High school students from across Rhode Island have voted! We're proud to announce The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas as the winner of the 2019 Rhode Island Teen Book Award. Our Honor Books are Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater.
These novels were three of 22 young adult books nominated by school librarians, teachers, and public librarians from throughout Rhode Island. The nominees were selected on the basis of literary quality and their appeal to those in grades 9 and up. Throughout the past year, young adults could find copies of the books available to read at their school and public libraries and area stores.
We would also like to thank all the schools and libraries that served as voting locations and supported the Rhode Island Teen Book Award. Portsmouth High School collected the most votes, and the runners up were Tiverton Public Library and West Warwick High School. The Rhode Island Teen Book Award Committee would like to thank all the teens who voted this year and read from the list as well as the teachers, librarians and book sellers who helped promote these titles.
In addition, the committee is proud to announce the list of 22 nominees for the 2020 award.
After the Fire by Will Hill
Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan
Boots on the Ground by Elizabeth Partridge
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Abid Khorram
Dry by Neal Schusterman
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry
Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
Lifelike by Jay Kristoff
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
Queer, There and Everywhere by Sara Prager
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli