2012 Alex Award WINNERS List

Big Girl Small, by Rachel DeWoskin, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (ISBN
9780374112578 ) In Zanesville, by Jo Ann Beard, published by Little, Brown & Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. (ISBN: 9780316084475) The Lovers Dictionary, by David Levithan, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (ISBN: 9780374193683) The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens, by Brooke Hauser, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. (ISBN: 9781439163283) The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN: 9780385534635) Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, published by Crown Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN: 9780307887436) Robopocalypse: A Novel, by Daniel H. Wilson, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN: 978038553850) Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, published by Bloomsbury USA (ISBN: 9781608195220) The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures, by Caroline Preston, published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (ISBN: 9780061966903) The Talk-Funny Girl, by Roland Merullo, published by Crown Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN: 9780307452924)

Alex Awards 2012 Nominations

In addition to the ten winning titles, the Alex Award committee also publishes its official nomination list. The following titles were official nominees for the 2012 award. After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn, published by Tor Books (ISBN 9780765325556). Celia wants to be the exact opposite of her parents, even though they are both superheroes. Attempting to escape their shadow, villains and allies draw her back in. Alice Bliss: A Novel by Laura Harrington, published by Pamela Dorman Books, an imprint of Viking (ISBN 9780670022786). Teenager Alice is left to pick up the pieces and care for her heartbroken mother and younger sister after her father is deployed to Iraq. American Boy by Larry Watso,n published by Milkweed Editions (ISBN 9781571310781). When Louisa Lindahl comes into 17-year old Matthews life it is on an examination table with a bullet wound. Now his obsession with the mysterious woman threatens to derail his perfect future. Among Others by Jo Walton, published by Tor Books (9780765321534). Exiled to boarding school by her rich aunts, Mori immerses herself in a world of fairies, witches, and science fiction, beginning to come to terms with the death of her twin sister. Blind Sight by Meg Howrey, published by Pantheon Books, a division of Random House (ISBN 9780307379160). Luke spends the summer before senior year in Hollywood, meeting his famous father for the first time. Amidst the glamour, Luke discovers himself, his father, and family secrets. The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding by Sarah Burns, published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House (ISBN 9780307266149). A horrifying rape, the accused teenagers, and a citys reaction take readers down a path that explores how criminal investigations, media coverage, and race relations intertwine. Emory's Gift by W. Bruce Cameron, published by Forge Books (ISBN 9780765327819). A grizzly bear, thought to be extinct in Northern Idaho, changes 13-year-old Charlies life in this charming coming-of-age story that reflects on faith, family, love, and loss. The End of Everything by Megan Abbott, published by Reagan Arthur Books an imprint of Little, Brown & Co. / Hachette Book Group. (ISBN 9780316097796). Teenage Lizzies best friend is kidnapped and the police seem clueless. Lizzie begins her own detective work and uncovers secrets and obsessions of friends and neighbors in midwestern suburbia.

 The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High
School by Alexandra Robbins, published by Hyperion (ISBN 9781401302023). The fascinating psychology behind popularity and outsiderdom is illuminated through the roles of Popular Bitch, Gamer, Band Geek, and others. Being excluded doesnt mean theres anything wrong with you outsiders often succeed. Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, an Activist Finds Her Calling and Heals Herself by Rachel Lloyd published by Harper an imprint of HarperCollins (ISBN 9780061582059). Rachel challenges readers to reframe how they think about the sex trade by recounting her own journey of exploitation, abuse and addiction. Home to Woefield: A Novel by Susan Juby, published by Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins (ISBN 9780061995194). When Prudence inherits a small farm she envisions a bountiful vegetable garden, fresh eggs and milk. Instead she gets fields that dont produce and a houseful of zany tenants. Mayhem ensues. The Language of Flowers: A Novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, published by Ballantine Books an imprint of Random House, Inc. (ISBN 9780345525543). After a lifetime in the foster care system, Victoria is homeless at 18 until she finds employment with a florist where she can use her skills with the language of flowers, a Victorian code. Marzi by Marzena Sowa with art by Sylvain Savoia, published by Vertigo (ISBN 9781401229597). Perpetually ignored by her parents, Marzi tells the story of family, friendships, and revolution in Communist Poland. Once Upon a River: A Novel by Bonnie Jo Campbell, published by W. W. Norton & Company (ISBN 9780393079890). Margo is on a river odyssey through rural Michigan seeking the mother who abandoned her. This teen girls coming-of-age story details physical and spiritual survival in the face of violence and duplicity. Pink Boots and a Machete: My Journey from NFL Cheerleader to National Geographic Explorer by Mireya Mayor published by National Geographic Society (ISBN 9781426207211). Mayor breaks stereotypes and finds herself as she learns to survive in the jungle, exploring endangered primates in wild places around the world. Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore, published by Hyperion (ISBN 9781401322892). Jiminy quits law school and moves to her grandmothers farm in rural Mississippi. She discovers there was another Jiminy - the daughter of her grandmothers long time housekeeper who was murdered in a civil rights era hate crime. Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away by Christie Watson, published by Other Press LLC (ISBN 9781590514665). Blessings idyllic life is shattered when her fathers infidelity and drinking causes her mother to pack-up their things and move to rural Nigeria. There, she becomes an apprentice midwife. Vietnamerica by GB Tran, published by Villard Books, an imprint of Random House. (ISBN 9780345508720). GB spent his life running away from his family history. Now through a graphic novel he unravels the rich, fascinating story of his familys journey from Vietnam to America. Wingshooters by Nina Revoyr, published by Akashic Books (ISBN 9781936070718). Racial tensions build and ignite beginning when Japanese-American Michelle is abandoned at her grandparents home in a small all white Wisconsin town.

2011 Alex Award WINNERS List

The Boy Who Couldnt Sleep and Never Had To by DC Pierson, published by Vintage Books, a
division of Random House, Inc., New York (ISBN 9780307474612) Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray, published by Hyperion (ISBN 9780786868919) Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, published by Riverhead Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. (ISBN 9781594487569) The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni, published by Amy Einhorn Books, an imprint of G.P. Putnams Sons, a division of the Penguin Group (ISBN 9780399156090)

The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton, published by Thomas Dunne Books for Minotaur Books, an
imprint of St. Martins Press (ISBN 9780312380427) The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel by Aimee Bender, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc., New York (ISBN 9780385501125) The Radleys by Matt Haig, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. (ISBN 9781439194010) The Reapers Are the Angels: A Novel by Alden Bell, published by Holt Paperbacks, a division of Henry Holt and Company, LLC (ISBN 9780805092431) Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue, published by Little, Brown and Company a division of Hatchette Book Group, Inc. (ISBN 9780316098335) The Vanishing of Katharina Linden: A Novel by Helen Grant, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, division of Random House, Inc., New York (ISBN 9780385344173)

2011 Alex Award Nominations List

In addition to the ten winning titles, the Alex Award committee also publishes its official nomination list. The following titles were official nominees for the 2011 award. 32 Candles: A Novel by Ernessa T. Carter, published by HarperCollins (ISBN 9780061957840) A Cinderella rags-to-riches story about a loveable, spunky heroine named Davie. Growing up in poverty in rural Mississippi, Davie moves to L.A. where she blossoms into a nightclub singer with a powerful singing voice. Ape House: A Novel by Sara Gruen, published by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group (ISBN 9780385523219) Five apes that are fluent in American Sign Language disappear from their research lab during an explosion. Their keeper and a reporter wont quit until they find out which of several scumbags (a greedy scientist, a shiny TV producer, a short-sighted animal rights group) is responsible for the kidnapping. Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank Meeink Story as told to Jody M. Roy, Ph. D, published by Hawthorne Books and Literary Arts (ISBN 9780979018824) Meeink finds the family hes been looking for in a gang of white supremacists, and learns to hate Jews without ever meeting one. His gritty memoir touches on racism, addiction, and ultimately, redemption. Broken Glass Park by Alina Bronsky, translated by Tim Mohr, published by Europa Editions (ISBN 9781933372969) Set in a housing project in Germany, 17-year-old Russian immigrant Sascha, whose mother has been murdered, plots revenge. Citrus County by John Brandon, published by McSweeneys Rectangulars (ISBN 9781934781531) Nothing is quite what is should be in this novel set in the swamplands of Florida that features disillusioned teachers, mean uncles, a boy who becomes a kidnapper, and a girl who is tired of being the smart, good one. City of Veils: A Novel by Zo Ferraris, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group (ISBN 9780316074278) The beaten, burned and indecently exposed body of a young female filmmaker sparks a murder investigation CSI Saudia Arabia style. Diamond Ruby: A Novel by Joseph Wallace, published by Touchstone, a division of Simon & Schuster (ISBN 9781439160053) Called Monkey Girl for her long arms, Ruby soon discovers a talent: she can throw far and she can throw fast. After landing a gig as a Coney Island attraction, she finds herself mixed up with rumrunners, mobsters, and baseball heroes. Dogfight: A Novel by Matt Burgess, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN 9780385532983) Alfredo Batista is a hustler with a heart. His girlfriend is pregnant, his brother has just been released from prison, and theyre all crammed together in a typical Boricuan apartment. This unexpectedly humorous novel brings Jackson Heights, Queens to life. The Girl Who Fell From the Sky: A Novel by Heidi W. Durrow, published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill (ISBN 9781565126800)

