Book Resources

We're incredibly indebted to Linda Williams, Children’s Services Consultant, Willimantic Library Service Center, of the Connecticut State Library for compiling most of these resources.  Linda has served as the unofficial Nutmeg Resource Coordinator for many years, and we're grateful for her time and talents.

Have something to add to the list of resources? Please send us an email at webmoiselle [at] nutmegaward [dot] org.

Powerpoint Presentation

Printable sheet of  Teen Nominees.

Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

Discussion Questions: DailyHerald.com (IL).
Author Info: Marina Budhos' Webpage ; Interview with Podcast ; Interview with Marina Budhos at Cynsations
Reviews: Goodreading: What Your Friends are Reading ;
Articles: Budhos Speaks up for Muslim immigrants in Post-9/11 US by Uttara Choudhury, March 25, 2006 in DNA: Daily News & Analysis
Related Booklists: Here to Stay: South Asian Literature for Teens from Papertigers.org ; Immigration from The Center for Children's Books ; New York (N.Y.) at Teenspoint.org ; GRRL POWER from Beaverton (OR) City Library ; Muslims in Children's Books from School Library Journal ; Social Consciousness from Austin (TX) Public Library ;
Awards: ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2007 ;

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Discussion Questions: Scholastic Literature Circle Guide ; Scholastic Discussion Guide.
Booktalks: Nancy Keane’s Booktalks Quick & Simple.
Author Info: Gennifer Choldenko’s Website ; Interview at the Children's Book Council Website.
Reviews: Kidsreads.com ; Through the Looking Glass.
Related Information & Activities: From the State Library of Louisiana (.pdf) ; Alcatraz Island from the National Park Service ; Alcatraz History Online ; KQED Public Television “Lonely Island, Hidden Alcatraz” ; Al Capone at the Chicago History Museum ; Teacher Timesavers (.pdf).
Related Booklists: Autism Booklist from Autism-Resources.com.
Awards: Newbery Honor Book 2005, ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2005, ALA Notable Book 2005, New York Public Library Best Book for Teen Age 2005, Kirkus Editor’s Choice 2004, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year 2004, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year 2004, San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, Iowa Teen Award Nominee 2006-2007 (.pdf) - Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee 2007 ; Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Nominee 2007 (.doc) ; Texas Lone Star List 2005-2006 (.pdf), Virginia Readers' Choice Nominee 2007.D

Day of Tears by Julius Lester

Discussion Questions: Teacher's Guide from Jump at the Sun (.pdf) ; California Young Reader Medal Info (.pdf pages 7-11).
Book Trailer: TeacherTube.
Author Info: Julius Lester's Website ; Hyperion Interview "Behind the Book" with Julius Lester ; Bookpage.
Reviews: Common Sense Media Review ; Homeschool Buzz ;
Articles: Bold Books for Teenagers: The Very Best Books for Middle School Readers by Don Gallo, English Journal, March 2006 (.pdf).
Related Information & Activities: Teacher Timesavers (.pdf).
Related Booklists: Slavery in Early American History for 4th-10th Grades from The Public Library of Cincinnati ; Slavery from Teenspoint.org ; American Historical Fiction from The Horn Book.
Awards: Coretta Scott King Author Award 2006, California Young Reader Medal Nominee 2007-2008, Garden State Teen Book Award Nominee 2008 (.pdf), Georgia Peach Book Award List 2006-2007, Indiana Young Hoosier Award Nominee 2008-2009, South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee 2007-2008, Virginia Readers' Choice Nominee 2007-2008 (.pdf), Volunteer State Book Award Nomination 2007-2008, VOYA Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers 2005 (.pdf).

