And the winner is...

Here's a list of this year's book winners, as announced yesterday by the American Library Association.

The John Newbery Medal
Named for the 18th century British bookseller. It is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Newbery Honor Books

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

The Michael L. Printz Award
This award is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). It is awarded to a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

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Printz Honor Books

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Punk Zilla by Adam Rapp

Tales of the Madman Underground: A Historical Romance, 1973 by John Barnes

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What's coming up...

Welcome back. I trust everyone had a fabulous Christmas and enjoyed the bonus vacation days we received due to that little snowfall. Believe it or not there are still patches of snow to be found around the school.

As we head into this second semester be sure to check back often for information about upcoming events such as the Nashville Sounds Reading Club and the annual Battle of the Books.

Also, keep in mind that tutoring is still offered in the library each afternoon (except Friday). Students staying should be picked up outside the main entrance by 4:30 p.m.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone! It is our wish that you are able to enjoy your holiday with family and friends and, of course, indulge in some non-school-related reading. Below are a few Christmas selections that warm the heart - the first being a personal favorite of our librarian. Yes, some are many years below the middle school level. But do we ever grow too old for a good Christmas story? I hope not.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

The classic...A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

And some more great books...

The Very First Christmas byPaul L. Maier

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (You really ought to meet the Herdmans)

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

All Books Due by December 17

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All students are asked to return their library books and/or pay their fines by December 17. It is especially important for the books to be returned as this helps cut down on the chance that they become lost over the Christmas break.

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Final Family Night and End of Book Fair

This evening will be our last family night event for this year's book fair. Be sure you stop by for a few minutes and register for some great prizes.

Tomorrow, Thursday, will be the last day of the book fair. If you have seen something you'd like to have be sure to bring in your money. If you wait until Friday it will be too late.

I'd like to thank everyone for supporting our fair this year. A special thanks goes out to Ms. Susie Sloan and Ms. Gail Eller for volunteering to help at our family events.

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Book Fair Family Night TONIGHT

The first of two book fair family nights will be tonight until 6:30ish p.m. Be sure to stop by and shop with us and register for the door prizes while you're here. Our next family night will be this Wednesday evening until 6:30 p.m.

Living Literature Takes Top Prize at State Convention

Congratulations to our school's Junior Beta Club Living Literature team for placing first at state. For this year's contest the team depicted a scene from the The Graveyard Book, the 2009 Newbery winner by Neil Gaiman. Our team will now compete at the national level in June 2010 where they will defend our title, as we have been the national champion the past two years.

Members of the team include...

Clint Watson

(returning member)

Brandon Hudson

(returning member)

EJ Graves

Dustin Duffer

Lauren Calvert

Nathan Crawford

Lexi Leath

Chase Troutt

Bridgett Shaw

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It's Book Fair Time Again

Our 2009 Book Fair will be held Dec. 2 - 9. For your convenience we will be hosting two family nights again this year on Dec. 7 and 9. The library will stay open until 6:30 p.m. on these two evenings.


Each student attending (or represented by a family member attending) will be entered into a drawing for some really great prizes.


There will be lots of great books and items on this year's fair - including New Moon posters, a new New Moon book with the movie tie-in cover, and the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.

Be sure to mark you calendar for this special event.

Meet Our 7th Grade Library Workers

Chapel Anderson and Scarlet Spears

Meet Our 6th Grade Library Workers

Adrianne Anderson and Bridget Shaw