The first is Divided We Fall by Trent Reedy. I had the opportunity a couple of years ago to meet and visit with Mr. Reedy. I appreciated his passion for what he was writing about and the care that he put into writing literature that was appropriate for his audience. Divided We Fall is a picture of America in uprising. The government has placed regulations on the states that have caused some of the states to take justice into their own hands. It illustrates the conflict that our soldiers would be faced with if they had to choose loyalty to the state or the federal government. Books like this make the reader think about the 'what if this really happened' scenario.
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne is another book that presents a 'what if this really happened' scenario. A natural disaster has caused a nuclear spill and a group of kids are stranded in a store waiting for help to arrive. They are cut off from everything and they're scared. Is it safe to go outside? What caused the giant hailstorm? Are their families okay? This is the first in a series of books.
The next two books are on my to read list. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is by Matthew Quick. This book is the struggle of a young man making the choice between life and death. The author writes, "So the key is doing something that sets you apart forever in the minds of regular people. Something that matters."
Counting by 7s is written by Holly Goldberg Sloan. This book caught my interest as I read the inside cover. It lists 7 reasons to read this novel. The first is friendship. The fourth is laughing and crying. The sixth is family. The list gives me the thought that I am going to be left with a really good feeling after reading this book. I hope that I am right.
There are close to thirty books included on the 2015 - 2016 list of award books. I hope you can find one that you will enjoy.