2018 Nominees


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Battlesaurus; Rampage at Waterloo, by Brian Falkner

In an alternate history, Napoleon wins at Waterloo by unleashing a secret battlefield weapon--a legion of giant, carnivorous dinosaurs--and only Willem Verheyen stands in the way of the emperor's plan of world domination.

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The Boy in the Black Suit, by Jason Reynold

Soon after his mother's death, Matt takes a job at a funeral home in his tough Brooklyn neighborhood and, while attending and assisting with funerals, begins to accept her death and his responsibilities as a man. 

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Burn Baby Burn, by Meg Medina


Nora Lopez is seventeen during the summer of 1977, when New York is besieged by arson, a massive blackout, and a serial killer named Son of Sam.  



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Challenger Deep, by Neal Shusterman


In Caden's real world, he has family, friends, and high school but he is paranoid people are trying to kill him.  In his other world, he is a crew member on a pirate ship, struggling between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny.  Slowly, his parents realize he is dealing with schizophrenia.

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Exit, Pursued by a Bear, by E.K. Johnston


At cheerleading camp, Hermione is drugged and raped, but she is not sure if it was one of her teammates or a boy from another team.  In the aftermath, she has to deal with the rumors in her small town and the need to remember what happened. 



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Front Lines, by Michael Grant


1942, World War II.  The most terrible war in history.  A court decison makes females subject to the draft and eligible for service.  Rio, Frangie, and Rainy sign up to fight but no one expects to see actual combat or be on the front lines.



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Heartless, by Marissa Meyer


In a prequel to Alice in Wonderland, Cath would rather open a bakery and marry for love than accept the proposal of the King of Hearts. 



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Highly Illogical Behavior, by John Corey Whaley


Agoraphobic 16-year-old Solomon has not left his house in three years, but Lisa is determined to change that--and to write a scholarship-winning essay based on the results. 



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Honor Girl, by Maggie Thrash


Maggie has spent basically every summer of the past 15 years at Camp Bellflower for Girls.   It's a peaceful, lazy summer until the moment a split-second of innocent physical contact pulls Maggie into a gut-twisting love for an older, wiser, and most surprisingly of all (at least to her) female counselor Erin


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Love & Gelato, by Jenna Evans Welch  (2018 honor book)


After her mother's death, Lina travels to Italy to be with her father whom she has never met.  There she discovers her mother's journal and sets off, with the help of a local boy, on an adventure to find out her mother's secrets.



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Most Dangerous, by Steve Sheinkin


The story of Daniel Ellsberg and his decision to steal and publish secret documents about America's involvement in the Vietnam War.



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Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepetys  (2018 honor book)


As World War II draws to a close, refugees try to escape the war's final dangers, only to find themselves on a ship with a target on its hull. 



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Scythe, by Neal Shusterman  (2018 Winner)

 

In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed (gleaned) by professional reapers (scythes).  Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe--a position neither of them wants.  The one who becomes a scythe must kill the one who doesn't.  


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The Serpent King, by Jeff Zentner


The son of a Pentecostal preacher faces his personal demons as he and his two outcast friends try to make it through their senior year of high school without letting the small-town culture destroy their creative spirits and sense of self.



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Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo


Six dangerous outcasts.  One impossible heist.  Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction--if they don't kill each other first.



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The Smell of  Other People's Houses, by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock


Growing up in Alaska in the 1970s isn't like growing up anywhere else. Don't think life is going to be easy.  Know your place.  And never talk about yourself.  Four vivid voices tell intertwining stories of hardship, tragedy, wild luck, and salvation. 



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The Sun is Also a Star, by Nicola Yoon  (2018 honor book)


Natasha is a girl who believes in science and facts.  Daniel has always been a good son and good student.  But when he sees Natasha he forgets all that and belives there is something extraordinary in store for both of them.



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Symptoms of Being Human, by Jeff Garvin


A gender-fluid teenager who struggles with identity creates a blog on the topic that goes viral, and faces ridicule at the hands of fellow students. 



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Walk on Earth a Stanger, by Rae Carson


Lee Westfall, a young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold, must flee her home to avoid people who would abuse her powers.



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Wolf by Wolf, by Ryan Graudin


The first book in a duology about an alternate version of 1956 where the Axis powers won WWII, and hold an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents to commemorate their victory.



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Written in the Stars, by Aisha Saeed


Following their cultural tradition, Naila's parents will plan an arranged marriage for her.  When she breaks the rules and falls in love with Saif, her parents are livid.  Convinced that she has forgotten who she truly is, the family travel to Pakistan to visit relatives but the vacation is not as it seems and Naila is cut off from everything she once knew.


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X: a Novel, by Ilyasah Shabazz


Co-written by Malcom X's daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world.