2007 Nominations Nonfiction: Middle Grade and Young Adult

Middle Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction covers a wide swath of territory: from history, biography and science to sports, astronomy and dinosaurs. Homeschooling parents are using single-subject nonfiction books to supplement or replace textbooks. Teachers and librarians are recommending nonfiction titles to expand upon classroom subjects and to pique the interest of kids passionate about particular topics. And kids of all ages are seeking out books that unwrap the mysteries of the world around them. The MG/YA nonfiction committee is seeking the very best titles in this wonderful and diverse arena.

--Jen Robinson, organizer

Please leave a nomination -- including author and title -- for this category in the comments below.

Comments

[Kelly Fineman]

Tracking Trash by Loree Griffin Burns

[Mary Ann]

Blind Side Michael Lewis

[Elizabeth]

Dinosaur Eggs Discovered!: Unscrambling the Clues by Lowell Dingus, Rodolfo Coria, and Luis M. Chiappe, with illustrations by Stephanie Abramowicz

[Jen Robinson]

Mary Ann, I'm afraid that Blind Side was initially published in October of 2006, and is therefore not eligible for this year's Cybils. You are welcome to nominate a different title. Sorry for any inconvenience.

[Brooke]

Tasting the Sky: a Palestinian Childhood

by Ibtisam Barakat

[Deena]

I DON'T WANT TO BE CRAZY by Samantha Schutz

[Jen Barnes]

Would I be right in assuming that memoir counts as non-fiction? If so, I nominate GRIEF GIRL by Erin Vincent.

[Rebecca]

ACROSS THE WIDE OCEAN, by Karen Romano Young (Greenwillow)

[Julie]

I'd like to nominate:
WE ARE ONE: The Story of Bayard Rustin by Larry Dane Brimner

[EM]

ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT DESIGN: COMPLICATED DOESN'T MAKE IT BAD by Mark Gonyea.

[Lindsay]

The Secret of Priest's Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story, written and photographed by Peter Lane Taylor and Christos Nicola

[Kim Norman]

I'd like to nominate
MORRIS AND BUDDY by Becky Hall.

[Kat]

I would like to nominate the young adult memoir - GRIEF GIRL: MY TRUE STORY by Erin Vincent.

[Jen Robinson]

Yes, Jen, memoirs count as nonfiction. Thanks for asking, and for nominating. Grief Girl is on our list. And Kat, since Jen had already nominated it, there's no need to nominate it again. If you'd like to nominate a different title, feel free.

[Jen Robinson]

Also, Deena, I DON'T WANT TO BE CRAZY by Samantha Schutz was published in 2006, and isn't eligible for this year's Cybils. You're welcome to nominate something else.

[Gina]

The Ultimate Interactive Atlas of the World - Schloastic Pub

[GraceAnne]

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! voices from a medieval village by Laura Amy Schlitz - or should this go in poetry?

[Jen Robinson]

GraceAnne, we're working behind the scenes to decide the best category for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!, but it will definitely be included. Thanks!

[nyla tresser]

My Feet Aren't Ugly

by Debra Beck

[Jennie Atkins]

Would like to nominate the following book:

"From Slave to Superstar of the Wild West- The Awesome Story of Jim Beckworth"
by, Tom DeMund

This is a historical nonfiction book

[C Bowie]

Since this is October, I nominate
THE HALLOWEEN BOOK OF FACTS AND FUN. (Albert Whitman) Several school librarians have commented that they like the fact that the illustrations are not scary.

[Rae]

Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent

[Rae]

Grief Girl: My True Story by Erin Vincent

[britton]

My Feet Arent Ugly,A Girls Guide to Loving Herself fron The Inside by Debra Beck

[britton]

DEBRA BECK'S BOOK.....MY FEET ARENT UGLY

[amber]

"my feet arent ugly" by debra beck

[Brock Martin]

Lifetime of secrets, by Frank Warren.

[Hava]

I would like to nominate the wonderful 'My Feet Aren't Ugly' by Debra Beck!!

[Linda]

"Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl," by Yaeko Sugama Weldon if that qualifies (it's a second edition).

[Blair Vaughn-Gruler]

I would like to nominate the wonderful book "My Feet Aren't Ugly" by Debra Beck

[Fuse #8]

Black and White Airmen: Their True History by John Fleischman

[Jen Robinson]

OK, people, we have accepted My Feet Aren't Ugly as a nominated title. Additional votes do not count. A title just has to be nominated once, and then the committee will assess it. So, please stop nominating this title - it is on the list. But your enthusiasm is appreciated.

[Jen Robinson]

Brock, I'm afraid that Lifetime of secrets is not eligible for the Cybils award, because it is going to be published as an adult book. The publisher's website lists it as 18 and up, and this award is for titles published specifically for children and young adults. You're welcome to nominate something else if you like. Sorry for any inconvenience!

[Jen Robinson]

Linda, I'm afraid that "Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl" is not eligible. We go by copyright date for the book, and since it wasn't issued a new copyright when you issued the second edition, I'm afraid that it doesn't qualify (I looked at the copyright page using Amazon's Search Inside the Book feature - if I'm incorrect about this, just let me know.). You're welcome to nominate something else!

[Linda]

Jen, Amazon's Search Inside uses the old first edition. The new second edition of "Cherry Blossoms in Twilight" is an Aug 2007 with new ISBN. Just wasn't sure if 2nd eds qualified.

[Jennifer]

MUCKRAKERS
How Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens Helped Expose Scandal, Inspire Reform, and Invent Investigative Journalism,
by Ann Bausum
Foreword by Daniel Schorr, NPR Senior News Analyst

[Katie]

Disguised by Rita la Fontaine de Clercq Zubli

[EM]

Can I entreat anyone to nominate AMERICA DREAMING by Laban Carrick Hill, since I already used my nomination?

[Jennifer, Snapshot]

As a judge in the Middle Grade/YA category last year, I know how tough it is to distinguish between that category and picture book. The book I want to nominate is Smart-Opedia from Maple Tree Press. The publisher classifies it as 8 - 12, and I would agree, but it's very picture-heavy. I'll check back for the verdict.

[Jen Robinson]

Hi Linda,

Thanks for clarifying regarding the copyright date. Here's my thought on second editions. The intent of this award is for it to honor books newly published in the current year. Our policy regarding new editions is that they have to be a significant change, in order to be eligible. If it's primarily a reissuing of the previous edition, with only minor changes, then I don't think that it would be fair to the other authors to include it. But if you made some sort of major change, such that the book is substantially different from the one that was published a couple of years ago, then it would be eligible. Does that make sense? If you'd like to discuss with me offline, my email address is books@jkrconsult.com. Thanks!

[Jen Robinson]

We're going to take Smart-Opedia in this category, Jennifer. Thanks! It looks great.

[Robert Yavor]

The World Made New by Marc Aronson and John W. Glenn

[Elizabeth]

Take a look at Jim Murphy's The Real Benedict Arnold

[Robert Yavor]

Muckrakers by Ann Bausum

[Jen Robinson]

Hi Robert,

You can only nominate one title per category. But fortunately, Muckrakers was already nominated by someone else. Thanks!

[Colleen]

Hey Jen - I've been holding out to see what shows up in all the categories but I have to nominate "The Periodic Table: Elements With Style!" for this one. It's listed as created by Basher and written by Adrian Dingle (published by Kingfisher). I have no idea why I'm the only one who has heard about this book (it's in my column next month). It has to be one of the coolest designs I've come across and is incredibly useful and informative - not to mention very funny. I think you guys will enjoy reading it.

[Anastasia]

Ox, House, Stick: The Story of Our Alphabet
by Don Robb. It's a "picture book" for 9-12, so that makes it MG.

[Tricia]

I'm finally in and nominating What's Eating You?: Parasites--The Inside Story by Nicola Davies.

[Becky]

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Beatles, Beatlemania, and the Music that Changed the World by Bob Spitz (Little Brown).

[Tricia]

Hi Jen,
Now that Colleen has mentioned the Dingle book, I don't mind sharing the review I wrote. If you want to use it here, I'd love to share. It's at:
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2007/06/book-review-periodic-table.html