2006-2007 Mark Twain Award Nominations

Bartek, Mary. Funerals and Fly Fishing. Henry Holt. 2004.
6th grader Brad Stanislawski looked forward to a summer vacation. His plans are changed when he is sent to stay with a Grandfather, who is a funeral director, he does not know. As he learns to fly fish with Grandpa, he discovers he can stand up for himself and works to reunite his Mom and her dad. RL. 4th-7th.

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. Putnam. 2004.
In 1935, Moose and his family move to Alcatraz Island where his father works as a guard. Moose, who is 12, works to fit in with the other children living on the island. The warden's daughter makes this tough for Moose by planning activities which break her father's rules. IL. 5th-8th RL. 3.5 Lexile 600.

Clements, Andrew. The Last Holiday Concert. Simon and Schuster. 2004.
Hart Evans, popular 6th grader at school, can sometimes be a little too cocky. He and his classmates find themselves in a fix when Mr. Meinert, the chorus teacher, turns over the entire Winter Concert to the students. Hart must use all his skills to save the concert and Mr. Meinert's job. IL. 4th-7th RL. 5.4 Lexile 700.

Clements, Andrew. The Report Card. Simon and Schuster. 2004.
Nora is a genius, only no one knows. The 5th grader challenges the validity of achievement testing and grading after her friend Stephen feels dumb for low mastery test scores on the state achievement tests. IL. 4th-7th RL. 4.9 Lexile 700.

Dahlberg, Maurine. Escape to West Berlin. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2004
Thirteen year old Heidi's summer is not going well. She is scared of swimming, her father faces ostracism for working in West Berlin, then she discovers her famiy is secretly moving to West Berlin before the border closes. Heidi must find her inner courage to survive all of these changes. IL. 4th-8th RL. 5.3

George, Jean Craighead. Charlie's Raven. Dutton. 2004.
Charlie, following a legend from the Teton/Sioux that ravens can cure illnesses, captures a baby raven to cure his Grandfather. The raven, Blue Sky, and Grandfather teach Charlie much about the wonders of life.
IL. 4th-8th RL. 4.6 Lexile 710.

Hahn, Mary Downing. The Old Willis Place. Clarion. 2004.
Diane and George are cautious of the new caretakers for the Willis place. But, Lissa the daughter is just the friend Diane has been waiting for. Rules are broken and secrets revealed through both Lissa's diary and Diane's narration.
IL. 4th-8th RL. 4.2 Lexile 630.

Hale, Marian. The Truth About Sparrows. Henry Holt. 2004.
Sadie Wynn has lost everything, her best friend and her home. It is 1933 and Sadie's family leaves Missouri in search of a better life for themselves. Along the way, Sadie comes to understand it is possible to make new friends and a new home. IL. 5th-8th RL. 5 Lexile 820.

Harlow, Joan Hiatt. Thunder From the Sea. Simon and Schuster. 2004.
Tom dreams of having a family and his own dog. The dreams appear to come true when Enoch and Fiona adopt him and he finds a dog at sea. But, there is trouble from a neighbor boy, Fiona becomes pregnant and the dog's owner is looking for him. Will Tom's dreams come tumbling down around him? IL. 4th-7th RL. 4.7 Lexile 700.

Kehret, Peg. Abduction!. Dutton. 2004
Thirteen year old Bonnie's life is turned upside down when both her beloved dog and brother disappear. Through many twists and turns in the story, Bonnie finds her brother. However, she is also abducted. Bonnie's strength and skill help her lead them to safety. IL. 4th-7th RL. 4.7 Lexile 760.

LaFaye, A. Worth. Simon and Schuster. 2004.
Nate's life is changed when his leg is crushed while harvesting hay. When Pa brings in an orphan boy to help with the chores, Nate feels even more useless. This early 19th century story tells of 2 boys who want what the other has and the love they need from their fathers. IL.4th-8th RL. 4.5 Lexile 830.

Myers, Anna. Hoggee. Walker and Company. 2004.
Howard, 14 yeards old, drives the mules on the Erie Canal during the summer. Determined to be on his own, he spends a long hard winter in Birchport. He nearly starves to death and is beaten. Befriended by an older man, new opportunities open and Howard's dreams are realized. IL. 5th-7th RL. 4.5.

Patneaude, David. Thin Wood Walls. Houghton Mifflin. 2004.
For Eleven year old Joe Hamda,a Japanese American, the bombing of Pearl Harbor changes his life. His father is taken from the home and jailed. The family is forced to relocate to an interment camp. This powerful story tells of how Joe deals with the prejudice, his anger and the conditions of the interment camp. RL. 5th-8th. RL. 4.3.

Philbrick, Rodman. The Young Man and the Sea. Blue Sky. 2004.
Little Skiff Beaman works hard to manage life for himself and his father. His plan to fix his father's boat fails, so Skiff heads out to the ocean in his small boat to catch a valuable bluefin tuna. This tale of courage and endurance will be hard to put down. IL. 5th-8th RL. 4.5 Lexile 800.

Rodman, Mary Ann. Yankee Girl. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2004.
Living in Mississipi was like living in a foreign country to 11 year old Chicago native Alice Moxley. She wants to make friends, but she does not understand the southern culture, the dialect or the intense racism. Alice struggles to fit in and yet stand up for her beliefs. IL. 4th-8th RL. 3.7 Lexile 550.

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Becoming Naomi Leon. Scholastic. 2004.
Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw fantasizes about her absent mother, even though great Gram takes excellent care of Naomi and her brother. When Mom, Skyla, appears at their trailer and wants Naomi to live with her, Naomi soon discovers this is not the mom of her dreams. The story leads this family into Mexico to locate Naomi's father. IL. 4th-8th RL. 5.4 Lexile 830.

Seidler, Tor. Toes. Harper Collins. 2004.
Toes is a very intelligent kitten with 7 toes on each paw. Only a few months old he is abandoned by his brothers and sisters. Toes is rescued by a lonely violinist. Their friendship grows through the years and culminates in Toes brave journey to Philharmonic Hall to bring a young conductor to hear his violinist play. IL. 4th-6th RL. 5.7.

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Cabin on Trouble Creek. Dial. 2004.
In 1803, brothers Daniel (11) and Will (9) are helping their father build a new farm in the Ohio wilderness. Once the farmhouse is complete, Dad leaves for Pennsylvania to get the rest of the family. A short 6-7 week trips turns into an entire year as the boys work to survive in the unfamilair place alone. IL. 4th-7th RL. 4.5 Lexile 660.

Wait, Lea. Wintering Well. Simon and Schuster. 2004.
Siblings, Will and Cassie, want something neither can have. Will's tragic accident cost him not only his leg, but also his dream to be a farmer. Cassie dreams of doing something other than housework, but in 1819 there are few other choices for her. A summer with their sister on the Maine sea coast teaches both the possibilities they could never imagine.
IL. 5th-8th RL. 4.9

White, Ruth. Buttermilk Hill. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 2004.
In 1973, 10 year old Piper's life is turned upside down with the divorce of her parents. Piper tries to figure where her "family" is both her father's new marriage and mom's dating. RL. 4th-7th RL. 4.9 Lexile 790

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