Gateway Awards

The Gateway Award is annually awarded to a book voted upon and selected by secondary (grades 9-12) student readers. Initiated by the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL), the program currently gives awards to books written at four different reading levels. Go here for more information on the awards etc.

My wife, a certified high school librarian, and I, volunteered for and were chosen as reader selectors for next years (2009-10) Gateway Award. What this means is that we get to read and rate 26 or so, copyright 2007, YA fiction books between now and December 1st. The pool of actual nominees will be selected from all the ratings submitted by reader selectors, and then will be voted on by secondary school students during the 2009-10 school year.

2007-08 Winner was Stephanie Meyer's Twilight; nominees for 2008-09 include Copper Sun by Sharon Draper and Terrier: Beka Cooper by Tamora Pierce (my vote goes to Pierce but she probably won't win).

I've already read two of the books in the pool.... Peak by Roland Smith and In Search of Mockingbird by Loretta Ellsworth.