizy Chen's Last Chance
Published in 2022
"Eleven-year-old Maizy Chen visits her estranged grandparents, who own and run a Chinese restaurant in Last Chance, Minnesota; as her visit lengthens, she makes unexpected discoveries about her family's history and herself"-- Provided by publisher.
In the Wild Light
Published in 2021
Attending an elite prep school in Connecticut on a scholarship with his best friend (and secret love) science genius Delaney Doyle, sixteen-year-old Cash Pruitt, from a small town in East Tennessee, struggles with emotional pain and loss until his English teacher suggests writing poetry.
Regina is Not a Little Dinosaur
Published in 2021
Regina, a young dinosaur who is convinced she is ready to hunt for her own food, sneaks away from Mama, but soon finds she has much to learn about hunting.