Arkansas Teen Book Award winners announced

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas teens have chosen four books to share the 2021 Arkansas Teen Book Award, according to a news release from the Arkansas State Library.

The Level 1 winner, chosen by seventh- through ninth-graders, is “Two Can Keep a Secret,” by Karen M. Mcmanus. “The Field Guide to the North American Teenager,” by Ben Philippe, was voted the runner-up.

The Level 2 winner, chosen by students in 10th through 12th grades, is “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” by Holly Jackson. “A Curse So Dark and Lonely,” by Brigid Kemmerer, was voted the runner-up.

“The Arkansas Teen Book Award began in 2009 as a cooperative effort between public and school librarians across the state. Arkansas has long recognized quality children’s literature through the Charlie May Simon and Arkansas Diamond awards, yet the acknowledgment of young adult literature had been greatly neglected,” a news release said.

The steering committee for the teen award now consists of public librarians and school library media specialists from varying backgrounds and service areas around the state. Each year, more than 200 volunteer readers working with teens across the state give their time to reading the nominated titles. The primary sponsoring organization is the Arkansas State Library, a division of the Arkansas Department of Education, the release said.

Nominations are accepted from the public and all eligible titles are included for consideration by the steering committee. These books are read and voted on by teachers and librarians across Arkansas to narrow the selections to a manageable reading list. This reading list is distributed statewide and then teens cast their votes for their favorite titles to determine the ultimate winners of the award.

Voting is already underway for the 2022 Arkansas Teen Book Award. Librarians, media specialists and teachers wanting bookmarks featuring the titles can contact Ruth Hyatt, Arkansas State Library coordinator of youth services, at ruth.hyatt@ade.arkansas.gov.

For more information on the award, visit https://arteenbookaward.wordpress.com/.

For more information on the library’s services, visit http://www.library.arkansas.gov.