Recommended Reading
Research proves that reading regularly stimulates the brain, builds background knowledge, and increases vocabulary and comprehension. But too often, reading takes a back seat to television, video games, and cell phones. Rising Sun Middle School would like to change that and make picking up a book whenever there's spare time a natural reaction of our middle schoolers. It starts by picking up high-interest titles for our reluctant readers. Listed below are some titles that can make even the most reluctant reader pick one up:
Maryland's Black Eyed Susan Award
The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award is a children's choice award for the state of Maryland. Each year since 1992, the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award has been given to authors and/or illustrators of outstanding books chosen for the award by Maryland students. The award seeks to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.
Black-Eyed Susan Voting
Will Take Place in April
2019-2020 Black Eyed Susan Nominees
Grades 6-9 Graphic Novel Nominees
(Click on the image of the books to learn more!)
The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award is a children's choice award for the state of Maryland. Each year since 1992, the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award has been given to authors and/or illustrators of outstanding books chosen for the award by Maryland students. The award seeks to promote literacy and lifelong reading habits by encouraging students to read quality, contemporary literature.
Black-Eyed Susan Voting
Will Take Place in April
2019-2020 Black Eyed Susan Nominees
- Grades 6-9 Fiction Nominees
Grades 6-9 Graphic Novel Nominees
(Click on the image of the books to learn more!)
Log Your Black-Eyed Susan Reading!
Let Mrs. Freel know when you have finished reading one of the Black-Eyed Susan books! Click on and complete the Google form for the type of book that you read.
Want to quickly and easily search for high-quality YA books?
YALSA’s Teen Book Finder Database provides access to all of YALSA's annual selected book and media lists, awards, and honorees. These resources are developed by library staff and educators to support the collection development and readers' advisory work of library staff.
These books and media have been selected for teens from 12-18 years of age, and span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. Adults are encouraged to take an active role in helping individual teens choose those books that are the best fit for them and their families.
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike to read or whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction. Select a link below to view the full annotated Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers lists.
2018 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers
Best Fiction for Young Adults
YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee presents fiction titles published for young adults in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for ages 12 to 18. The purpose of the annual list it to provide librarians and library workers with a resource to use for collection development and reader’s advisory purposes.
2018 Best Fiction for YA: Best of the Best (Top 10)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Great Graphic Novels for Teens is a list of recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12-18, prepared yearly by YALSA. The list is announced each year after the Midwinter Meeting.
2018 Graphic Novels for Teens: Top 10
Great Audiobooks for Teens
Top 10 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
Awards for Young Adult Literature
The Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002.
The award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust. Edwards pioneered young adult library services and worked for many years at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. Her work is described in her book Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, and over the years she has served as an inspiration to many librarians who serve young adults. The Alex Awards are named after Edwards, who was called “Alex” by her friends.
Alex Award Winners and Nominations
Previous Alex Award Winners
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a November 1 – October 31 publishing year. The award winner will be announced annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting Youth Media Awards, with a shortlist of up to five titles named the first week of December. Seals for the winning titles, finalist titles, and nominated titles can be purchased from the ALA Online Store.
2018 Winners and Nominations
Previous Winners
The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
The Michael L. Printz Award annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year. In addition, the Printz Committee names up to four honor books, which also represent the best writing in young adult literature. The awards announcement is made at the ALA Midwinter Meeting as part of the Youth Media Awards and is celebrated with a program and reception each year at the ALA Annual Conference.
The award's namesake was a school librarian in Topeka, Kansas, and a marketing consultant for Econo-Clad, as well an active member of YALSA. He had a passion for books and reading. He also appreciated the authors who wrote books for young adults and demonstrated this by initiating an author-in-residence program at his high school. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association.
2018 Winner and Honor Books
Previous Winners
YALSA’s Teen Book Finder Database provides access to all of YALSA's annual selected book and media lists, awards, and honorees. These resources are developed by library staff and educators to support the collection development and readers' advisory work of library staff.
These books and media have been selected for teens from 12-18 years of age, and span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. Adults are encouraged to take an active role in helping individual teens choose those books that are the best fit for them and their families.
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike to read or whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction. Select a link below to view the full annotated Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers lists.
2018 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers
Best Fiction for Young Adults
YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee presents fiction titles published for young adults in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for ages 12 to 18. The purpose of the annual list it to provide librarians and library workers with a resource to use for collection development and reader’s advisory purposes.
2018 Best Fiction for YA: Best of the Best (Top 10)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Great Graphic Novels for Teens is a list of recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12-18, prepared yearly by YALSA. The list is announced each year after the Midwinter Meeting.
2018 Graphic Novels for Teens: Top 10
Great Audiobooks for Teens
Top 10 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
Awards for Young Adult Literature
The Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002.
The award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust. Edwards pioneered young adult library services and worked for many years at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. Her work is described in her book Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, and over the years she has served as an inspiration to many librarians who serve young adults. The Alex Awards are named after Edwards, who was called “Alex” by her friends.
Alex Award Winners and Nominations
Previous Alex Award Winners
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a November 1 – October 31 publishing year. The award winner will be announced annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting Youth Media Awards, with a shortlist of up to five titles named the first week of December. Seals for the winning titles, finalist titles, and nominated titles can be purchased from the ALA Online Store.
2018 Winners and Nominations
Previous Winners
The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
The Michael L. Printz Award annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year. In addition, the Printz Committee names up to four honor books, which also represent the best writing in young adult literature. The awards announcement is made at the ALA Midwinter Meeting as part of the Youth Media Awards and is celebrated with a program and reception each year at the ALA Annual Conference.
The award's namesake was a school librarian in Topeka, Kansas, and a marketing consultant for Econo-Clad, as well an active member of YALSA. He had a passion for books and reading. He also appreciated the authors who wrote books for young adults and demonstrated this by initiating an author-in-residence program at his high school. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association.
2018 Winner and Honor Books
Previous Winners