2020 William Allen White Winner

Chase does not remember falling off the roof, in fact he does not remember anything about himself, and when he gets back to middle school he begins to learn who he was through the reactions of the other kids-trouble is, he really is not sure he likes the Chase that is being revealed, but can he take the opportunity amnesia has provided and restart his life?

Amal’s narration is straightforward and direct, and her despair at losing her dreams is palpable, as is her unflagging determination to get them back. . . . There’s clear commentary on the marginalized lives of girls and women in Pakistan . . . and the fight for her education is already fraught even before she is taken from her home. An author’s note discusses the issues of indentured servitude, particularly among girls.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

In 19th century London, six-year-old Nan is abandoned by her chimney sweep caretaker who leaves her his hat and a live coal.  She joins other child sweeps and, following a terrible fire, discovers her “char” has become a golem, whose purpose she learns with the help of an inspiring teacher.

When eighth-grader Marcus gets suspended after fighting with a boy making fun of his brother, his mother takes the opportunity to have the boys visit their father’s family in Puerto Rico.  Marcus was born in Puerto Rico but he and his brother have been raised in Pennsylvania.  This trip reveals their rich heritage and provides new directions for Marcus.

n 1947, 12-year-old Nisha is half Muslim and Half Hindu living in Pakistan when her father moves the family to the “new India” of The Partition.  Nisha records her thoughts and experiences in diary entries addressed to her mother.

In first-person narration, seventh-grader Natalie shares her plans to help her scientist mother who is suffering from depression.  She and her friends enter an egg drop contest in hopes of winning the prize money to provide a trip for her mom. Can real life problems be approached through scientific principles?

At age eight, now 12-year-old Lucy was struck by lightning and left with near-genius math skills.  Her grandmother has been home-schooling her, but now Lucy’s going to middle school with instructions from her grandmother to make a friend, try a new activity and read a non-math book.

Merci attends sixth grade in a private school in Florida as a scholarship student and deals daily with problem girls.  At home, her beloved grandfather begins forgetting things and becomes clumsy and angry.  When the other adults in her life aren’t really helping her, Merci changes gears to help herself.

An overview of skin and anatomy presented in a colorful and interesting format with plenty of jokes and gross details.