After a family tragedy and a move to live with her grandmother, Rachel, the daughter of an African American soldier and Danish mother, is forced to confront what her mixed raced heritage means. Is she black or white, and why does she have to choose one? The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, published by Crown Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN 9781400052172) Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman in the 1950s, provided the world with one of the most important cells to date: the HeLa cell. This fascinating, well-paced narrative showcases the atrocities committed against the African American community in the name of science. Insatiable by Meg Cabot, published by HarperCollins (ISBN 9780061735066) Meena Harper, a cynical and talented soap opera writer falls unexpectedly for a mysterious Romanian prince. Set on the Upper East Side of New York City, this is a witty addition to the vampire genre. Lean on Pete by Willy Vlautin, published by HarperPerennial, an imprint of HarperCollins (ISBN 978006 Fifteen-year-old Charley is neglected, abused and abandoned, but he never loses his unrelenting, gentle spirit in the dace of chaos and violence. He undertakes a perilous journey to find his remaining family with his only friend Lean on Pete, a broken down racehorse, by his side. Model Home: A Novel by Eric Puchner published by Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster (ISBN 9780743270496) The American Dream has gone very wrong for the Ziller family their lives are in shambles and all of their stuff cars, furniture, & designer clothes is disappearing. Tragedy strikes and teen siblings Dustin & Lyle are truly seeing their parents & family for the first time. Newspaper Blackout by Austin Kleon, published by HarperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins (ISBN 9780061732973) This collection of funny, profound, and clever poems sculpted like statues from the marble of newspaper articles spans milestones of childhood through young adulthood, including Little League, high school politics, and first kiss. A fantastic resource for YA programming. One Bloody Thing After Another by Joey Comeau, published by ECW Press (ISBN 9781550229165) Strange, gruesome, and out-of-control, Jackie is volatile, angry, and can disappear at-will. Anns mom is turning into a monster, and she is worried about finding her food bloody steaks arent enough. Charlie is seeing ghosts. Is he crazy or does he have a mission to fulfill? The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore, published by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group (ISBN 9780385528191) Two men. Two lives. One name. Infinite choices. Why does one Wes Moore end up in prison for life and the other end up a White House Fellow and Rhodes Scholar? The Passage: A Novel by Justin Cronin, published by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group (ISBN 9780345504968) Set in the near future when the US has been overrun by virals, terrifying creatures who depend upon the blood of mammals for sustenance. Survivors have gathered together in heavily armed compounds for safety. Your basic science fiction/dystopian/vampire/adventure/romance story, and a nice long read to sink your teeth into. Peep Show: A Novel by Joshua Braff, published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing (ISBN 9781565125087) New York City in the 1970s is the setting for this story of a broken family. David and sister Dena have a strong bond that keeps them mostly sane in their family of newly conservative Jewish mother and adult theatre owner father. The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan, published by Orbit Books, a division of Hachette Book Group (ISBN 97803160077064) Wynter and her father return home after five years only to discover that their beloved kingdom is greatly changed. She is devastated to learn that the princes, her closest childhood friends, are very unhappy. And where has the magic gone? Star Island by Carl Hiaasen, published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN 9780307272584) Cherry Pye is a Britney Spears-esque pop star. Hiaasens work here is a departure from his teen books that takes the reader into a world of kidnapping, celebrity paparazzo, action, mystery, pop culture trash elements, and utter hilarity. Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern, published by HarperCollins (ISBN 9780061992704)

Justin captures his outrageous fathers pithy vulgar hilarious statements in immensely popular tweets now wrapped with memoir. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray, published by Faber & Faber, an affiliate of Farrar Strauss & Giroux (ISBN 9780865479432) Why did Skippy die in the doughnut shop? Maybe it has to do with his roommate, the overweight string theory obsessed Rupert r one of the other fascinating characters populating this funny, touching tale of life in a Dublin boarding school. Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy. O Frost and Gail Steketee, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (ISBN 9780151014231) Why do some people crave clutter even when it endangers their health and safety? The authors of this book compassionately share a variety of individual true stories from their years of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder research. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. (ISBN 9781439153024) Father Greg Boyles direct work with youth in gangs and recovered gang bangers forms a passionate and supportive bond within the community in a neighborhood that has the highest concentration of gang activity in Los Angeles. Teens interested in urban and spiritual books would be attracted to this book. Wisenheimer: A Childhood Subject to Debate by Mark Oppenheimer, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. (ISBN 9781439128640) The memoir of a constant talker who learns to put his articulation to good use. Frustrated and bullied in school, Mark finds his niche when he joins the high school debate team. Love of language and reason is revealed in this passionate, witty, and funny memoir.