The first year for the Truman Readers Award was the 2008-2009 school year.  The Truman Readers Award encourages students in the early teen years (grades 6-8) to express their unique voice through: exploring new literary genres, communicating with their peers about young adult literature, and honoring authors writing for young teens.

2011-2012 Truman Readers
Award Nominees

Each year, Missouri school children in grades 6-8 vote for their favorite book from a list of nominated titles.

Amato, Mary. Invisible Lines.  If there’s one thing I’m good at it’s making people laugh because when I’m standing up I’m what you call a stand-up comedian, and when I’m sitting down, I’m just plain funny.  Trevor is just plain funny, and he’s lucky he is. Because this year he needs a sense of humor.

Collard III, Sneed B. Double Eagle.  In 1862, a Confederate ship rumored to be carrying newly minted gold coins is attacked by Union forces and sinks in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1973, two teenage boys find themselves near the site where the ship went down and right in the middle of a century-old mystery.

Cooney, Caroline. If the Witness Lied.  Choices do matter and forgiveness is possible. Jack Fountain knows that what's happened to his family sounds like the most horrible soap opera anyone could ever write. But it happened-to Jack; his parents; his sisters, Smithy and Madison. And to his baby brother, Tris. What made it worse was that the media wanted to know every detail.

Dashner, James. The Maze Runner.   When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade--a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Forman, M.L. Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog's Gold.   What is courage? What is honor? What does it feel like to have friends you would give your life for? And what role do fear and apprehension play when a person is faced with life-changing choices? Slathbog's Gold, the first book in an exciting new YA epic fantasy series, sends fifteen-year-old Alex Taylor on the adventure of a lifetime. Right at a time when Alex is wishing his life could change, he sees a sign in Mr. Clutter's bookshop window: "Adventurers Wanted. Apply Within." The sign seems to be referring to him. Moreover, not just anyone can enter Mr. Clutter's bookshop. But Alex does, and the adventure begins. Alex is the eighth man needed to complete a band of adventurers seeking the lair of Slathbog the Red - and evil dragon with a legendary treasure. Along the way, Alex learns about honesty, integrity, honor, and, most importantly, friendship.

Hardy, Janice. The Shifter.   The first novel in a compelling and original fantasy trilogy about a girl with the uncanny ability to heal--or destroy--with her touch.

Hepler, Heather. The Cupcake Queen.   When Penny moves to Hog’s Hollow from New York City, her life changes drastically. Penny’s mom now runs a cupcake bakery, and Penny is stuck helping out. But that isn’t the worst of it. Not only did she leave her friends back home, but her dad stayed behind too. And then there’s Charity, resident mean girl who’s out to get Penny. With all this, Penny still finds some things to like: Tally and Blake&and Marcus—the cute, quiet boy who runs on the beach every night. But just when Penny begins to accept her new life, she’s forced to make a choice that will change everything.

Klavan, Andrew. The Last Thing I Remember.   Charlie West just woke up in someone else's nightmare. He's strapped to a chair. He's covered in blood and bruises. He hurts all over. And a strange voice outside the door just ordered his death. The last thing he can remember, he was a normal high-school kid doing normal things--working on his homework, practicing karate, daydreaming of becoming an air force pilot, writing a pretty girl's number on his hand. How long ago was that? Where is he now? Who is he really? And more to the point . . . how is he going to get out of this room alive?

Korman, Gordon. Pop.   After moving to a new town, Marcus strikes up a friendship with Charlie Popovich, a former pro football player. As the two grow closer, Marcus learns that Charlie has early onset Alzheimer's disease as a result of suffering head injuries during his career. Marcus is willing to risk everything to help his new friend.

Lytton, Deborah. Jane in Bloom.   Jane's big sister, Lizzie, has always been the center of attention. No one ever pays attention to boring, plain Jane. But when Jane's twelfth birthday marks the beginning of Lizzie's fi nal descent into a fatal eating disorder, Jane discovers that the only thing harder than living in her big sister's shadow is living without her.

Sensel, Joni. The Farwalker's Quest.   A classic fantasy quest about finding the truth and finding yourself. Ariel has always been curious, but when she and her best friend Zeke stumble upon a mysterious old telling dart she feels an unexplained need to figure out what it means. Magically flying great distances and only revealing their messages to the intended recipient, telling darts haven't been used for years, and no one knows how they work. So when two strangers show up looking for the dart, Ariel and Zeke realize that their discovery is not only interesting, but very dangerous. The telling dart and the strangers lead them on a journey more perilous and encompassing than either can imagine, and in the process both Zeke and Ariel find their true calling.

Williams, Suzanne Morgan. Bull Rider.   All it takes is eight seconds.... Cam O'Mara, grandson and younger brother of bull- riding champions, is not interested in partaking in the family sport. Cam is a skateboarder, and perfecting his tricks -- frontside flips, 360s -- means everything until his older brother, Ben, comes home from Iraq, paralyzed from a brain injury. What would make a skateboarder take a different kind of ride? And what would get him on a monstrosity of a bull named Ugly? If Cam can stay on for the requisite eight seconds, will the $15,000 prize bring hope and a future for his big brother?