Heat by Mike Lupica

Discussion Questions:
Author Info: Mike Lupica on Wikipedia, Author Profile on Teenreads.com.
Reviews: New York Times Sunday Book Review, Teenreads.com, Common Sense Media, Discovery Journey, Homeschool Buzz, Teenreads.com, Kidsreads.com.
Related Booklists: Hispanic Teen Fiction from Wired for Youth, Teen Sports Fiction from InfoSoup.
Awards: IRA Children's Choice 2007, Isinglass Teen Award Nomination 2007-2008, Sunshine State Young Readers Award Nomination 2007-2008, YALSA Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults 2007, Read Aloud America Book List 2008.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Discussion Questions: From Murdock's Website.
Booktalks: Booktalks Quick & Simple, BookTalk!, Audio Booktalk from the Isinglass Award.
Book Info: Houghton Press Release, Publisher's Weekly Flying Starts, Audio Clip.
Author Info: Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Website, Teenreads.com Interview.
Reviews: New York Times Sunday Book Review, Teenreads.com, BookBrowse.com.
Related Booklists: Teen Sports Fiction, Coming of Age, Fiction Set in Wisconsin.
Awards:

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Discussion Questions: BookBrowse.com Reading Guide.
Booktalks: Booktalking Colorado.
Audio Book Clip: Read by Ian McKellan.
Book Trailer: YouTube.
Author Info: Michelle Paver's Website,
Reviews: Kidsreads.com, Discovery Journey, Fantasy Book Review.
Related Information: Fansite.
Awards:

The Schwa Was Here by Neal Shusterman

Discussion Questions: California Young Reader Medal Info (.pdf pages 12-16), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Discussion Module.
Booktalks: Booktalking Colorado, Booktalks Quick & Simple.
Author Info: Neal Shusterman's Webpage & MySpace Page,
Reviews: Commonsense Media,
Blogger Reviews: BookMoot.
Articles: "Bold Books for Teenagers: The Very Best Books for Middle School Readers" English Journal Extension
Related Information: Movie in Development.
Related Booklists: Lots of Laughs: Funny Books, Laugh Out Loud @ Your Library, Realistic YA/Friendship.
Awards: California Young Reader Medal Nominee 2007-2008,

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

Discussion Questions:
Booktalks:
Author Info: Nancy Springer's Website, Author Interview.
Reviews: Kidsreads.com.
Blogger Reviews: BookHound,
Articles:
Related Information: French Society of Sherlock Holmes Website (in English)
Related Booklists:
Awards:

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Discussion Questions: Talk it up! Discussion Guide, On Westerfeld's Blog, Chicago Public Library, Rhode Island Teen Book Award, Teacher's Guide (page 26).
Booktalks:
Book Trailer: YouTube 1, YouTube 2, YouTube 3.
Book Info: Uglies Trilogy.
Author Info: Scott Westerfeld's Website & Blog.
Reviews: The Trades, Teenreads.com,  
Blogger Reviews: Pick Me!,
Articles: "Young Adults See Reality Creeping Into Author's World of Faux Beauty" Seattlepi.com.
Related Information & Activities: FunTrivia Quiz.
Related Booklists:
Awards: Virginia Readers' Choice Nominee 2007-2008 (.pdf),

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Discussion Questions: Discussion Questions,  Teacher's Guide from, Bloomsbury Readers' Guide, California Young Reader Medal
Booktalks: Multiple Choice Questions from Maryelin in WinchesterVideo Booktalk (by a student), Booktalks Quick & Simple.
Author Info: Gabrielle Zevin's Website, Teenreads.com Interview, "Seven Impossible Interviews Before Breakfast," Barnes & Noble "Meet the Writers," "Conversations with an Emerging Screenwriter Gabby Zevin,"
Reviews: New York Times, Flaming.net, January Magazine, Teenreads.com.
Related Information & Activities: Elsewhere covers from other countries, Audiobook (with online clip) and Audiofile review of the audiobook, and spoken review of audiobook, an online book discussion of Elsewhere.
Related Booklists: Books to Give Thanks For from Curve Magazine, Young Adult/Adult Crossovers from Marple Public Library, Summertime Blues from School Library Journal, Science Fiction,
School Summer Reading Lists that include this book: a sampling: Blue Valley North High School (KS), Watchung Hills Regional High School - Sophomore (NJ), Newport News Public Schools - Sophomore (VA).
Awards: YALSA Teens Top Ten 2006, Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults 2007, IRA Young Adults' Choices 2007, Quill Book Awards Shortlist 2006, Georgia Peach Book Award Book List 2006-2007, Isinglass Teen Read Award Nominee 2006-2007 (NH), Soaring Eagle Young Adult Book Award 2007 (WY), South Carolina Young Adult Book Award 2006-2007, Virginia Readers' Choice Nominee 2007-2008 (.pdf), West Australian Readers Book Award List 2008.